A new, universally-accessible, free playground is in the works for MacArthur Park, and will be the first of its kind in the heart of the Little Rock! The collaboration between MacArthur Park Group and Little Rock Parks & Recreation is still in the early stages of planning, but the group recently met with members of the community to discuss ideas and unveil a conceptual drawing.

“We think it’s going to be wonderful,” Sharon Priest told Little Rock Family in a phone interview. Though Priest retired from her role as Executive Director of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership earlier this year, she has remained involved with the MacArthur Park Group and shared details about the early plans for the new playground.

The imaginative concept incorporates geographic features of Arkansas, including the Toltec Mounds, Crowley’s Ridge, Pinnacle Mountain, the Arkansas River and more (see conceptual drawing above). The playground will stimulate the senses—sound, touch, sight—for children of all abilities, helping children in wheelchairs get high enough to touch the leaves in a tree, for example. Calming areas or “rooms” will help curb overstimulation for children with autism spectrum disorders. And, of course, the planning group is looking to incorporate a splash pad—a summertime feature that all families love.

The project is being planned with much thought towards accessibility. “We’re learning about the things that are required,” Priest said, such as areas of shade, accessible parking and restrooms, as well as wheelchair and walker-friendly turf.

The new design will replace the existing playground in MacArthur Park, expanding to take over two acres. Priest said the master plan will include accessibility throughout the entire park, connecting the new playground to the pond and the dog park. That would mean constructing 10-foot-wide sidewalks throughout MacArthur Park to accommodate both children and adults who use wheelchairs.

And of course, the group plans to get input from a very important group of citizens—children! “Once we’ve got more info, we want to take it to kids for their ideas,” Priest said.

Once the plans and drawings are finalized—and the playground’s price tag is determined—fundraising will begin. “We have lots of ideas and little money,” Priest said with a laugh. But she isn’t daunted by the task, citing the group’s ability to raise over $2.5 million for past projects. “I feel certain that our community is generous and will want to participate and contribute,” she said.

In fact, she welcomed interested community members to reach out with ideas; you can find contact information for the MacArthur Park Group here. Members of the public are also invited to attend the group's meetings, held at MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History each Friday at 8 a.m.

The MacArthur Park Group is already moving in the right direction: They received a $10,000 planning grant from the Arkansas Governor’s Developmental Disability Council and hope to receive a $45,000 matching grant when the playground plans are finalized. "It’s time for this to happen," Priest said of central Arkansas' need for an accessible playground. "It would be a regional park—people would come from all over to play in that playground."

For more info, visit MacArthurParkLR.com.