The Jonesboro City Council reviewed plans for a proposed children’s museum downtown and approved several measures related to infrastructure and traffic during its meeting on Tuesday.
Jordan Carlow, president of the Northeast Arkansas (NEA) Children’s Museum, outlined the project, which has been in development since 2023. The museum aims to inspire imagination, promote exploration, and support lifelong learning for children in the region. Carlow noted the facility would attract an estimated 77,000 visitors yearly.
The project’s cost is estimated at $10 to $12 million, with $40,000 already raised privately. Carlow hopes construction will begin in the fall of 2027, with an opening planned for the fall of 2028. She asked the city to donate or provide a low-cost lease for the property at 215 W. Monroe Avenue, the current site of Winter Wonderland. The popular community holiday destination would be incorporated into the museum’s programming.
The council also addressed two private club permit ordinances, approving the first readings for Blazing Buffalo Sports Grill located at 3310 Southwest Drive and My Place Hotel at 2905 Gilmore Drive.
In infrastructure matters, the council accepted a low bid from RL Persons Construction Inc. to widen South Caraway Road. Additionally, a new ordinance to establish and consolidate special traffic patterns around Jonesboro Public School campuses received approval.
The Public Works Council Committee advanced multiple proposals to support local pedestrian and research projects. The committee recommended the acceptance of a $100,000 fee proposal by Pickering Firm Inc. for construction administration and inspection services for the Marion Berry Parkway multi-use trail. Funding will come from the city’s capital improvement budget.
The Higginbottom Trail project also moved forward after the committee suggested hiring Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing Inc. to provide professional services. This initiative will also be funded through the capital improvement budget.
Additionally, a resolution to partner with the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees to construct a wetland site near Turtle Creek was forwarded for council approval. The project would repurpose existing retention ponds into permanent wetlands, offering a field research location for K-12 and higher education students studying urban environmental systems. The proposed cost is $50,000, sourced from the capital improvement budget.
The council’s actions highlight ongoing efforts to expand educational, recreational, and infrastructure resources in the Jonesboro community.