WHAT:    The grand opening of the Josephine Pankey Center will bring together the Little Rock Police Department and Pankey community members for a celebration, ribbon cutting, and tour of the renovated building.

WHO:                      

Mayor Mark Stodola

Vice-Mayor Lance Hines, Ward 5

City Director Brad Cazort, Ward 4

City Manager Bruce T. Moore

Police Chief Kenton Buckner

Rev. Emmett McNeil

Brenda Norwood

Nancy Lott

Belver Nelson

Members of the Pankey Community Improvement Association, Inc.

WHERE:                  Josephine Pankey Center

                                    13700 Cantrell Road

                                    Little Rock, AR

WHEN:                    11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The City of Little Rock, along with the Pankey Community Improvement Association, Inc. will hold a grand opening celebration for the Josephine Pankey Center at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016.

The building houses a Little Rock Police Department substation in 3,815 square feet and a community center in the other 2,600 square feet. The substation will allow the police department to improve response times in the West Little Rock area, while the community space will serve as a meeting place for activities.

The newly completed structure sits on the site of the former Pankey School, which was part of the community established by educator, community developer and philanthropist Josephine Pankey in the first half of the 20^th Century.

“The Josephine Pankey Center is a dream fulfilled,” City Manager Bruce T. Moore said. “Through the City’s collaboration with the Pankey Community Improvement Association, a new and exciting partnership has taken shape that will have a positive impact for generations to come.”

The City of Little Rock entered an agreement with Pankey Community Improvement Association, Inc. to lease the property and complete construction on the 6,415-square-foot building to add facilities, landscape, build a parking lot, and install a fueling area for police and other City vehicles.

Funding for the project came from the West Little Rock Police Renovation project from the 3/8 Cent Capital Sales Tax passed in 2011, the 911/311 project account, and a contribution from Fleet Services for the fuel tank.

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