SPG's State Guide to Sports in Arkansas

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Craighead Forest Park – Basketball, hiking, disc golf, softball, volleyball, fishing

This 770-acre park opened in 1937 and in the last 20 years, the park has gone through numerous renovations improving the playgrounds (4) and RV campgrounds (41 spaces).
This 770-acre park opened in 1937 and in the last 20 years, the park has gone through numerous renovations improving the playgrounds (4) and RV campgrounds (41 spaces). Craighead features many popular outdoor activities such as basketball, hiking, disc golf, softball, volleyball, mountain biking, camping and fishing.

Joe Mack Campbell Sports Complex – Baseball, soccer

The Joe Mack Campbell Sports Complex is home to 14-stunning baseball fields as well as 19 soccer fields. Right off Interstate 555, this complex has baseball fields that accommodate athletes from 7U to 14U leagues. Ten of the 14 fields have turf infields and manicured grass outfields. The complex also has its own batting cages. Soccer has 6 micro fields for 6U all the way up to high-school sized fields. Spectators can enjoy watching all the games in designated picnic areas around the complex with 4 full-function concession stands.

Southside Softball Complex – Softball

The Southside Softball Complex hosts the Mountain Dew Grand Slam Classic, the oldest youth tournament in the state of Arkansas. The complex has six batting cages and 10 softball fields, split between four pavilions. The softball complex also has two large and fully equipped concession stands for athletes and spectators to enjoy food at the ballpark. The fields are available day or night with updated lighting system installed in 2018.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Pine Bluff Aquatics Center -Swimming

Located in the heart of Pine Bluff, the $11 million 36,000-square-foot center offers first class facilities including an eight-lane, 25-yard short course competition pool with water maintained at 82 degrees, state-of-the-art timing scoreboard, a therapy pool, water sports area, and can accommodate up to 1,600 people.

Taylor Field Baseball Stadium – Baseball

Taylor Field Baseball Stadium is a regulation-size baseball field featuring a U-shaped grandstand that holds 1,800 seats behind home plate. The stadium was constructed in 1939 and is listed on the National Register of Historic places. It seats 2,400 and reaches 315 feet to the right and left field foul poles, 360 feet in left centerfield, and 390 feet to the deep corner in centerfield.

Pine Bluff Convention Center – Basketball, gymnastics, wrestling, boxing

Home of the world-renowned King Cotton Holiday Classic basketball tournament, this impressive center features a 23,000-square-foot arena with tiered seating for up to 7,600. Recent upgrades include the latest in audio visual technology such as overhead communications module with live video feed, replay, and broadcast, 12-foot videoboards, 18-foot digital scorer’s table, NCAA-approved lighting, renovated restrooms and dressing rooms, and adjoining concourses with flat-screen monitors and concession stands.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Russellville Soccer Complex – Soccer, hiking

Russellville Soccer Complex has multiple soccer pitches for tournament play and plenty of open space for outdoor activities. The park has a 1.1-mile trail that can be used for running and walking. The path is also paved so it’s ADA accessible. The soccer complex has 3 lighted fields.

Lake Dardanelle State Park – Fishing, hiking, camping

This park is located in two areas on Lake Dardanelle, a 34,300 acre reservoir on the Arkansas River. It features a fishing pier, boardwalk trail and visitor center with five aquariums and the Lakeview Room meeting facility. There are 57 campsites in the Russellville area of the park. The park is also a National Park Service-certified site on the Trail of Tears water route.

Pleasant View Park, Shiloh Park, M. J. Hickey Park – Baseball, softball, swimming

Pleasant View Park and Shiloh Park have 6 softball fields with covered pavilions, restrooms and a dog park. The 7-field M.J. Hickey Park baseball complex has 3-lighted pavilions, restrooms, picnic tables and a 50-meter municipal swimming pool. The baseball and softball fields all feature benches, barbeque grills and picnic table so fans can eat heartily while enjoying the action.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Ed Worrell Memorial Baseball Park – Baseball

Ed Worrell Park in Texarkana has 115 acres of recreational land area with amenities including seven lighted baseball fields, running/jogging trails, parking, restrooms and two concession stands. It features concessions, off-street parking and is located near the Texarkana Regional Airport.

Ermer Dansby Pondexter Sports Complex – Baseball, softball

The Ermer Dansby Pondexter Sports Complex is home to five fields, a walking trail, playground, a huge pavilion, concession stand, air-conditioned bathrooms, plenty of shade for a picnic, and lots of parking. Guests appreciate the digital scoreboards courtesy of Youth Scoreboards of Arkansas as well as the convenience of using debit/credit cards at the concession stand. Players and coaches enjoy the playing surface, new lights and 200-foot tournament fences.

Texarkana Arkansas Convention Center – Conventions

Nestled in southwest Arkansas, just one mile from the Texas border in Texarkana, the Arkansas Convention Center is the premier location for events in its area. Its 10,000-square foot state-of-the-art facility was newly constructed in 2014, and is conveniently located on Interstate 30, just miles from I-49 south. The ballroom can be divided into four breakout rooms and it features a brightly lit gallery space that connects the four rooms.

The Proving Grounds

Soccer, football, field hockey, baseball and more outdoor and indoor sports

The Proving Grounds houses Villanova University’s premier field hockey stadium and boasts more than 80 acres of outdoor space. This multipurpose facility accommodates a large variety of sports tournaments and leagues, including soccer, football and lacrosse among others, across eight lit turf fields. The 10,000-square-foot indoor astro turf facility is equipped with netting, a scoreboard and movable batting tunnels, which the All-Star Baseball Academy has consistently utilized.

Greater Philadelphia Expo Center

Gymnastics, cheer, weightlifting, esports and more indoor sports and events

Greater Philadelphia Expo Center has seen many national sports tournaments over the years, such as USA Weightlifting’s Junior National Championships. Known as one of the Eastern U.S.’s largest indoor sports complexes, the center boasts about 240,000 square feet of single-floor exhibition space. The open-concept, high-ceilings and easy load in/load out provide plenty of flexible space, meaning that whether the center needs to become a gaming convention or a sports facility, it’s always the right fit.

Competitive Edge Sports

Basketball, volleyball, futsal

Founded in 2010, Competitive Edge Sports provides top-class indoor programs and events across 55,000 square feet of space. This venue hosts a multitude of basketball tournaments annually, with four high school-regulated courts and one NBA-regulated court—all of which are Aacer floating maple hardwood. The on-site café, energy efficient lighting and Fairplay Wireless Electronic Scoreboards help make this one of the most popular basketball and volleyball facilities in the mid-Atlantic.