Situated just south of downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, MacArthur Park has a strong connection with the past and present of the city and state. Originally established as Little Rock’s first city park, the space has changed and evolved over the decades in numerous ways, leading to several notable developments inside and around McArthur Park that literally call out the history associated with it. These developments have protected this history while also strengthening the legacy that it represents to the future of the entire region.
The Oldest Park in Little Rock
Originally known as City Park, MacArthur Park is the oldest municipal park in Little Rock. This history is tied to the construction of a federal arsenal in 1840 that was eventually utilized by both Federal and Confederate forces in the Civil War. The Little Rock Arsenal is also where the Camden Expedition was launched in 1864. In 1892 the US Army traded the Little Rock Arsenal’s land, including the Arsenal Tower Building, to the City of Little Rock to serve as a city park.
In 1942, the official name of the Park was changed to MacArthur Park in honor of General Douglas MacArthur, who was born at Little Rock Arsenal in 1880. That same year, the city of Little Rock relocated the Museum of Natural History and Antiquities to the Tower Building, which was the only surviving building from the former arsenal. The museum in the Tower Building changed several times over the years, but in 2001 the building was fully restored and became home to the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History.
The park and surrounding area have been designated the MacArthur Park Historic District, which has its’ own history that stretches back to the 1830s. Today, the district consists of mixed-use development, including single-family homes, multi-family structures, retail spaces, and offices, all of which is centered around MacArthur Park. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977, this development is an indication of the kind of positive economic and cultural impact that MacArthur Park has enabled for the entire city of Little Rock.
Numerous Attractions and Multiple Landmarks
The history associated with the Tower Building has allowed it to become the main attraction in MacArthur Park, as the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History interprets the state’s military heritage via artifacts, photographs, weapons, documents and more. This history celebrated across the park in various other ways though.
The Arkansas Korean War Veterans Memorial contains the names of 461 Arkansans killed in the Korean War on large black granite panels. They contain information concerning the Korean War and are centered around statues of combat soldiers and Korean children. Historical markers highlight other aspects of this history in the park, but the experiences that visitors can have in MacArthur Park are not limited to this history.
Over the years, natural and landscaped elements such as a reflection garden, sculptures, a pond, a bandstand and a playground have been added to MacArthur Park, providing audiences with a variety of ways to experience the park. Many of these elements have been actively cultivated by the MacArthur Park Group which was formed in 2006 to conserve and develop MacArthur Park. Their efforts are focused on designing and creating as many opportunities as possible for residents, workers and visitors.
The MacArthur Park Group has sponsored fundraising events, including a 5-kilometer race as well as a murder mystery dinner show. The organization has also been successful in leading volunteer park clean up days and refinancing of park bonds producing $150,000 for enhancements to the Park, all without the need for outside financing. All of these efforts are the result of an endeavor to celebrate and cultivate the history that MacArthur Park represents to Little Rock.
Connecting the Past and Future of Little Rock
Numerous parks feature monuments that celebrate the history and culture of the area, but MacArthur Park has been able to do both of these things in a way that connects the entire space to the community. The park contains paths and open green spaces like any other, but the active endeavor to cultivate the legacy of the region have made it something much more than a city park. By actively showcasing various aspects of the history of the Little Rock Arsenal and the land around it, MacArthur Park highlights what it can look like for a park to connect the past with the future of a city and state in a meaningful way for audiences of all types.
