307 replies to this topic

[Cru Jones]

What exactly is included in the nature center?

[Aporkalypse]

Cru Jones, on Aug 27 2006, 04:19 PM, said:

What exactly is included in the nature center?

Here's a quote from an old press release:

"Natural habitats will be featured in the new nature center, along with aquariums, historical displays, a conservation timeline, a gift shop and a theater that will feature a film about recreation in Arkansas.

The nature center, which will cover 16,000 square feet and cost about $6.5 million, will provide information about all aspects of Arkansas. The staff will teach programs about watchable wildlife, hunter education and boating education, as well as host teacher workshops and presentations for groups and schools."

[vbfl85]

Quote

"Natural habitats will be featured in the new nature center, along with aquariums, historical displays, a conservation timeline, a gift shop and a theater that will feature a film about recreation in Arkansas.

Does Little Rock have a real fully scale aquarium? if not thats something it definetly needs either downtown or near the zoo.

[theman]

Aporkalypse, on Aug 27 2006, 02:18 PM, said:

I don't disagree.  If you're building four, why not five?

I guess some would say NWA is getting one if you consider Ft Smith NWA.

Get used to Ft Smith getting a lot of "carrots" in terms of government spending.  When an area seems like its struggling a bit our leg has a way of trying to make up for it.  I think that's why Ft Smith got the nature center.  The same thing tends to happen a lot in Pine Bluff.  The NWA MSA is perceived as doing so well that I think when things come up nobody wants to put the public funds there, which I don't agree with.

Now, I'm not one to gripe about downtown development at all but why are we building a nature center in the River Market?  This is probably the only time you'll hear me argue that public money should be spend in West LR over the city's core but a nature center would've been perfect near Pinnacle Mtn somewhere.

I agree that Ft Smith got a carrot with the nature center.  With all of the growth going on in NWA, they probably thought that it didn't need the help and the Crystal Bridges Art Museum actually gives them an argument for that.  I wouldn't say that Ft. Smith is struggling, like Pine Bluff is, but an added attraction wouldn't hurt the city either.  And look at it this way.  They placed the Nature Centers in the largest cities in each Region - Ft Smith-Northwest, Jonesboro-Northeast, Pine Bluff-Southeast and Little Rock-Central.  Southwest Arkansas got shut out all together.

The reason they placed it downtown was the same reason why Clinton decided to place his library downtown, to allow it to have more exposure.  The Nature Center will fit into what the Clinton Center, Museum of Discovery, the Central Library Branch, the recently renovated Historic Arkansas Museum and the under contruction Butler Center have or will bring to downtown.

[Aporkalypse]

vbfl85, on Aug 28 2006, 12:08 AM, said:

Does Little Rock have a real fully scale aquarium? if not thats something it definetly needs either downtown or near the zoo.

It doesn't right now.  I agree with the locations, either would be good.  There was a private group that was going to build an aquarium in LR and a couple of other cities but it was kind of quirkily financed and fell through.

[theman]

Aporkalypse, on Aug 28 2006, 12:11 AM, said:

It doesn't right now.  I agree with the locations, either would be good.  There was a private group that was going to build an aquarium in LR and a couple of other cities but it was kind of quirkily financed and fell through.

An aquarium could be an opportunity for NLR to extend it attractions east and build it across from the Clinton Center on the land on the opposite end of the bridge that is to be converted into a pedestrian bridge.

[Mith242]

Aporkalypse, on Aug 27 2006, 02:18 PM, said:

I don't disagree.  If you're building four, why not five?

I guess some would say NWA is getting one if you consider Ft Smith NWA.

Get used to Ft Smith getting a lot of "carrots" in terms of government spending.  When an area seems like its struggling a bit our leg has a way of trying to make up for it.  I think that's why Ft Smith got the nature center.  The same thing tends to happen a lot in Pine Bluff.  The NWA MSA is perceived as doing so well that I think when things come up nobody wants to put the public funds there, which I don't agree with.

Now, I'm not one to gripe about downtown development at all but why are we building a nature center in the River Market?  This is probably the only time you'll hear me argue that public money should be spend in West LR over the city's core but a nature center would've been perfect near Pinnacle Mtn somewhere.

Yeah it does seem a bit odd to put it there.  As far as struggling cities getting things I also know what you mean.  I think some people also think along the lines of that a lot of money was spent on I-540 and now it's time to spend money elsewhere in the state.

Cru Jones, on Aug 27 2006, 04:19 PM, said:

What exactly is included in the nature center?

There is a topic in the main Arkansas forum that discusses them.  I even have some pics from the one in Pine Bluff one in there as well.

theman, on Aug 28 2006, 12:08 AM, said:

I agree that Ft Smith got a carrot with the nature center.  With all of the growth going on in NWA, they probably thought that it didn't need the help and the Crystal Bridges Art Museum actually gives them an argument for that.  I wouldn't say that Ft. Smith is struggling, like Pine Bluff is, but an added attraction wouldn't hurt the city either.  And look at it this way.  They placed the Nature Centers in the largest cities in each Region - Ft Smith-Northwest, Jonesboro-Northeast, Pine Bluff-Southeast and Little Rock-Central.  Southwest Arkansas got shut out all together.

Yeah I can't complain too much as you said SW Ark didn't get anything at all.  Ft Smith is technically the bigger city but the NWA metro is much larger than the Ft Smith metro.  I wish someone had made that argument for us when all of this was decided.  

[skirby]

Work continues on the entryway for the Nature Center.

[theman]

Thanks for the pics Skirby.  I haven't been down there in a while so I haven't seen the progress that has been made since they started construction.

[arkansas_buff]

Thanks for the pics, skirby.  I haven't been downtown in a few months, so I haven't seen any of this progress yet.  Could you update me on what this is going to look like when it's all said and done?  What exactly are they doing here for the nature center entrance?  Thanks.

[skirby]

arkansas_buff, on Sep 15 2006, 07:42 AM, said:

Thanks for the pics, skirby.  I haven't been downtown in a few months, so I haven't seen any of this progress yet.  Could you update me on what this is going to look like when it's all said and done?  What exactly are they doing here for the nature center entrance?  Thanks.

I have no idea what they are doing. The rendering I have seen does not show this part of it. If I had to guess this is some sort of elevated walkway.

[skirby]

Looking North from the outdoor eating area of the Rumba.



Count Pulaski with the Junction Bridge and Alltel Arena behind him.

[skirby]

I took a walk along  riverfront park.  It is the first time I've been down there in a few years. I was walking East.

Looking across the river.



On the Southside.











A section of the park is fenced off. They are working on a new children's park.

[johnnydr87]

arkansas_buff, on Sep 15 2006, 06:42 AM, said:

Thanks for the pics, skirby.  I haven't been downtown in a few months, so I haven't seen any of this progress yet.  Could you update me on what this is going to look like when it's all said and done?  What exactly are they doing here for the nature center entrance?  Thanks.

Are you and "theman" the same person?

[mcheiss]

skirby, on Sep 16 2006, 10:07 AM, said:

Anyone notice that Count Pulaski looks a bit like Elvis in that pic.  

Also, is this 300 3rd?

[skirby]

mcheiss, on Sep 16 2006, 12:50 PM, said:

Anyone notice that Count Pulaski looks a bit like Elvis in that pic.  

Also, is this 300 3rd?

That is the 300 3rd behind the Camber of Commerce building.

[skirby]

skirby, on Sep 14 2006, 06:01 PM, said:

Work continues on the entryway for the Nature Center.

The bids for the Nature Center came in too high. The lowest bid was twice what was budgeted. The budget called for a construction cost of $3.5 million but the lowest bid was for $7.5 million. The city of Little Rock is paying for the walkway to the new center.

[Architect]

skirby, on Sep 28 2006, 09:49 PM, said:

The bids for the Nature Center came in too high. The lowest bid was twice what was budgeted. The budget called for a construction cost of $3.5 million but the lowest bid was for $7.5 million. The city of Little Rock is paying for the walkway to the new center.

I read that.  That's a deal breaker really - at least with regard to maintaining any semblance of the original concept.

[skirby]

Architect, on Sep 28 2006, 10:55 PM, said:

I read that.  That's a deal breaker really - at least with regard to maintaining any semblance of the original concept.

I wonder what the City of LR is thinking now? It is spending money on site work and the walkway for what. Will it turn out to be a second or third rate attraction? The River Market District now has two projects on hold.

[nandle]

Material costs, particularly steel and concrete, have soared in the last year impacting this bid. In addition increased fuel costs have a impact on the bottom line as it impacts various elements of a construction project. This was compounded by the fact that the LEED certified Green design requires more technical and complex methods. These are the items that will be cut first according to what i read. Unfortunately unless someone steps in, via a private or corporate ( Stephens to the rescue?) donation this will certainly have to be scaled down.

Skirby what other project were you referring to being on hold?