What's Missing in Northwest Arkansas?

[johnnydr87]

Aporkalypse said it: A private college ....

A good private college. Arkansas has a decent one (Hendrix)....but not really any others.

One that focuses on academics and ranks in the top 50 colleges nationwide.

Actually, it doesn't even have to be a private college...it could be U of A.

Unfortunately, Arkansas doesn't really have any college like this...

[Aporkalypse]

The new St. Mary's is supposed to be massive with 9 stories.

I didn't know that, that's an impressive upgrade. The current bed count is 165 there, which is pretty paltry. I'm assuming it will jump a bunch? Right now they don't even have my specialty there at all. St Edward's in Ft Smith is 350 and Sparks 275 beds, the former is really a solid hospital. Baptist in Little Rock is 880, Baptist-NLR 380 and UAMS 350 with a planned complete hospital reconstruction it could double.

However, size is way less important than availability of specialists and current technology. UAMS may not be the biggest in the state but it has far more advanced capabilities including being the only facility that can do bone marrow and liver transplantation. Only Baptist and UAMS do cardiac and kidney transplants.

St Joseph's in Hot Springs is probably about that height and it has 317 beds and is a pretty decent little hospital for a town that size.

[mcheiss]

Good point Aporkalypse. I do think the cities compete and in this way hurt each other in this aspect. It would be nice to have a bigger medical center in the area. I'd also like to be able to have something like UAMS even on a smaller scale here. The Ozarks has a large older population and I think having more medical facilities here would really benefit the area well.

Wow, just noticed how many responses there are on here on a topic only an hour old. Well it's been great Matt having so much prolonged activity on here but I really need to get off the computer and do some things. I've lost track of time here. Some of our other forumers might be surprised to see what all has popped up here since they were last on.

Thanks Mith, that was a cool hour of posting. We will have to do it again.

The new Mercy Health is supposed to have around 250 beds or so, but the Hospital is nine stories, with an adjacent 9 or so story medical professions building for doctors and such. Right now they have a huge L Crane out there and are finish with pad work and starting on steel. It's going to change the area and compliment some of the other existing mid-rises in the immediate area.

[mcheiss]

Aporkalypse said it: A private college ....

A good private college. Arkansas has a decent one (Hendrix)....but not really any others.

One that focuses on academics and ranks in the top 50 colleges nationwide.

Actually, it doesn't even have to be a private college...it could be U of A.

Unfortunately, Arkansas doesn't really have any college like this...

Yeah, I could see a really good private school in NW Arkansas. It would really be accepted up here since all there is is UofA, NWACC, and John Brown.

The University of Phoenix is supposed to be building a location in West Rogers, but I haven't heard an exact location.

Johnny you brought up a good point that another large college in the area would be good. If we had one in Benton County, I could see more "urbanism" forming, and Benton County getting a share in the college world.

I think one thing that's holding us back is the Dry County thing. That's why I think that Benton County should become Wet.

[johnnydr87]

Yeah, I could see a really good private school in NW Arkansas. It would really be accepted up here since all there is is UofA, NWACC, and John Brown.

The University of Phoenix is supposed to be building a location in West Rogers, but I haven't heard an exact location.

Johnny you brought up a good point that another large college in the area would be good. If we had one in Benton County, I could see more "urbanism" forming, and Benton County getting a share in the college world.

I think one thing that's holding us back is the Dry County thing. That's why I think that Benton County should become Wet.

I'd actually prefer the college in Little Rock.....but i would love for one to be in NW AR, if anywhere.

[Aporkalypse]

Aporkalypse said it: A private college ....

A good private college. Arkansas has a decent one (Hendrix)....but not really any others.

One that focuses on academics and ranks in the top 50 colleges nationwide.

Actually, it doesn't even have to be a private college...it could be U of A.

Unfortunately, Arkansas doesn't really have any college like this...

Well, I said a nice private "college prep" school, something like Pulaski Academy, Little Rock Catholic, or Little Rock Episcopal. Your point, though, is equally valid.

I'm a Hendrix alum, FWIW. I think Lyons College, though smaller, is also a good private school.

Starting a de novo private school in this day and age would be pretty unusual and take MASSIVE amounts of money. Aside from a personal interest and massive contribution from the Waltons and Tysons, who generally only support UA, it couldn't happen. The founders of Domino's Pizza (Monagheys?) are starting a Catholic college named Ave Maria near Naples, FL in a de novo town which will also be known as Ave Maria as well, an effort that is in the hundreds of millions.

[johnnydr87]

ah, my bad....

Yeah, I realize it's a pipe dream...but the topic didn't say anything about grounding your wish in reality :-)

[mcheiss]

I think that a college prep school would be a great asset to the community. I don't know what it would be (Catholic, Lutheran, or any other denomination), Even something not involved with religon would be supported here.

We've got a nice school here in Rogers called Benton County School of Arts, that goes from K-8. Enrollment has been outstanding and the school recently finished an addition onto the already new school. If they extended that school through High School, I'm sure it would be a hit.

[Mith242]

Aporkalypse said it: A private college ....

A good private college. Arkansas has a decent one (Hendrix)....but not really any others.

One that focuses on academics and ranks in the top 50 colleges nationwide.

Actually, it doesn't even have to be a private college...it could be U of A.

Unfortunately, Arkansas doesn't really have any college like this...

I guess I should have stuck around a while longer to see Johnny join in on the fun.

[Mith242]

Thanks Mith, that was a cool hour of posting. We will have to do it again.

Actually I think we were going at it longer than an hour. I think I was on the Arkansas forum for two an a half hours straight. And I didn't run out of things to read or post. That's pretty amazing. Now we just have to let more people in on all the fun. That reminds me some of our forumers of the recent past have been a bit quiet. Hopefully they aren't feeling left out or anything. Hey guys feel free to join in!

[NWAboom]

Faytteville might in the near future be getting some pretty interesting things. Whispers include a Smithsonian, Aquarium, and the Botanical Gardens are coming along very nicely.

Benton County is another story. Besides Crystal Bridges, which is wonderful for the whole area, nothing culturally has ever existed in Benton County. And that is still in planning stages. It will be really hard to attract anything of entertainment besides a new Malco to Benton County. Though traffic might show otherwise, Benton County has no pulse, no life. It is the cultural wasteland of Northwest Arkansas

[Mith242]

Faytteville might in the near future be getting some pretty interesting things. Whispers include a Smithsonian, Aquarium, and the Botanical Gardens are coming along very nicely.

Benton County is another story. Besides Crystal Bridges, which is wonderful for the whole area, nothing culturally has ever existed in Benton County. And that is still in planning stages. It will be really hard to attract anything of entertainment besides a new Malco to Benton County. Though traffic might show otherwise, Benton County has no pulse, no life. It is the cultural wasteland of Northwest Arkansas

The Botanical Gardens are coming along, but the last I had heard the Smithsonian affiliated museum and aquarium aren't going anywhere without more money and more support. Unless you've heard some info I haven't. While Benton County doesn't have much at the moment I think that trend could very well change. Benton County has surpassed Washington County in population and Benton County is also where the main growth is now. I believe things are going to change for Benton County. If the Waltons keep funding more projects like Crystal Bridges I believe they could start looking to put them closer in Benton instead of Washington County. Nothing is definant but I think Fayetteville should take an aggresive approach in the near future or else it could lose out some of these possibilities to Benton County.

[mcheiss]

The Botanical Gardens are coming along, but the last I had heard the Smithsonian affiliated museum and aquarium aren't going anywhere without more money and more support. Unless you've heard some info I haven't. While Benton County doesn't have much at the moment I think that trend could very well change. Benton County has surpassed Washington County in population and Benton County is also where the main growth is now. I believe things are going to change for Benton County. If the Waltons keep funding more projects like Crystal Bridges I believe they could start looking to put them closer in Benton instead of Washington County. Nothing is definant but I think Fayetteville should take an aggresive approach in the near future or else it could lose out some of these possibilities to Benton County.

I agree with you there Mith. People up here in Benton County are realizing that there is not much cultrue up here and things hopefully are going to change. I'm pretty sure some work on Crystal Bridges has already started, (basic work), but it is coming along very nicely.

Where did you hear about a Smithsonian affiliated museum?

I had heard about the aquarium but not the museum, sounds interesting.

[Mith242]

I agree with you there Mith. People up here in Benton County are realizing that there is not much cultrue up here and things hopefully are going to change. I'm pretty sure some work on Crystal Bridges has already started, (basic work), but it is coming along very nicely.

Where did you hear about a Smithsonian affiliated museum?

I had heard about the aquarium but not the museum, sounds interesting.

I just don't see the Walton's sitting back and not doing anything at all to improve Benton County culturally in the future. Had the Walton Art Center been built today instead I really think there's a good chance it would have been built in Benton County instead of Fayetteville. But at the time Fayetteville was the best choice and Benton County was different back then and I don't think many people expected the rapid growth and development that was to take place. As far as the museum talk I believe it was a year and a half or two years ago. I can't remember now if there was talk of having where the old railroad station is in Fayetteville or not. But it was going to be somewhere near the railroad tracks in an area not currently in use. I'm not saying there isn't any chance of it being built. But I have had the impression that unless the Waltons or Tysons donated some money it's just going to sit on the backburner for a while. I hadn't heard anything about it in quite a while, just like the aquarium. Both are things that would really benefit Fayetteville very well. But I'm just not sure when or if either one of these projects will come about. Even the Botanical Garden has been going through very slow stages for years now. They were talking about it over five years ago.

[johnnydr87]

I just don't see the Walton's sitting back and not doing anything at all to improve Benton County culturally in the future. Had the Walton Art Center been built today instead I really think there's a good chance it would have been built in Benton County instead of Fayetteville. But at the time Fayetteville was the best choice and Benton County was different back then and I don't think many people expected the rapid growth and development that was to take place. As far as the museum talk I believe it was a year and a half or two years ago. I can't remember now if there was talk of having where the old railroad station is in Fayetteville or not. But it was going to be somewhere near the railroad tracks in an area not currently in use. I'm not saying there isn't any chance of it being built. But I have had the impression that unless the Waltons or Tysons donated some money it's just going to sit on the backburner for a while. I hadn't heard anything about it in quite a while, just like the aquarium. Both are things that would really benefit Fayetteville very well. But I'm just not sure when or if either one of these projects will come about. Even the Botanical Garden has been going through very slow stages for years now. They were talking about it over five years ago.

But that's the thing Mith. "Culture" isn't defined by a few tycoons buying up an art museum, then stamping "American cultural center" or something onto it. The art museum wasn't brought about by anyone, anyone other than the Waltons. It's not a public project or public museum in the true sense; Alice still has a right to whatever she wants with the museum when she wants.

Culture is a gradual consensus, forged by many people. It is not bought. No matter how hard the Walton's try, they will not be able to build culture----by themselves, that is. To get a true "American" culture, more people of different viewpoints, ethnicities, and cultures will need to be represented. Right now in Benton County, it's predominantly a well off white population and a predominantly poor, relatively inactive Hispanic population. And this Hispanic influx has only been a recent occurence, as has the influx of rich white people from other states. In that sense, Benton County is a little bit like "plastic" city, everything is new and shiny, but there's not much history or culture beneath it all. It's a beautiful facade.

In this respect, I agree with NWAboom, no matter how harsh that opinion is.

[Mith242]

But that's the thing Mith. "Culture" isn't defined by a few tycoons buying up an art museum, then stamping "American cultural center" or something onto it. The art museum wasn't brought about by anyone, anyone other than the Waltons. It's not a public project or public museum in the true sense; Alice still has a right to whatever she wants with the museum when she wants.

Culture is a gradual consensus, forged by many people. It is not bought. No matter how hard the Walton's try, they will not be able to build culture----by themselves, that is. To get a true "American" culture, more people of different viewpoints, ethnicities, and cultures will need to be represented. Right now in Benton County, it's predominantly a well off white population and a predominantly poor, relatively inactive Hispanic population. And this Hispanic influx has only been a recent occurence, as has the influx of rich white people from other states. In that sense, Benton County is a little bit like "plastic" city, everything is new and shiny, but there's not much history or culture beneath it all. It's a beautiful facade.

In this respect, I agree with NWAboom, no matter how harsh that opinion is.

Maybe so, but if there were more cultural facilities around I believe this could help develop more of a culture in Benton County. Perhpas not, but it certainly wouldn't hurt.

[johnnydr87]

Agreed. It *might* spur cultural development (a big "might"), but in itself and by itself, it won't....

[Mith242]

Agreed. It *might* spur cultural development (a big "might"), but in itself and by itself, it won't....

Like I said, perhaps it won't but it certainly isn't going to hurt. I'd certainly prefer to have something built than nothing. I guess I just don't see Benton County staying 'a cutural wasteland' as it was referred to. But while we're on the topic does anyone have any suggestions to help correct this situation?

[Aporkalypse]

Like I said, perhaps it won't but it certainly isn't going to hurt. I'd certainly prefer to have something built than nothing. I guess I just don't see Benton County staying 'a cutural wasteland' as it was referred to. But while we're on the topic does anyone have any suggestions to help correct this situation?

I think it has to be a cultural wasteland. Fayetteville and to a lesser extent Eureka are just so well-established in that regard. Ultimately, it's hard to take away from the tremendous cultural influence exerted by a flagship university.

[Mith242]

I think it has to be a cultural wasteland. Fayetteville and to a lesser extent Eureka are just so well-established in that regard. Ultimately, it's hard to take away from the tremendous cultural influence exerted by a flagship university.

Ah yes Eureka Springs. Well then could you see cultural influences from fayetteville or possibly even Eureka Springs spreading out over into Benton County?

[johnnydr87]

Ah yes Eureka Springs. Well then could you see cultural influences from fayetteville or possibly even Eureka Springs spreading out over into Benton County?

Not really. I think it would be hard for cultural influences to just "spread" over.... to any place. Also, as has been mentioned by others, the unrestrained growth in Benton county prevents any real "cultural" growth. The Fayetteville and Eureka Springs cultures were ingrained over time...if they were to have spread elsewhere...Benton County would have already absorbed it.

[NWAboom]

Not really. I think it would be hard for cultural influences to just "spread" over.... to any place. Also, as has been mentioned by others, the unrestrained growth in Benton county prevents any real "cultural" growth. The Fayetteville and Eureka Springs cultures were ingrained over time...if they were to have spread elsewhere...Benton County would have already absorbed it.

I agree that the opinion may be harsh. But noticing the drive up 540 the new people moving in area are not helping the situation up north. It takes alot more than population and money to provide entertainment and a suitable place to live. Though neither hurt the situation, the fact that Benton County is your typical WASP suburban area makes it a tough pull. As mentioned earlier, It is hard to just buy culture.

[Aporkalypse]

Ah yes Eureka Springs. Well then could you see cultural influences from fayetteville or possibly even Eureka Springs spreading out over into Benton County?

Not really, for the same reason they don't spread from Hot Springs to Benton or Malvern. Artists tend to cluster together, not spread out. Even in cities they usually identify with certain neighborhoods, in Little Rock it's downtown and especially Hillcrest. In Dallas it's Kessler Park and Uptown, etc.

[mcheiss]

I think Benton County could pull of being more "cultured".

It's not just the Walton and such who feel this way, but a lot of people do. If a big projects starts, then more will come together over time. I've heard talks that with the Crystal Bridges Art Museum, Developers want to create a downtown feel from the art museum to the Bentonville Downtown. Talks are in the works for downtown condo's more retail and and urban feel. There are plenty of people moving from places like Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Des Moines, and such that agree more culture should and can be in NW Arkansas. We do have a rich history in the Ozarks and if projects are built, more will come.

We just have to work together as a whole up here. The reason we don't have a centralized "metro" is due to the fact of having 4 cities and such, and that's what has dampered culture here in Benton County.

[Mith242]

I think Benton County could pull of being more "cultured".

It's not just the Walton and such who feel this way, but a lot of people do. If a big projects starts, then more will come together over time. I've heard talks that with the Crystal Bridges Art Museum, Developers want to create a downtown feel from the art museum to the Bentonville Downtown. Talks are in the works for downtown condo's more retail and and urban feel. There are plenty of people moving from places like Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Des Moines, and such that agree more culture should and can be in NW Arkansas. We do have a rich history in the Ozarks and if projects are built, more will come.

We just have to work together as a whole up here. The reason we don't have a centralized "metro" is due to the fact of having 4 cities and such, and that's what has dampered culture here in Benton County.

I can see the others reasonings on this. Although I'm still not so sure that Benton County is simply doomed to remain a 'cultural wasteland'. I've seen Benton County undergo amazing growth and changes already and I'm not ready to say it can't manage to do this either. It may not be easy, but I guess I feel a little more strongly on the possibility.