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Little Rock officials present $80M–$130M vision for 30 Crossing park, propose phased start this year
Summary
Parks staff described a 14‑month master plan for 30 Crossing, an 18‑acre downtown park largely on ARDOT right‑of‑way, and recommended a Phase 0 (low‑permanence) start while pursuing grants, private fundraising and partnerships; full build costs were estimated at roughly $80–$130 million.
Leland, the parks project lead, laid out the 14‑month master plan for 30 Crossing — an 18‑acre downtown site reclaimed from old interstate right‑of‑way — and said staff are pursuing a phased approach to begin physical work as soon as this year.
“This is an unbelievable project, in terms of cost and everything else,” Leland said, describing a concept designed by Sasaki that draws on Arkansas’s mountains, delta and river landscapes. He said the plan ranges in estimated full build cost from about $80 million on the low end to roughly $130 million at the high end, with a working midpoint of about $100 million.
Why it matters: 30 Crossing would transform a large, centrally located swath of open space into trails, playgrounds, wetlands and event spaces that could connect the River Market and nearby cultural institutions. Officials said the project could have major economic and recreational impacts downtown while requiring an expanded funding strategy.
Staff emphasized constraints tied to ownership and revenue. Much of the site lies on ARDOT right‑of‑way, and Leland said state and federal rules limit the city’s ability to generate revenue directly from activities placed on that right‑of‑way. The parks director illustrated workarounds: “Copper Grill can open onto the green space,” he said, allowing adjacent private parcels the city owns to host revenue‑generating uses and support park activation without violating right‑of‑way limits.
Phase 0 plan and grants: Parks staff proposed a Phase 0 implementation to construct lower‑permanence improvements — for example, a gravel trail — that could be built this year while not precluding future permanent construction. Leland said staff have applied for federal grants (including a past RAISE application that earned a merit award) and have identified matching commitments the city could use. He said the parks department earmarked $2.5 million for a match and that the state has indicated an approximately equal amount in support for a potential $25 million federal award.
Public input and partners: Leland said consultants and staff gathered extensive public input at events including the food truck festival and other outreach; he noted partners such as the Museum of Discovery and Downtown Partnership tested programming on the open space last year and reported positive results. He said governance for the park would likely include a foundation or board to help raise and steward private funds and manage maintenance.
Next steps: Staff said they will finalize a Phase 0 concept plan and continue pursuing grants and private dollars, and offered to return with follow‑up presentations or deeper subcommittee briefings. The commission discussed whether regular updates should appear on future agendas or within the master plan subcommittee.
