Under normal circumstances, the installation of a second awning Tuesday at Barraque Plaza would signal the end of the project — that is, if there weren’t people ready and willing to dream big for downtown Pine Bluff.
Instead, the transformation of one empty lot into a practical, accessible public space has inspired another project. Organizers are now turning their attention to an adjoining strip of otherwise nondescript grass along South Pine Street that they want to turn into a public garden.
Watching workers tighten the second red-orange awning Tuesday from one of the outdoor food court picnic tables below, city Inspection and Zoning Department Director Robert Tucker, who drew the designs for the project, was glad to see the original vision becoming a reality.
“What strikes me is when I remember what this looked like three years ago,” Tucker said. “It was an empty lot with stumps and broken concrete from a previous art installation. It was abandoned, really. Now it’s this practical, useful, welcoming public space for people to enjoy.”
Downtown Development Executive Director Joy Blankenship can see from her nearby office each day as people pick up food from the food truck at the plaza and eat it at the picnic tables.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“We’re excited, because there have been a lot of people — because the temperature is so nice out there — people have been really enjoying it,” Blankenship said.
More shade is always welcome for the daytime lunch crowd, Tucker said, and the second awning will not block the impromptu Friday-night outdoor movie screenings that have recently sprung up at the site. Neither Tucker, nor the many other people who contributed to the project imagined outdoor movie screenings when the project was in its infancy, but that’s the beauty of a project like this, Tucker said: For the public to take it and make it their own; for it to be a catalyst for future growth and downtown revitalization.
The next movie night will be Friday, as soon as it gets dark.
Blankenship said other plans are developing around the space. To coincide with the June 2 opening of the Farmers Market across the highway at Saracen Landing, a Bash on Barraque event featuring children’s educational activities — all of them free — will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the plaza.
“That will really kick off the opening of the second phase of it,” Blankenship said, referring to the installation of the second awning.
Blankenship is looking for food and craft vendors willing to come set up shop during the event for no set-up fee. They may contact her at 536-8742.
The second awning cost about $10,000, with funding coming from federal grants earmarked for downtown development and coming from the city Economic and Community Development Department. River City Tents built the tent and the Pine Bluff Street Department helped with the labor and equipment.
The original part was completed in June 2011 and cost about $25,000, with funding coming from grants and donations.
Downtown Development will be soliciting donations to complete the garden project at the lot nearby. Tucker said they hope to have that project completed by the fall.
Tucker said over the course of the project, many people and agencies have come together to make the projects possible including Downtown Development, the Pine Bluff Street Department, the Jefferson County Road Department, the Pine Bluff city Economic and Community Development Department, the city Inspection and Zoning Department, Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Clean and Beautiful, Arkansas Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission and many private donors.
Food truck vendors interested in setting up shop at the plaza may contact the Economic and Community Development Department at 543-1820.