Little Rock, Arkansas – A significant step forward in revitalizing one of Little Rock’s most culturally rich neighborhoods is now underway. The City of Little Rock, in collaboration with design firm studioMAIN and several local organizations, has been selected to receive a national grant from Smart Growth America to fund a Ninth Street demonstration project — an initiative that blends art, history, and community engagement into one forward-looking effort.
The grant will help the City put into motion parts of the Downtown Master Plan, which was adopted by the Little Rock Board of Directors last year. That plan outlines a vision for a more inclusive and vibrant downtown, with a focus on honoring the city’s diverse heritage. The upcoming project along West Ninth Street — once a lively center of African American business, music, and culture — aims to breathe new life into the historic corridor while enhancing safety, accessibility, and public interaction.
“Historic West Ninth Street is a fundamental piece of the fabric of our City, and though divisive infrastructure tore through its heart, its soul can never be erased,” Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., said. “I made clear that re-imagination of Ninth Street should be a priority of the Downtown Master Plan, and I am excited to see the transformative ideas funded through this grant.”
Set to take place next spring, the month-long demonstration will turn a stretch of Ninth Street between Broadway and State streets into an active, walkable public art space. Organizers hope the project will encourage visitors to rediscover the area’s historical importance while visualizing how thoughtful urban design can reconnect divided neighborhoods. The temporary transformation will serve as both an artistic showcase and a model for long-term development strategies.
Ninth Street once stood as the economic and cultural heartbeat of Little Rock’s Black community, home to thriving businesses, legendary entertainment venues, and the iconic Dreamland Ballroom. That vitality was disrupted decades ago when the construction of Interstate 630 cut through the neighborhood, displacing residents and erasing much of the corridor’s identity. Today, city leaders and community partners see the Smart Growth America grant as a chance to reclaim that lost connection and restore the street’s sense of belonging.
The grant totals $25,000 in funding, complemented by $20,000 worth of technical assistance from Smart Growth America experts. Little Rock was one of only three cities nationwide to receive support from the organization’s Community Connectors Initiative, alongside Akron, Ohio, and Baltimore County, Maryland. The selection underscores Little Rock’s commitment to community-driven planning and equitable redevelopment.
In addition to studioMAIN, several key partners will play roles in shaping the project’s success. These include the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, Philander Smith University, the Dunbar Historic Neighborhood Association, the Central Arkansas Library System, Velocity Graphics, Our Little Rock, and the historic Dreamland Ballroom. Together, these collaborators will contribute design ideas, historical insights, and creative programming to ensure the demonstration is both meaningful and memorable.
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City officials view the project as a turning point — not only for Ninth Street, but for how Little Rock approaches urban renewal as a whole. By blending design innovation with cultural storytelling, the initiative aims to build bridges between the city’s past and future.
As the planning phase continues through winter, residents can expect to see updates and opportunities for public input. If successful, the demonstration could pave the way for permanent improvements along the corridor, symbolizing a long-awaited reconnection of history, art, and community in the heart of Arkansas’s capital.
