Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. has created two task forces to examine downtown density and food deserts.
The Downtown Density Task Force, chaired by at-large City Director Antwan Phillips, will develop strategies to address land use issues downtown, Scott said in a statement. The panel will evaluate short-term and long-term parking needs, and residential and commercial development.
Other members of the task force include developers Hank Kelley and Jimmy Moses; Carol Worley, attorney and president of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership; and Kasey Summerville, vice president of marketing, communications and community engagement at the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The Food Deserts Task Force aims to address a lack of access to affordable, fresh food in some parts of the city. Vice Mayor Kathy Webb leads the panel.
Other members include Kenya Eddings, executive director of Arkansas Minority Health Commission; Gary Proffitt, vice president of operations at Edwards Food Giant; and executives from Hope Credit Union and Southern Bancorp.
“As I begin my second term in office, it’s our priority to make Little Rock a catalyst for the new South and address the issues that affect the quality of life for all our residents,” Scott said. “First and foremost, our neighborhoods need to be safe. After that, we must adequately and effectively plan for growth and development, and we must ensure that we can meet the most basic of all needs by tending to those who are hungry. These task forces will move us in the right direction.”
