North Little Rock has Higher Ground

(Photo provided)

(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
Honorable Mention • Over 20,000

The Challenge

The Big Rock Quarry site in North Little Rock sat for decades underused and largely inaccessible. Despite its striking natural bluffs and panoramic views of the Arkansas River Valley, the once-industrial site was overgrown and neglected after quarry operations ceased in the 1930s. Meanwhile, public interest in outdoor recreation was quickly growing, and city officials in North Little Rock saw an opportunity to turn what had become a safety hazard in the heart of the downtown district into a valuable community asset.

The Solution

Crystal Bluffs at Big Rock Quarry opened in July 2025, transforming the historic rock quarry into Arkansas’ first urban outdoor climbing park. Developed in partnership between North Little Rock Tourism, Arkansas Climber’s Coalition and the city’s Parks Department, the site features routes for climbers of all skill levels, installed and maintained by trained mountaineers. The project was supported by the community, with many donating time, money and expertise to make Crystal Bluffs a premier and unique destination for outdoor recreation in the state’s largest metropolitan area.

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