|
Dear CAMN members,
John Brummett’s column on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, entitled
“Little Rock parks need visionaries, skeptics, and doers,” addressed
the question of the planned park (“30 Crossing”) under and around the
new I-30 in downtown Little Rock.
Because of copyright rules, I won’t quote the entire essay (but you
can read it if you go to the library). Brummett focuses on the 2nd
Street greenspace that Nate Coulter has been pushing, and I have been
writing to you about.
Basically, Brummett supports Coulter’s plan for doing something NOW.
Brummett writes the following:
"Here is what he [Coulter] said we could do right now park-wise
downtown: He could raise a quick $150,000 to spend on the 18-acre
strip of green space across from the Main Library, lining East Second
Street. It has already been hydrated ….
The idea is to bring in and plant trees…, a pollinator garden
installed and kept by master gardeners and local garden clubs, and a
raised platform ….
He needs simple permission from the City Board with a resolution
allowing the small project to proceed at no city expense. He has not
yet received that permission, despite his pestering. He says he is not
sure why, though he has heard that it is believed in some circles
that, by abutting the envisioned 30 Crossing grander park, the little
library amenity might distract from the master plan."
Brummett argues that the CALS Park might be the seed that leads to
further growth of the downtown landscape, and concludes, “A city can,
at the same time, walk (develop a little strip of green space right
now) and chew gum (pursue a grander vision longer-term).”
When I know Coulter’s proposed resolution will be on the LR BoD
agenda, I will let you know. I hope you will support this effort.
Sincerely,
Janet Lanza |