A ribbon cutting ceremony to highlight the new features and completed sections of the Creative Corridor’s Low Impact Development (LID) streetscape was held Wednesday, as the revitalization of Little Rock’s Main Street continues to take shape in the 600 and 700 blocks.

Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola joined David Garcia, Assistant Director of the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 Water Division, Bruce Holland, Executive Director of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and Tony Ramick, Natural Resources Commission Fiscal Grants Manager for the event, held in the lobby of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre (601 Main Street).

The most recently completed improvements in the 600 and 700 blocks of Main Street were open to the public for guided tours. Like the earlier project in the 100, 200, 300 and 500 blocks, the current pedestrian and environmentally friendly streetscape project contains Low Impact Development elements such as porous pavers, raingardens, a vegetative wall, and other features to help manage both the quantity and quality of rainwater on the street. A new type of vegetative wall using an ecomesh panel is being debuted this time, one which will make it easier for plant life to attach and thrive. Also, three types of filtration systems not utilized in the previous project are employed this phase.

“During my time as mayor, I have directed a lot of time and resources to re-developing Main Street so that it is once more a thriving downtown destination,” Stodola said. “The funding from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to construct the low impact development streetscape has been a major catalyst to make that happen.”

The Creative Corridor is a mixed-use development aimed at restoring the vitality of Main Street by creating an arts district between President Clinton Avenue and I-630. To date, more than $100 million in private and public investment has been made to bring the vision to reality.

For more information, contact Caran Curry, 501-371-4583 or Marsha Guffey 501-317-9834.