Planned Arkadelphia park to honor Martin Luther King Jr.
Arkadelphia is creating Martin Luther King Jr. Park. It’s a multiuse project that could make the headquarters city of South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative an Arkansas focal point for activities on the federal holiday marking the civil rights icon’s birthday (Jan. 20 this year).
The park’s groundbreaking is planned for late 2025 on former hospital grounds at 1420 Pine St., a mile or so northwest of the Clark County Courthouse. The park opening is expected by the end of 2026.
A committee of Arkadelphians was formed a decade ago to recommend the best way to honor King. The committee’s park idea was adopted in 2016 by the city’s board of directors. Another committee was set up in 2018 to devise suggestions for design and content of the park, which is projected to cost $2.5 million.
“The park has been planned with a holistic approach of both recognizing Dr. King, and providing much-needed recreational opportunities for all citizens of Arkadelphia as well as visitors,” says City Manager Gary Brinkley. “We expect this to be done so well and at such a high level that it will become a regional destination.”
He notes that Arkadelphia does not have a park for physically disabled children. The future park “is planned to address that need with proper playground elements and surfacing. It will also address the lack of recreational activities in this part of town. And it will have educational elements on Dr. King’s life and message of hope.”
Brinkley is a member of the MLK Memorial Park Committee, along with Arkadelphia Mayor Dr. Scott Byrd. The committee’s chairman is Roland Gosey, owner of Williams Funeral Home. Honorary co-chairmen are Fitzgerald Hill, former president of Arkansas Baptist College, and Mitch Bettis, an Arkadelphia native and head of Arkansas Business Publishing Group.
The project’s website reports that the park’s design was partly inspired by a 1967 King speech, “What is Your Life Blueprint?” In it, he cited “a good, solid blueprint” as important for planning a life.
According to the website, the park’s design draws specifically from two passages in the speech: “Your life’s blueprint should be a deep belief in your own dignity, your worth.” And it should include “the determination to achieve excellence.”
The goal of the park similarly “reflects a commitment to providing a solid foundation. Because of the park’s central location, surrounding neighborhoods, schools, churches and businesses have access.”
An “abundance of opportunities for all ages” is envisioned, including “art, nature, sports and history. Initial park design includes a quarter-mile walking loop, Youth Empowerment Zone play area, splash pad, amphitheater next to a green gathering space and paved civil rights educational trail. A series of kiosks will be placed along the walking route to educate the public on the Civil Rights Movement.”
The website imagines an impact beyond just Arkadelphia: “Our city is poised along Interstate 30 midway between Texarkana and Little Rock, making it an easy destination for field trips, group travel and future historic and tourism opportunities.”