Little Rock opens Western Hills Park after years of community effort

Little Rock officials and neighborhood residents on an otherwise unspecified date celebrated the opening of Western Hills Park, a project city leaders said was years in the making and funded with city sales-tax money plus a state "legacy grant." The land was previously part of Western Hills Golf Course, city officials said, and has been redeveloped with a playground, restroom, pavilion, trail system and parking improvements.

The park’s opening was framed as the result of sustained local involvement and intergovernmental funding. "It's a promise made and a promise kept," the mayor said, thanking Little Rock Parks and Recreation and state partners for their roles in completing the work. City remarks credited neighborhood advocates and the grants office for keeping the project moving through multiple funding cycles and approvals.

Vice Mayor Warrick, who represents Ward 7, highlighted connectivity and neighborhood use, saying the new trail will tie into a broader Tri Creek trail network and provide links toward Henman Park and Bridal Creek. He also noted the property includes two lakes that the Game and Fish agency stocks and said "there's about 800 residents that live around this park," underscoring the project's local footprint.

The city also emphasized a partnership with Hunger Relief Alliance, which runs an urban farm on the property; officials said the farm was retained in the park design. A state official who identified herself as Taryn Shungblood, director of the Outdoor Recreation Grants Program, said she joined the project after previous program directors shepherded it and called Western Hills a "legacy park."

City leaders closed the ceremony by reiterating thanks to community members, parks staff and state grant partners and encouraging residents to use the new park and trails.