Summer Powell, Director of Hope Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, (left) and Sharon Caldwell, Chairperson of the Hope Tourism Commission, (right) proudly display the Outdoor Recreation Grant check for the Downtown Pocket Park Project at the old Dox building site in downtown Hope.

The City of Hope was awarded an Outdoor Recreation Grant from the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism today. This matching grant will be used to help fund the Downtown Pocket Park Project located at the old Dox building site. The pocket park (see diagram below) will have a pergola, benches, picnic tables, as well as greenery and landscaping, and be a nice addition to the downtown area.

Summer Powell, the Director of Hope Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, and Sharon Caldwell, Chairperson of the Hope Tourism Commission, were at the site today to proudly display the big check and share these details and more about the pocket park. "I'm excited about this project," Powell said. "This was my first grant to work on for the City of Hope, and I think its going to be a huge asset to our city, especially with the new courthouse and new restaurants coming to the downtown area. I can't wait to see the finished project and add a little greenery to downtown." Powell said bricks and tile from the original Dox site will be incorporated into the pocket park to retain a little bit of history from downtown Hope. The pocket park will also have art structures and displays featured in the finished product.

The Hope Tourism Commission will fund the other half of the project, and the Hope Downtown Network has contributed, as well, by donating $7500 for the engineering fees.