At a news conference held on Wednesday at City Hall today, Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. and several city officials unveiled updated renderings of proposed indoor and outdoor youth sports complexes, which would be financed by the Results For The Rock sales tax initiative. Mayor Scott was accompanied by Ward 4 City Director Capi Peck, Little Rock Parks Director Leland Couch, and Gina Gemberling, president of the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“We know that the new economic development model across our nation’s cities includes parks and recreation and quality of life and place. Millennials and Generation Z, tend to choose where they want to live first and then they focus on their career. For those retiring and aging in place and have discretionary income, they choose where they want to live based on quality of life and place,” said Mayor Scott. “We also have to have new things within the city of Little Rock so families can stop traveling outside of the city for local tournaments”
The proposed sales tax aims to fund the construction of new sports complexes and upgrades to existing parks. These upgrades include transforming War Memorial Park into a “central park” for Little Rock and developing Hindman Park into a regional outdoor recreation hub. The sales tax is projected to generate over $65 million annually to support various capital projects and ongoing needs, which Mayor Scott has summarized as the “four Ps”: public safety, public works and infrastructure, parks and recreation, and the Port and economic development. Little Rock residents are set to vote on the tax this fall.
Sports facilities have been on our radar and a key objective at the Little Rock Convention and Visitor’s Bureau for many years. It was confirmed and reiterated in our 2023 tourism master plan,” Gina Gemberling said. “Youth sports is big business. Nationally it brings in about $45 billion annually into cities all around the United States. It’s expected to reach $77 billion by 2026. If we are able to create these proposed facilities, we will be able to capture $35 million to $39 million in direct spending each year.”
Mayor Scott emphasized the importance of these developments for the community, stating that the new sports complexes would enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors. “This proposal would level up not only our sports development but also our tourist attractions,” he said.
There have been no final decisions made on the locations of the indoor and outdoor sports complexes. However, the Mayor mentioned that the city anticipates the outdoor complex to be situated in southwest Little Rock near Bass Pro, and the indoor complex to be located in east Little Rock. The expected costs of the two facilities are $60 million for the indoor complex and $55 million for the outdoor facility.
The full news conference can be viewed on the City of Little Rock’s YouTube channel. You can view all of the current facility plans on the City of Little Rock website.
One Response
We do not need “sports complex facilites” all over L. R.. We DO NEED good streets, which we do not have!! I am surprised a kid on a motorcycle has not been killed at night, unable to see one of the many holes in the streets. NO TAX INCREASE!