IMAGE: A rendering of the future MLK Park in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
From the City of Arkadelphia
The City of Arkadelphia has secured a $1 million loan to move forward with construction of the Martin Luther King Jr. Park project, marking a significant step in a long-discussed community initiative. City officials made the announcement on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Monday, Jan. 19.
Construction is planned to begin in spring 2026.
Following a competitive bidding process, the city secured a construction loan through Southern Bancorp at a 4.49% interest rate. The loan will fund the construction of Phase 1 of the MLK Park project.
Phase 1 includes site preparation and development of the Youth Empowerment Zone, which will feature an ADA-accessible playground, half basketball courts, and a splash pad designed to support inclusive, active recreation.
“This project has been a long time in the making,” said City Manager Gary Brinkley. “Over the years, the city has had to carefully consider how best to move this project forward. Transitioning from a primarily grassroots effort to a city-funded approach required thoughtful planning and difficult conversations. Phasing the park allows us to make meaningful progress now while ensuring quality, accessibility, and fiscal responsibility.”
The city is working with Halff & Associates to guide the project. The anticipated timeline for Phase 1 is as follows:
- February 17: Advertisement for park construction bids
- March 10: Bid submission deadline; engineers evaluate bids and develop a
recommendation - March 17: Bids presented to the City of Arkadelphia Board of Directors for review and
contractor selection - Week of April 13: Groundbreaking ceremony; construction begins
“We are encouraged to finally have a clear and achievable path forward,” Brinkley said. “Beginning construction represents an important milestone for the community and lays the foundation for continued investment and future phases of the park.”
Phase 1 construction will take place on the north side of the MLK Park site.
Updated renderings for Phase 1 of the park will be released in the coming weeks.
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