I've decided to make a thread dedicated to Arkansas. Not sure if there ever has been one, don't care if there has...because I would like to make this thread WITHOUT ANY NEGATIVE COMMENTS. If you would like to say something negative about this great American state, do so to yourself and let the rest of us enjoy the scenery and culture of one of the 50 states of the greatest country in the world.

Pics from Arkansas.com:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/littlerock.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/littlerock2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/lr_skyline_002_l.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/lr_skyline_001_l.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/riverfront.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/lr_ar_river_001_l.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/state_capitol_xmas_lights_l.jpg

Arkansas is a beautiful state. I've really enjoyed my vacations to Hot Springs and Eureka Springs.

Nature:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/sams_throne_017_l.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/cossatot_003_l.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/cossatot_011_l.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/cossatot_022_l.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/lakegreeson_001_l.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/lakeouachita_017_l.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/littlemissourifalls_001_l.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/degray_002_l.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/rjlevins/hotsprings_048_l.jpg

rjlevins,

Interesting pictures. I like the greenery along the riverfront in Little Rock.

What are some of the projects that are underway in Downtown? I notice there is an amphitheatre on the riverfront that looks nice.

Arkansas is more famous for its nature than its buildings, districts, ect.

I'm from AR. I'll contribute.

Downtown Little Rock Projects:
http://www.uaex.edu/RTWG/images/lrcvb_mainphoto_01.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/lr_skyline_002_l.jpg
Clinton presidential center (http://clintonpresidentialcenter.com)

http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/gif/092704-p-lib-s.jpg
http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/gif/092704-p-lib-se.jpg
http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/gif/092704-p-lib-e.jpg
http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/gif/092704-p-lib-ne.jpg
http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/gif/092704-p-lib-n.jpg
http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/gif/092704-p-lib-w.jpg
http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/gif/p-landscape-plan.jpg
http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/gif/lwrlvl.jpg
http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/gif/upprlvl.jpg
http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/gif/upprlvl2.jpg

According to USA Today, the Clinton Center has already generated over 1 billion in economic developments in little rock, even though it has yet to be completed.

http://downtownlittlerock.com/images/future1.jpg

heifer international headquarters (will be adjacent to clinton center)
http://www.heifer.org/media/Pop-Up/Green_Building/asset_upload_file537_2311.jpg

http://www.heifer.org/media/Pop-Up/Green_Building/asset_upload_file474_2313.jpg

http://downtownlittlerock.com/images/p30heifer1.jpg

http://downtownlittlerock.com/images/future1.jpg

Little Rock is planning on building a landmark within the next few years by converting an old railroad bridge to a landmark. Here are the entries:

http://downtownlittlerock.com/images/p74jackson1.jpg
http://downtownlittlerock.com/images/p74tfcg1.jpg
http://downtownlittlerock.com/images/p74cromwell1.jpg

Also planning on building a downtown ballpark......but there are no renderings yet. It's already been confirmed for the North Little Rock River front. I saw renderings on the local television station....but i can't find any online

A new marina downtown for ....err....boats....:
http://downtownlittlerock.com/images/p76marina1.jpg

There will be a new inland maritime musuem on the walkway bridge across from the clinton presidential center ....the centerpiece will be this submarine named the U.S.S. Razorback (no relation to U of A) which was tugboated up. http://www.northlr.org/maritime-museum/photo-gallery/cnlr_Rosedale_jpeg.jpg

Old State House
http://www.littlerock.com/images/photos/lrcvb_img_sight_osh_lg.jpg

Little Rock Chamber of Commerce
http://littlerock.dina.org/center/graphics/banner.jpg

Convention Center:
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/littlerock_002_l.jpg

Central High:
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/lr_centralhs_004_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/lr_centralhs_010_l.jpg

River District:
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/lr_rivermarket_009_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/lr_farmersmarket_005_l.jpg

Arkansas Arts Center:
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/lr_arkartsctr_005_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/ar_arts_center_little_rock_l.jpg

Historic Arkansas Musuem (Downtown):
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/lr_historic_ar_mus_005_l.jpg

State Capitol:
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/lr_capitol_016_l.jpg

The Peabody:
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/ar_arts_center_little_rock_l.jpg

Federal District Courthouse Expansion:
http://downtownlr.com/images/interior/dtp_int_photo_courthouse_po.jpg

River Rail Street Car System:
http://downtownlr.com/images/interior/dtp_int_photo_riverrail.jpg

Winrock international headquarters:
http://downtownlr.com/images/interior/dtp_int_photo_winrock.jpg

Other LR photos: [img]http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/lr_golf_rebsamen_001_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/littlerock_015_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/ar_river_001_l.jpg



Hot Springs (where I live):
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/hotsprings_001_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/hotsprings_021_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/lakehamilton_004_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/lake_hamilton_l.jpg

Convention Center:
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/hotsprings_convention_001_l.jpg

Magic Springs Theme Park (couldn't find much):
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/magicsprings_003_l.jpg
http://www.magicsprings.com/new_coaster/c_new44.jpg

Race Track:
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/oaklawn_012_l.jpg


Eureka Springs:
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/eurekasprings_007_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/eurekasprings_006_l.jpg


Fayetteville:
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/fayetteville_005_l.jpg


NATURE:

Blanchard Springs Caverns:
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/blanchardsprings_002_l.jpg

White River:
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/calico_rock_003_l.jpg

Buffalo River:
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/untitled_0243_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/untitled_bluff_001_l.jpg

Random Ozark Pics:
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/horseshoe_canyon_003_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/ponca_windriverlodge_001_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/twinfalls_003_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/untitled_pedestalrocks_001_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/hebersprings_001_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/untitled_parasail_001_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/untitled_horseriding_001_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/greersferry_010_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/sams_throne_016_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/white_rock_mtn_008_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/mtn_home_citylistings_l.jpg

Random Ouachita Mountains (The underrated sister mountains to the south):
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/cossatot_011_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/littlemissourifalls_001_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/ouachitas_009_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/queenwilhelmina_034_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/womble_001_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/cossatot_023_l.jpg


River Valley (Arkansas River depression in elevation with random mountains)
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/mtmagazine_012_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/mtmagazine_018_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/mulberryriver_004_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/mtmagazine_28_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/petitjean_cedarfalls_008_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/mtnebo_024_l.jpg

Delta (Not much there besides this):
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/la_purchase_081_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/stuttgart_003_l.jpg
http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/stuttgart_002_l.jpg

This is a weird photo. In the back you can see pinnacle mountain. You also see people canoeing in a swamp in the foreground. This place is RIGHT BY little rock. Little rock is the center of the mountains in the west and the delta in the east.....this picture illustrates that.

http://arkansas.com/images/photos/large/pinnacle_024_l.jpg

I think Little Rock's projects that are underway are impressive. I would be impressed if some of these were in major cities.

Does anybody have any more information on this project? How tall will it be?

http://downtownlittlerock.com/images/p74jackson1.jpg

As far as I know, this project is on the to-do list. It was one of several entrees for a Little Rock Landmark competition. The baseball stadium I mentioned was on the to do list a couple of months ago, and literally yesterday, I found out they had pretty much sealed up the deal and it will be on the North LR coast.

I also know of two skyscrapers planned for North Little Rock for aparment complexes (upscale complex...probably 15-25 stories high) and several other other musuems (inland maritime, arkansas wildlife, etc.) and entertainment sites planned for North Little Rock river district......Can't find any pictures or official sites for them, though.

When I lived in New Orleans, I always got a week off at Thanksgiving. My wife and I had this ritual of going to the National Forest around Blanchard Springs--above Mountain View--and camping out for a few days along some beautiful little stream.

What about Texarkana?

I think Little Rock's projects that are underway are impressive. I would be impressed if some of these were in major cities.

Does anybody have any more information on this project? How tall will it be?

http://downtownlittlerock.com/images/p74jackson1.jpg
I do know that it would be taller than the Metropolitan National Bank Tower which is 40 stories..but not the exact hight.

Little Rock is the type of city I could see sneak up as a major player in the business and tourism scene.

Little Rock is ranked 21st in best cities to do businesses according to Forbes. LR activists hope that rank will move up with the slew of developments coming. Fayetteville is ranked 3rd in the nation in small cities for best places to do business. Jonesboro is ranked 27th in small cities..... (hell even I didn't know that they were that good).

Link: http://www.forbes.com/2003/05/07/bestland.html

Cities I left out of pictures:
Jonesboro, Texarkana, Arkadelphia, West Memphis, Pine Bluff, Fort Smith.... nothing different than the cities I did list (that I know of).....

Little Rock is ranked 21st in best cities to do businesses according to Forbes. LR activists hope that rank will move up with the slew of developments coming. Fayetteville is ranked 3rd in the nation in small cities for best places to do business. Jonesboro is ranked 27th in small cities..... (hell even I didn't know that they were that good).

Link: http://www.forbes.com/2003/05/07/bestland.html

Cities I left out of pictures:
Jonesboro, Texarkana, Arkadelphia, West Memphis, Pine Bluff, Fort Smith.... nothing different than the cities I did list (that I know of).....


O good, out of date proof. Anyway, you can find nice cities all across the south, that really is what is so great about the south.

Little Rock is ranked 21st in best cities to do businesses according to Forbes. LR activists hope that rank will move up with the slew of developments coming. Fayetteville is ranked 3rd in the nation in small cities for best places to do business. Jonesboro is ranked 27th in small cities..... (hell even I didn't know that they were that good).

Link: http://www.forbes.com/2003/05/07/bestland.html

Cities I left out of pictures:
Jonesboro, Texarkana, Arkadelphia, West Memphis, Pine Bluff, Fort Smith.... nothing different than the cities I did list (that I know of).....


O good, out of date proof. Anyway, you can find nice cities all across the south, that really is what is so great about the south. And also, that tower really is spectacular isn't it, but it really belongs in Copenhagen, or some other Northern Europe major city.

COOL!!!

O good, out of date proof. Anyway, you can find nice cities all across the south, that really is what is so great about the south. And also, that tower really is spectacular isn't it, but it really belongs in Copenhagen, or some other Northern Europe major city.

Actually, that is the MOST RECENT ranking they've done. In fact, you can check it out for yourself. See, the reason why they haven't done 2004 is because 2004 isn't over yet. *sigh*

As for your second statement...poor guy. I smell a tinge of jealousy.

Oh by the way, will you stop hijacking forums? Next thing, you'll probably bring in politics.

You're giving a bad name for your fellow sooners.

Arkansas is a beautiful state, that's for sure. Lots of natural resources, and a ton of green space. As for Little Rock, well, I've never heard much of anything going on in, or coming from, that city. Other than Mr Clinton, of course! :) I'm glad Little Rock is moving towards downtown improvements. In terms of major importance, Little Rock has been in the shadow far too long. The time's here for the city to move up a notch or two. What's the metro population--like 450,000 or so? Still quite small. It has a long way to go to "catch up" to regional importance (southeast). Good luck!

Arkansas is a beautiful state, that's for sure. Lots of natural resources, and a ton of green space. As for Little Rock, well, I've never heard much of anything going on in, or coming from, that city. Other than Mr Clinton, of course! :) I'm glad Little Rock is moving towards downtown improvements. In terms of major importance, Little Rock has been in the shadow far too long. The time's here for the city to move up a notch or two. What's the metro population--like 450,000 or so? Still quite small. It has a long way to go to "catch up" to regional importance (southeast). Good luck!

The census has Little Rock's msa at 586,000 in 2003, and its csa, which includes Pine Bluff AR 40 miles south at 785,000 in 2000.

The census has Little Rock's msa at 586,000 in 2003, and its csa, which includes Pine Bluff AR 40 miles south at 785,000 in 2000.


Yeah... Pine bluff is too far away to be considered MSA in my opinon. In some statistics, they consider Hot Springs and garland county (90,000 +) part of the MSA, even though I live over 50 miles away from Little Rock... That's a lot of forests and hills to get to little rock. The estimate of of around 780,000 is viewable here: http://metrolittlerock.com/regional.asp...... That metro area is probably a good 1/3 the land size of all of arkansas.

Yeah... Pine bluff is too far away to be considered MSA in my opinon. In some statistics, they consider Hot Springs and garland county (90,000 +) part of the MSA, even though I live over 50 miles away from Little Rock... That's a lot of forests and hills to get to little rock. The estimate of of around 780,000 is viewable here: http://metrolittlerock.com/regional.asp...... That metro area is probably a good 1/3 the land size of all of arkansas.

That's why Pine Bluff isn't part of Little Rock's MSA. It's part of Little Rock's CSA instead.

That's why Pine Bluff isn't part of Little Rock's MSA. It's part of Little Rock's CSA instead.

I was referring to http://metrolittlerock.com/regional.asp .

Beautiful pictures. it looks as though there is alot going on in Little Rock. Thank You for sharing.

Here are my favorites of Little Rock:

http://www.scottstaples.com/little_rock/little_rock_0010.jpg

http://www.scottstaples.com/little_rock/little_rock_0011.jpg

http://www.scottstaples.com/little_rock/little_rock_0012.jpg

http://www.scottstaples.com/little_rock/little_rock_0001.jpg

COOL!!!

lol..i just got that now.... actually it didn't take quite that long.... I got ALL the pictures at www.arkansas.com (picture gallery). probably around 30-40 minutes, if not less.

I've decided to make a thread dedicated to Arkansas. Not sure if there ever has been one, don't care if there has...because I would like to make this thread WITHOUT ANY NEGATIVE COMMENTS. If you would like to say something negative about this great American state, do so to yourself and let the rest of us enjoy the scenery and culture of one of the 50 states of the greatest country in the world.
Great thread, rj.

That was awesome, johnny. Thanks.

Your guys' tours make me wanna move to AR! :cheers:

Alright guys. I just got news on the new baseball stadium. It will be placed on the North Little Rock Riverfront with a view of the Little Rock Skyline. Here it is:

http://arktimes.com/Assets/Article/2004_10-20_14-49-22-564.jpg
http://216.250.230.16/katv/newballfield_map.jpg
Article from Arkansas Times:

http://arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=2b0ae4eb-27d6-4e49-ab12-276cf45f10e9

North Little Rock Mayor Pat Hays and Frank Thomas of Stephens Inc. (and on the board of the Arkansas Travelers) made the rounds of newsrooms Wednesday, Oct. 20, with word of a joint plan to develop 22 acres in downtown NLR anchored by a new minor league ballpark.
Half the land is being pitched in by the city. Warren Stephens, who bought half the land recently, is contributing his land in return for Stephens Inc. naming rights on the prospective stadium. The company's skyscraper dominates the skyline across the river. The land lies just east of the Broadway Bridge.
How to pay for it? A study will
investigate options. Hays says he hopes other naming rights, advertising and skybox seating will raise a bunch. Won't public money be needed? "I don't know," he told Ark. Blog. But he concedes it likely will be part of the mix. The legislature could be asked for money, for example. We wager a bond issue supported by tax revenue will enter the picture eventually, though that's not a certainty. Might we hear TIF district financing as a possibility? Hays will be touting the revenue-creating properties of condos, offices and a parking deck that are envisioned as the private portion of the development idea.
Lots of money is needed. A 5,000-seat stadium in Midland, Texas, with some hillside seats for picnickers, cost $22 million or so.
Trav GM Bill Valentine is in Italy, but he's said for months that he'd move the club anywhere someone would build a ballpark to big league standards. He threw in with North Little Rock (home of his favorite restaurant, Capeo, on the reviving Main Street strip) after Stephens made the land purchase. It's a better site, Valentine thinks, because of more land for parking.
Timeline: Maybe a 2007 opening. An architect has already been hired. It's a firm that designed the Ballpark at Arlington and the new Comiskey Park in Chicago.
Artist's concepts of the plan are, well, exciting. The LR skyline will be a prominent feature beyond the outfield fence. A picnic area in the outfield has been discussed. Warren Stephens has even kicked around the idea of a sculpture garden of Arkansas baseball immortals around a park-like entry to the field.
Some LR officials aren't happy about losing the Travs and a tenant for quaint, but out-of-date Ray Winder Field. A Zoo expansion on the property is a dream, but money isn't readily available. However, Mayor Jim Dailey and others will likely emphasize that a development in the heart of the city is good for both cities. Plus, there's the factor that Warren Stephens has quietly been amassing land on Little Rock's Main Street for a revitalized living, entertainment and cultural district. There's no benefit in quarreling with North Little Rock's choice for the ballpark. It's in easy walking distance (really, we've done it) of hotels on Markham Street in Little Rock.

Oh, and by the way, that's not the skyline in the rendering, the skyline you predominantly see of little rock would be left of the picture boundary...

Oh...and it will be the North Little Rock Travelers baseball team...not the Little Rock Travelers...not that big of a deal

Little Rock Pop: 180,000
North Little Rock: 60,000

Little Rock is a very nice looking city. It actually looks a lot bigger than it actually is!

I've enjoyed the time I've spent in AR (Hot Springs and Heber Springs). Hopefully the government devotes more attention to pumping up NE Arkansas and pushing smart developments thereabouts (that area seems to have gone somewhat ignored until recently). Nice to see Jonesboro doing so well, and Marion/West Memphis is poised to explode with auto manufacturing and its proximity to Memphis and all the transportation options in the area. Blytheville was on the short list of sites for the Boeing 7e7; it would be nice to see that area surge forward, especially if it fueled some smart small-town urban planning developments.

Yea Jonesboro's doing pretty good. Its kindof funny..but the town is all hyped up cause were getting a new mall..:D even i am.:D

I have family in Fort Smith and I think Arkansas is Beautiful place. Little Rock is a great city escpecially for a city its size.(not saying its small its just not huge)

Hey, can you guys from Arkansas do something about the Clintons? Maybe a cage or a zoo or something? You are responsible for the wildlife when it starts to spread to the rest of the country.

This is HOT off the presses...

Moses-Tucker, a development company in LR, has just announced a new high-rise condo project for downtown LR. The project, a 17-story building, would house 106 residential units ranging from $250,000 to $1 Million each. I will be near the Rivermarket District, which is the area of downtown that is really booming. Construction should begin in Summer '05 and be completed sometime in '07.

http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/images/mt_property_large.gif

For the full story from arkansasbusiness.com, go here...
http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/news/article.asp?u=%7BF34202F4%2DBD2D%2D462A%2D9B2B%2D5C361E5F790E%7D%7BF34202F4%2DBD2D%2D462A%2D9B2B%2D5C361E5F790E%7D&aid=38987

Thanks, arkansasbuff, I was thinking about posting that.

Also, the First Security Center opened two days ago!

http://downtownlr.com/images/interior/dtp_int_photo_1stsecurity.jpg

http://www.katv.com/news/stories/1004/183644.html

Why no pictures of BLYTHEVILLE??? I am sad. . .

you dont wanna see pictures of Blytheville..haha

The idea of using an old railway bridge to make a landmark is very clever, i guess it would be something to bring in the tourists. To be honest i had only heard of Little Rock from a line from a Marilyn Monroe song " we`re just to little girls from Little Rock!"

Fantastic thread!!! Glad to see so many photos of a state less known to me. I appreciate you shared all these photos with us.

I had been hearing things about Little Rock starting to become a really cool city and I knew somthing must be happening for the trolley to be taken seriously.
The city seemed far more energized about expanding it than most other places would.

Knowing this I convinced a couple friends to take I-40 to Dallas instead of
I-20. We stayed at the hotel in the First Security Center and spent the morning at the Clinton Library.

Before we got there all I heard was "Why are we going this way, it is 100 miles further and Arkansas---Yuk?" You would have thought that I was going to make them sleep in a shack and take bath in a pond.

After we left it is all they talked about for the rest of the drive.
What a great city. Nice river. Great Architecture. Nice People.

I don't know if it is still true, but I know Little Rock at one time had the highest murder rate in the U.S. This was as a result of a terrible gang problem; does anyone know if crime is still a major issue in Little Rock?

Nice pics of Little Rock. I have always wanted to go to Hot Springs and Eureka Springs, but after seeing these pics, I will add Little Rock to my list. Besides, I would like to visit the Clinton Library.