Downtown Pine Bluff is officially ringing with the rhythm of the Delta and the buzz of community activity following the grand opening of the Delta Rhythm & Bayous Blues & Wellness Plaza.
Located on Bobby Rush Way (Third Avenue), the plaza is much more than a new park. It’s the realization of a powerful vision and the first phase of the plaza, considered the largest outdoor gallery dedicated to Delta music and culture in the country. The atmosphere on opening day was electric, a true celebration of the city’s rich history, resilience, and bright future.
The plaza, which features amenities like chess boards, a fitness center, pickleball courts, and ping pong tables, was immediately embraced as a new heart for the community. Barbara Dunn, executive director for the Pine Bluff Convention Center, perfectly captured the joyful sentiment.
“See, this is very exciting. It’s very rewarding for the community,” she said. “It just put another level, another layer of entertainment for our community to come out and enjoy, it’s all about family and community, and we’re just excited.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Dunn added that it’s “very family oriented. … it gives more for families to do.”
The spirit of the event centered on the unwavering vision of Jimmy Cunningham Jr., director of tourism development for the Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission and executive director of the Delta Rhythm and Bayous Alliance. Cunningham’s passion for Pine Bluff’s cultural heritage was the driving force behind the multimillion-dollar project.
“This is validation. This is our legacy. This is our story being told,” Cunningham proclaimed.
He emphasized the profound impact of the region’s music, stating: “We have a legacy in this country and contributed in ways that have redefined American music. So when we celebrate the blues and celebrate the music here, we’re celebrating the best in us. And so this is our gift not only to Arkansas but to the country and to the world.”
Looking ahead, Cunningham declared that Phase 1 is just the beginning of a larger transformation, which will include a new music venue and an encompassing structure of facades to create a beautiful gallery. He sent a powerful message of confidence to his city.
“Pine Bluff is creating a machine that’s going be looked at not just by the state, not just by the country, but by the world, when they think of the blues,” he said. “They’re not just going to think of Memphis… but get ready to add Pine Bluff on their moving train, we’re going somewhere y’all, and it’s good.”
Pine Bluff Mayor Vivian Flowers echoed the theme of cultural legacy and community resilience. “So today we celebrate more than the opening. … We celebrate the spirit, the creativity, and resilience of the Arkansas,” she said.
Flowers highlighted the music’s deep roots. “This moment reminds us that down to the music is Black history …” she said, stressing the plaza’s role in advancing the city. “It preserves our culture, our cultural heritage, while advancing tourism … and our community’s wellness. It will serve as a gathering place for residents and visitors alike.”
Sheri Storie, executive director for the Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission, celebrated the plaza as a historic achievement.
“This is history in the making and the first step for building the largest outdoor gallery, dedicated to Delta music and culture in the nation,” Storie remarked. She also offered her gratitude to the city’s partners, recognizing the architects for designing the “beautiful plaza.”
Former and current city leaders expressed their pride in seeing the project completed. Ward 4 Councilman Bruce Lockett shared his elation.
“I’m really elated to see something that we talked about, and it really comes to fruition with the city dollars and with the corporation of the Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission and the UAPB art students,” he said. “It’s been a collaboration of a lot of entities and people, and this is what city government is all about.”
He is most looking forward to the community being “creative, to come up with different tournaments and different kinds of activities that will bring people downtown.”
Former Councilwoman Joni Alexander Robinson said she was most excited because “you can actually see where the taxpayer’s money has gone towards … and this quality is nice as what they said it was going to be, and so I’m just excited about that.”
The celebration included a tribute to 19 blues and R&B artists honored with banners in the plaza. Among the honorees was Pine Bluff native and Alabama Blues Hall of Fame member Karen Wolfe, who was visibly moved.
“Oh my God, this is such an honor, you know, it’s overwhelmingly wonderful … but to be here and to be honored and to be able to smell my flowers while I can is just a Godly blessing, it’s a blessing,” she said.
Cunningham addressed those who doubted the project’s success and spoke about future funding in his speech at the plaza’s grand opening. He acknowledged the struggle and the initial underestimation of Pine Bluff and the project. He essentially told those who doubted the city not to “sell yourself cheap.”
“I will tell you the truth first, because they said, if there’s no struggle, there’s no progress and they will struggle in this. We didn’t get here easily,” he said.
He referenced the perception of those outside the city, saying they “had more horses under the hood than they thought.”
Cunningham spoke of the richness of Pine Bluff’s history. He confirmed that the city’s goal is to continue leveraging the initial investment to secure more funding for the next phase of the cultural district.
He shared news of an unannounced grant, saying, “Yesterday, we were informed that we got a grant that I can’t announce until next month, but I will tell you this: 25 entities across the country got an award in this grant that 900 applied for across the country.”
He also mentioned Advertising and Promotion and the DRB Alliance were in discussions with the nation’s largest arts organization in the country, which approached them to provide funding after learning about Pine Bluff’s potential.
