Park at West End to open with new owners renovation work in downtown Fort Smith this month

FORT SMITH — A city landmark for those crossing the Garrison Avenue bridge will once again brighten downtown Fort Smith later this month. The Park at West End was opened roughly 16 years ago by the previous owner, Phil White. White called it a passion of love, even working at the park because he couldn’t find a company to lease it. Eventually, White approached the city’s Parks Department to lease it for $1 a year, which they did until 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic. “It was just kind of a mutual understanding. It wasn’t that I canceled the lease.…