Rogers, Ark. – October 4th, 2023 – We join with the Rogers community to mourn the passing of Mr. Jim Welch. Jim has left a mark on the City of Rogers, and his contributions to our Parks and Recreation system are immeasurable.
Jim dedicated two decades of his life to serving the residents of Rogers as the Director of Parks and Recreation. Throughout his tenure, he demonstrated a commitment to improving the quality of life for our residents by developing and maintaining our parks and recreational programming.
“Jim was a pioneer in the Parks and Recreation Department. He had an unusual ability to stretch our resources and make every dollar work as hard as it could for our community. Many of the programs that Jim started are still active in Rogers to this day”- Barney Hayes, Rogers City Council Member
Jim Welch was not only a dedicated public servant, but also a forerunner in establishing public-private partnerships for the good of our city. Jim's role in the Greenway Project, a visionary program that has enriched our city's outdoor spaces and created many recreational possibilities for our citizens, was one of his more notable successes. His dedication to this and other projects helped Rogers grow into the vibrant and welcoming community it is today.
In honor of Jim Welch's exceptional contributions to the City of Rogers, we proudly named and dedicated the James R. Welch Recycling Center in his honor.
“Anyone who knew Jim knew his passion for the community, for youth, and for team sports. I had the honor of working with him at the City of Rogers for seven years before his retirement and was impressed by how he could turn a dollar into $2.50, overperforming for our Parks and Recreation Department year after year. Jim's death leaves an unfillable loss in our hearts and in our community. I express my heartfelt sympathies to his family, friends, and everyone who had the honor of knowing and working with him.”- Greg Hines, Mayor City of Rogers
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About the City of Rogers
The City of Rogers is known as the city “Where Possible Lives”. With a population over 70,000, Rogers is the retail center of Northwest Arkansas and a powerful contributor to the region’s economy. While the city is anchored in rich history and small-town tradition, it is projected to see continued growth into the future reaching a population of 100,000 by 2040. Rogers is a city that advances confidently and purposefully to meet this growth, embracing development with an open door to transplants and new businesses. It is an accepting, positive community that welcomes diversity and encourages all to engage, excel, achieve and lead. More information about the City of Rogers can be found at www.rogersar.gov.
