PINE BLUFF, Ark. — More progress has been happening in Pine Bluff— and a new development slated for downtown will look to shine a light on a piece of history there.
"You have to help a community learn its own history, even before you introduce that history to others," said Jimmy Cunningham with the Jefferson County National Heritage Trails Task Force.
According to him, that's step one in developing that part of town.
"We aren't on any of those trails, because we haven't developed the visitor experience," Cunningham said.
He's working to emphasize the history in the heart of the city.
"There's incredible history here. It's in a number of areas, civil war, civil rights, the blues," he explained.
In the early renderings, Cunningham hopes to bring that history alive for all eyes to see and learn.
Parts of Second, Third, Pine, and State streets could soon be known as the Delta Rhythm and Bayous Cultural District.
"We're gonna focus on a blues venue that will celebrate all of the great blues artists up and down the Delta Rhythm and by US Highway," Cunningham said.
As of now, only a grassy field and parking lots exist in Cunningham's long thought vision.
Most of the property, he explained, belongs to the city and some of it is owned by individual owners.
"This will go through the Office of Community and Economic Development, they will be looking at acquiring sites," Cunningham said.
In all, this development could bring at least $18 million to the city every year and that would be a major economic impact.
Cunningham added that this could make downtown Pine Bluff more recognizable among other towns here in the south.
The Pine Bluff City Council unanimously voted to fund $2 million for part of the project. In total, the initial part of the development would cost $6 million.
He's expecting that part to be finished within two years.