Peabody Park

Peabody Park is an extension of Julius Breckling Riverfront Park located behind the Peabody Hotel in downtown Little Rock. The park, formerly called Riverfront Park West, features a pavilion, climbing area with eight-foot walls, a "tree room," concrete tunnels, and spray fountain with waterfall. The project calls for the placement of a number of sandstone boulders of several hundred tons each. The park is inspired in part by Richard Louv's book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, which at-large City Director Dean Kumpuris had read. Kumpuris also convened a special meeting to draw ideas from local young people. Said Kumpuris, "The children told us what they wanted. They made drawings and told us flat out what they did and didn't want in their park."

The new park replaces an old wooden playground structure that failed to meet standards applied in 2005 by graduate students at the University of Arkansas. The architect of the new playground is Leland Couch. The construction manager on the site is Jackie Collins. "There's nothing like this anywhere. The uniqueness of this park will get national attention," said Kumpuris.

The Peabody Hotel donated $250,000 for naming rights to the park. Arkansas Specialty Orthopedics contributed another $25,000. The total cost of the park, including labor contributed by Little Rock Department of Parks and Recreation employees, is about $2.2 million. The park is expected to open on Memorial Day weekend 2008.

References

• Matthew S.L. Cate, "Work Lagging, Park Playground Won't Join Riverfest Fun," Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, April 17, 2007.
• Nancy Elizabeth Goodman, "A Place to Run Free," Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Where We Live 2008.
• Brandon Tubbs, "Adventure Begins Soon at LR Park," Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, February 21, 2008.