Formerly known as the Faulkner County Recreational Complex, this 125-acre area was renamed Don Owen Memorial Park in 1990.  The name was later amended to the Don Owen Sports Complex.

It was named in honor of Conway Alderman Don Owen, who passed away in 1989 at the age of 48.  He served as chairman of the city planning and zoning commission.  He was also a former Faulkner County justice of the peace.

A 1958 graduate of Conway High School, Owen was a star athlete as a Wampus Cat and at Arkansas State Teachers College, now known as the University of Central Arkansas.  He was inducted into the UCA Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

The complex has long been home to a rodeo arena, as well as baseball/softball fields and tee-ball fields.

In 1994, the city built its first indoor sports center here at the Don Owen Sports Complex.

In 2015, Conway opened its first dog park along the south side of the complex. The city won a contest sponsored by PetSafe, securing $25,000 to go towards the construction of the dog park.