WHO: City of Little Rock Parks & Recreation Department and Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

WHAT: The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission will be stocking the pond at MacArthur Park with 1,500 catchable channel catfish for 29^th Annual Little Rock Parks & Recreating Fishing Derby.

WHERE:

MacArthur Park
601 East 9th Street
Little Rock, Ark. 72201

WHEN: Wednesday, July 16 at 10 a.m.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Tuesday, July 15) -- The City of Little Rock Parks & Recreation is hosting its 29^th Annual Fishing Derby on Thursday, July 17 at MacArthur Park.

On Wednesday, July 16 at 10 a.m., the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission will be stocking the pond at MacArthur Park with 1,500 catchable channel catfish.

Little Rock Parks & Recreation will also be on hand with children who are participants in the LRPR Summer Playground Program.

The Derby, which is also sponsored by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, is open to children ages 6-15 and will take place from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. More than 1,000 children from central Arkansas are expected to participate.

Participants will only be allowed to use cane poles during the derby. There will be no rods and reels allowed during the derby. The public is encouraged to bring its own equipment and bait, as only a limited number of cane poles will be available.

The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, which will be stocking the pond, will tag a limited number of prize fish. Any child who catches a tagged fish will be eligible to win one of the prizes provided by Parks & Recreation, Arkansas Game & Fish and Bass Pro Shops. The first boy and girl to catch a prize fish will each win a bike, donated by Academy Sports + Outdoor.

For more information, please contact Mike Garrity, Assistant Recreation Supervisor, at (501) 371-6858.