Park Hill
Park Hill is a historic neighborhood in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
The Park Hill area was originally billed as the "second Pulaski Heights" when it was developed by Justin Matthews as the city's first suburban district in the 1920s. Justin Mathews was a trained pharmacist from Monticello, Arkansas. In 1901 he married Agnes Somers and moved to central Arkansas. In 1902 he established the Rose City Cotton Oil Mill in North Little Rock, but soon began branching out into real estate. One of his largest projects in his early adult years was the Matthews Block on Main Street in North Little Rock.
Park Hill lands were originally owned by the Missouri Pacific Railroad, which Matthews purchased in 1922. He immediately platted this hilly area for housing in forming the Park Hill Land Company. Many of Matthews top employees originally lived in the neighborhood, including architect Frank Carmean, brick mason Julius Bender, road engineer Robert Massey, and landscape designer Oscar Wilhelm.
Park Hill Elementary School opened in February 1925.
Homes in the area are built in the Craftsman, Cottage, and California bungalow styles, as well as in period revival styles such as English Revival, Spanish Revival, Colonial Revival, and Garrison Revival. The suburb became part of North Little Rock in 1946.
Neighborhood leaders are currently trying to preserve a large root beer mug originally built by Frostop. Park Hill has been a dry enclave in North Little Rock since the 1950s.
Contents
Past and present neighborhood businesses and services
Most businesses and churches in Park Hill are located along John F. Kennedy Boulevard.
- Advantage 1
- AJ Monogramming
- Alexander's Salon
- Arkansas Lymphedema & Therapy Providers
- The Bridal Cottage
- Complete Chiropractic
- Crye-Leike Realtors
- Custom Designs Sewing
- Daylight Donuts
- Edward Jones Investments
- Elite Staffing
- Heartland Tax Service
- Jim Fore Real Estate
- Kelcro
- Merchant Bankcard Solutions
- North Little Rock Adventure Boot Camp
- North Little Rock Fire Station 5
- North Little Rock Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
- Padgett Business Services
- Park Hill Florist
- Park Hill Pet Clinic
- Park Theater
- Pro Gym
- Realty Title & Escrow Services
- Red Door Gallery
- Schlotzsky's
- Shop Trio
- Stanley Jewelers Gemologists
- Sue Smith Vacations
- Time Plus Payroll
- Whitfield's Food Market
Churches
- Park Hill Baptist Church
- Park Hill Christian Church
- Park Hill Presbyterian Church
- St Luke's Episcopal Church
- Trinity Lutheran Church
References
- Kyle Brazzel, "Neighborhood Watch: Park Hill," Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, September 6, 2008.
