The Placemaking Round-Up
A biweekly newsletter with public space news, resources, and opportunities.
The Biweekly Bazaar
A curated dispatch on all things public markets plus the latest announcements from the Market Cities Program.
A biweekly newsletter with public space news, resources, and opportunities.
A curated dispatch on all things public markets plus the latest announcements from the Market Cities Program.
Project for Public Spaces worked with the City of Pea Ridge to transform the well-used Pea Ridge City Park into a cohesive space, with the addition of a central gathering point that features an attractive shade sail and elevated stage for large community events.
The 12-acre Pea Ridge City Park is one of the few municipal parks in Pea Ridge, Arkansas. A city of 6,500 residents, Pea Ridge operated without a Parks Department at the time of their application and when they were awarded a Community Placemaking Grant by Project for Public Spaces in 2023. Pea Ridge hoped to elevate the park’s amenities—a playground, splash pad, event pavilion, public restrooms, and sports facilities—to turn it into a destination for larger public events and diversified programming to meet the needs of a fast-growing population that was expected to double in the next three years.
In June of 2023, Project for Public Spaces first visited Pea Ridge to lead a focus group with city staff and host a workshop with the general public. Being a small but well-connected community, the workshop had a sizable turnout with a diverse audience reflecting the wide range of ages and interests of visitors who frequent the city park. Split into five groups, participants were asked to rate the existing conditions of the park’s key areas based on the four qualities of what makes a great place. The activity helped paint a picture of what works, what doesn’t, and where the needs are. The workshop also helped the group narrow down priority focus areas that the grant can fund. Many ideas were proposed for ways to connect the sprawling park, but one site had the most potential for improvement and long-term benefits: an area of the lawn featuring a circular platform was too small and inaccessible to be used very often as a gathering place.
Through ongoing work with the local team, we developed the concept for a large stage and seating area that could be used for public programming and events. This new space would be flexible to host a variety of programming to attract all ages. The plan also included a large shade sail to provide both shelter and visual appeal. Excited about the new developments, the City decided to invest additional funds to build an accessible path to this new space.
On November 16, 2024, the City of Pea Ridge introduced the new Park Amp at an exciting community celebration that featured vendors, games, and live entertainment took place right on the new stage. The ribbon cutting gathered over 300 community members! Attendance included the Miss Pea Ridge Princesses, the Mayor, the Planning Director, and…a recently appointed Parks and Recreation Director, who would lead the city’s new parks department!
Project for Public Spaces’ Community Placemaking Grants enable US-based nonprofits and government agencies to address inequality of access to public places that serve community needs by working directly with local stakeholders to transform spaces or co-create new ones. We do this by providing direct funding, technical assistance, and capacity building facilitated by Project for Public Spaces. Learn more about how to become a Social Impact Partner today.
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