City staff say $2.5 million I‑30 deck‑park planning study funded largely by private grant with $500,000 city match

The Little Rock Board of Directors discussed Aug. 12 a $2.5 million planning study for a possible deck park over Interstate 30 between Sixth and Ninth streets. City staff said the project’s planning study was awarded $2 million through a grant program and that the city would provide a $500,000 match from the public works fund balance. "In 2023, we were informed that we were awarded $2,000,000 in funding, with a half a million dollar match from the city to do that planning study," a city staff member explained to the board. The board staff referenced Little Rock Resolution 15,677, which the city attorney said passed May 3, 2022, as an earlier resolution supporting an application for funding. Director Hines asked for a write-up on the item and for documentation showing where earlier approvals appear in the record; the city attorney supplied the resolution number during the meeting. Several board members and staff said the grant came through a public-private partnership and that business and neighborhood groups participated in outreach. Director Peter (city staff) said the initial grant funds were provided by 50 for the Future (a private/business initiative), and Director Spears and others stressed neighborhood involvement in the planning process. Board members debated whether to hold the item separate from the consent agenda; Director Hines initially asked to hold item 1, then allowed it to remain on consent. No final vote on the planning study itself was recorded in the agenda‑setting discussion; staff said Garver has been contracted to perform the planning study and the work is underway. Board members emphasized the study’s goal of better connecting neighborhoods east and west of the interstate and noted that the study could position the city to seek construction funding in future rounds if available.