by Samson Tamijani
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Plans for the Fayetteville Cultural Arts Corridor project will not significantly impact parking, city officials confirmed to UATV News Wednesday.
Voters approved multiple bond measures to vastly expand beautification projects around town in 2017 and 2018. Those projects are separated into three phases, Environmental Director Peter Nierengarten said.
In addition to Fayetteville Public Library’s mass expansion construction on West Avenue, Nierengarten said the first major phase of the corridor project will begin in late spring 2020 with the groundbreaking of Fay Jones Woods.
Jones Woods will be the product of a rapid cleanup and resurfacing process by the city to rid native trees and plants of invasive plant and fungi, Nierengarten said. The area is to be located between Gregg Avenue and West Avenue.
“We anticipate (the construction of Fay Jones Woods) starting in April or May, and we’re excited for what it has to offer,” Nierengarten said. “It’s an opportunity to open up an area that’s kind of been a neglected patch of woods across from the library.”
In Phase Two, West Avenue itself will also undergo a makeup to expand walking and wheelchair access in sidewalks as well as lights illuminating at night.
Phase Three of the corridor project will see the demolition of the Walton Arts Center parking lot on Dickson and West streets to make way for a 50-acre civic plaza park. Expected to be completed in 2023, officials said the park will contain public art, street-scaping, enhanced pedestrian paths, and open-air gathering spaces.
However, the city said a replacement parking garage nearby will be completed for the public and commuting UA students before the WAC lot is vacated. The exact location for the replacement garage is expected to be announced in October, Nierengarten said.