Cashless concessions policy at sports complex sparks debate in Sherwood

SHERWOOD, Ark. — As society becomes increasingly cashless, the debate over whether or not this is a good idea has made its way to Sherwood.

There’s a new sign posted at the city’s sports complex, stating that as of May 1, 2026, all concessions can be purchased with cards only.

“Never in a million years would I imagine that they would turn away a small child,” said Charles Harmon. “Walking up there with his three-dollar bills to buy his Coke and his candy.”

Harmon is a former member of the Sherwood City Council and served on the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee.

His position on the issue is also shared by Michael Bolding, a coach and parent.

“My wife’s a server at Gadwall’s,” Bolding said. “And she operates only on cash, so when she comes out here, she wants to use cash.”

Bolding said the change taking place in the middle of the season caught parents off guard.

However, other parents feel different.

“They have to be responsible as they grow up to learn how to navigate their money without cash,” Anita Pitts said. “It’s not something that I wish happened, but it’s something that we have to kind of move forward in how we raise our children.”

It does seem like this is the way things are moving.

Cities like Cabot have made similar changes, not to mention major Arkansas venues like Dickey-Stephens Park and Baum-Walker Stadium.

In a statement, the City of Sherwood said that this change mitigates vulnerabilities and reduces risk.

“It’s change,” Pitts said. “It’s not bad. It’s not good. It’s just different.”

However, Bolding and Harmon feel that the change will be bad.

“I think it shuts out a group of people from the concession stand,” Bolding expressed.

“It’s unfair to those children who don’t have access to those cashless forms of payment,” Harmon added.

The City of Sherwood’s full statement can be read below:

“The City of Sherwood has transitioned the Sherwood Sports Complex to a fully cashless payment system. We had hoped to keep both cash and card options available for the rest of this season. After a critical review of operations, the Finance Director strongly recommended transitioning to a cashless system immediately in order to mitigate vulnerabilities associated with the handling of cash. This reduces risk and strengthens fiduciary responsibility. This change also improves efficiency, strengthens accountability, and enhances safety for both staff and visitors.

Cashless operations are now considered a best practice and are becoming increasingly common at sports venues and ballfields across the country, allowing for faster transactions and a safer process. The City has the technological ability to adhere to this best practice and provide a cashless payment process. As soon as the change was made, coaches and participants were notified. The City appreciates the community’s understanding as this updated system has been implemented at the Sports Complex.”