The Conway City Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance to establish an entertainment district in the central green of the Village at Hendrix, a campus-adjacent neighborhood on the city's east side.

Dr. Karen Peterson, president of Hendrix College, told the council the district is intended to draw and retain students and make Conway more of a destination. "We are here for a proposal to establish an entertainment district in the green space in the center of the village," she said, adding that the college hopes the plan will enhance the area's livability and local businesses.

Rob Rotgell, a special assistant to the Hendrix president, outlined operations and logistics: the district would operate year-round, with proposed hours roughly 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and last service about 10 p.m.; licensed establishments would be responsible for compliance inside their facilities and would use city-issued cups and wristbands for outdoor service. Rotgell also told council that Roost and Tap is expected to move into the former Panera site and that nearby tenants including Pearl support the concept.

City staff and councilors pressed presenters on enforcement, cost and liability. Chief Harris said routine outdoor dining and small gatherings are not typically problematic but that larger events should have officers assigned: "If you're gonna have an event, have officers working," he said. City Attorney Bill Finkenbinder advised that Arkansas law generally grants cities immunity from negligent-suit claims, a legal protection he said applies to injuries between private parties in municipal settings.

Council debated whether to add an emergency clause to make the ordinance effective immediately. Several members proposed monitoring the district for a trial period (six months to a year) and said the council can amend the ordinance if problems arise. The council voted to adopt the ordinance as drafted and declined to invoke an emergency clause; the measure passed 7'to'0.

The ordinance preserves the college's ability to notify the mayor's office about large events; Hendrix officials said they typically hire off-duty Faulkner County sheriff's deputies or Conway officers for homecoming and other notable gatherings. City staff noted the current draft does not include an explicit city authority to require extra officers or restrict repeat participation beyond the monetary penalties listed in section 9, items staff said could be revised in a future amendment.

Council members and the college said they share an interest in keeping the space safe and calm; Peterson said Hendrix would return quickly to council if operational changes are needed. Because the council did not approve an emergency clause, the ordinance will take effect under the city's usual publication timetable unless the council acts again to accelerate it.