Booneville’s Public, Private Partners for Parks

(Editor’s Note: Each year, Arkansas Business partners with the Arkansas Municipal League to present the Trendsetter City awards, which recognize exceptional initiatives underway in municipalities across the state. Large, medium and small-sized cities were honored in six categories: Diversity and Inclusion; Education/Workforce Development; Infrastructure and Water; Public Works/Environmental and Green Management; Technology and Security; and Tourism Development/Creative Culture. Below is one winner’s story. For more, click here.) 

Tourism Development/Creative Culture
Winner • Under 5,000

The Challenge

A serious decline in downtown Booneville escalated in 2017, with many businesses closing and buildings falling into disrepair. The area had become an eyesore, negatively affecting the town’s economy and community spirit. Reviving this once-vibrant area became the mission of the Booneville Downtown Beautification Group, which saw an opportunity to transform the small city into a welcoming and aesthetically pleasing destination. However, they faced a major challenge: raising enough funds to make a significant impact toward revitalization.

The Solution

In partnership with the city of Booneville, First Western Bank and the Rotary Club, the Beautification Group constructed Broadway Memorial Park in May 2023. The $225,000 public-private project added a performance stage, flower beds, a pergola, restrooms and seating in the city center. The park has since hosted 12 concerts and festivals and events like October Daze, resulting in a surge of foot traffic. And local businesses report increased customers, particularly restaurants benefiting from outdoor dining options.

Forward Thinking

The space utilized to build the Broadway Memorial Park was previously a 30,000-square-foot vacant gravel lot.

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