FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2021
Contact: Peter Nierengarten, PE
Environmental Director
(479) 575-8272
pnierengarten@fayetteville-ar.gov
Public Invited to Help Name New Outdoor Space
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.— The City of Fayetteville and Experience Fayetteville invite public participation in a citywide naming campaign for the Cultural Arts Corridor, a new public outdoor destination in the heart of downtown Fayetteville. The public is encouraged to submit name ideas by visiting www.fayettevillecac.com. Submissions will be accepted throughout the month of February.
This 50-acre public space is being transformed into an outdoor destination featuring parks, forest, trails, boardwalks, tree-lined sidewalks, terraced creeks and gathering spaces that will offer year-round opportunity for community engagement, entertainment and civic activity. Phase 1 construction on the Cultural Arts Corridor began in September 2020 and is anticipated to be complete in early 2022.
“The community has been a vital part of making the Cultural Arts Corridor possible,” said Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan. “Fayetteville residents and visitors, business owners and students have helped us set goals for this project and choose the amenities it will offer. Naturally, it’s important for the community to play a role in choosing the name for this exciting new destination, so we want to hear everyone’s best ideas.”
Part of a 2019 bond package approved by Fayetteville voters, the Cultural Arts Corridor project continues the city’s efforts to revitalize and invigorate downtown Fayetteville with increased connectivity, accessibility and inclusiveness.
Key areas of development include Fay Jones Wood, Razorback Greenway, West Avenue streetscapes, a parking deck and a West Avenue civic space – a vibrant outdoor gathering space featuring gardens, lawns, seating and event areas to support community and cultural programming.
“We’re looking for a name that can encompass and reflect the elements of the space in a simple, creative way,” said Experience Fayetteville CEO Molly Rawn. This is the community’s space, and whatever name we arrive at as a community will be creative and authentically Fayetteville.”
In addition to participating through name submissions, members of the public can sign up to become part of The People’s Panel. This panel will consider naming submissions and provide additional feedback in the naming process. Beginning March 1, The People’s Panel will digitally review and help narrow down name submissions, creating a short-list that will be presented back to the public for vote. For more information and to sign up, please go to https://fayettevillecac.com/the-peoples-panel.
In mid-March, a short-list of names developed through The People’s Panel review will be shared back with the community for vote. City officials anticipate releasing the new, official name and identity in mid-May. To submit a name idea, sign up for The People’s Panel or learn more about the Cultural Arts Corridor naming campaign, please go to www.fayettevillecac.com.
Additional information about the Cultural Arts Corridor can be found at http://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/culturalartscorridor.
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