6 days ago
Little Rock board discusses multi-million contract for I-30 deck park planning study
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Little Rock city leaders are preparing for an upcoming vote to work with an engineering firm on a multi-million dollar contract for a planning study about a deck park that will go over a part of Interstate 30 connecting two neighborhoods.
For years, there's been discussion about a deck park over a portion of I-30 between 6th and 9th streets. Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. says it's been a joint effort with many groups and people.
'The I-30 crossing deck park is a design and vision that encompasses a collaboration of the business community, particularly Fifty for the Future, the community at large, Coalition of Little Rock Neighborhoods, City of Little Rock Board of Directors, Senator Clark Tucker, and the Biden Administration on how do we truly connect neighborhoods that were divided by interstates,' the mayor said.
Little Rock community groups support Interstate 30 park project, push for federal grant
This week, the Little Rock Board of Directors spoke about a $2.5 million contract with the engineering firm Garver to work with on the deck park's planning study. The city notes Garver was the most qualified of four consultants.
'This can be an iconic deck park for our city, not just for our city but the entire state.' Scott Jr. notes, 'It's going to cost hundreds of millions to get the deck park done but that's why we want to emphasize this is a planning process.'
In 2022, the board approved a resolution and support of the nonprofit Fifty for the Future grant application for the deck park study in the area. Later on in 2023, the city was awarded $2 million from the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation to study the possibility of constructing that park.
The city matched $500,000 to support the total cost of the project, the mayor says the money came from the public works budget.
During the meeting, the discussion over the funds prompted board member Lance Hines to bring other issues.
'We face issues with our city streets and whether or not we spend $500,000 on our roads out of street funds to do this I get it but it's tough to have a conversation with our constituents on why we can't pave roads,' said Hines.
Other members of the board mentioned how the project could touch on a deeper problem.
'We have seen so many times where interstates will cut off neighborhoods and one part our side grows and the other doesn't, so we're trying to make sure that doesn't happen again,' board member Virgil Miller said.
'It will right a lot of wrongs that have occurred in this city,' board member Dean Kumpuris noted
The mayor added, 'We didn't want any further divisions, we wanted to connect neighborhoods.'
US Dept. of Transportation awards Little Rock $2M grant for deck park over I-30
Some who live or work in the area said they're curious and excited about the possibility of the deck park.
Britney Wyatt says, 'I would like to know what's going to be in the park.' While Susan Kyzer says, 'I think it's a good idea, anything that will beautify the city and give people a place to go and things to do is good in my book.'
The mayor says the vote for the contract will happen next Tuesday. If approved, he says it will be several years of planning. Even after that, he states the deck park would most likely cost hundreds of millions of dollars to create, which is why he emphasized they're in the planning process.
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