Editor’s note: This written statement was originally submitted to the Pine Bluff city clerk to be read on record at a recent city council meeting. It has been trimmed for length.
It was announced Thursday a 20-foot Blues Junction landmark will be placed at the Delta Rhythm & Bayous Blues & Wellness Plaza by early 2027.
I am here today to report on the tremendous success of the Delta Rhythm & Bayous Blues & Wellness Plaza grand opening and to thank this council for your vision and support in making this historic achievement possible.
The grand opening on Feb. 27, 2026 — the final Friday of Black History Month — was more than a ribbon-cutting. It was a declaration that Pine Bluff’s cultural heritage matters, that our stories deserve to be told and that our future will be built on the foundation of our extraordinary past.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
This event launched Phase 1 of what will become the nation’s largest outdoor gallery dedicated to Delta music and culture. We welcomed dignitaries, cultural leaders, media representatives and community members who witnessed Pine Bluff claiming its rightful place in American musical heritage.
But what makes this achievement truly remarkable is not just what we built — it’s how we built it. This has been a collaborative effort from the very beginning, and I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge everyone who contributed to this success.
DELTA RHYTHM AND BAYOUS ALLIANCE
The Delta Rhythm and Bayous Alliance developed the original vision, galvanized regional community support and provided proof of concept through the passage of DRB Highway Resolutions in both Arkansas and Mississippi.
This regional collaboration demonstrated that Pine Bluff’s cultural assets could unite communities across state lines around a shared heritage.
PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS
The philanthropic community recognized the potential of this vision and invested in our planning and development:
The Rockefeller Foundation funded the DRB Regional Summit: $5,000
Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation provided funding to create the DRB Regional Master Plan: $40,000
These investments allowed us to develop a comprehensive, professional vision that attracted additional support and demonstrated the seriousness of our commitment.
NATIONAL HERITAGE TRAILS TASK FORCE
The City Council authorized the creation of the National Heritage Trails Task Force, which developed the national and regional trail connections linking Pine Bluff and Jefferson County to broader heritage tourism networks.
This work positioned Pine Bluff within the context of national heritage tourism, creating pathways for visitors to discover our city.
PINE BLUFF ADVERTISING & PROMOTION COMMISSION
The Pine Bluff Advertising & Promotion Commission embraced this vision and made substantial investments in predevelopment and activation.
These investments created momentum, demonstrated community support and proved the concept before major capital expenditures.
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF
UAPB has been an essential partner throughout this initiative:
The UAPB Small Business Support Incubator (ERDC) provides space for the Freedom and Blues Art Exhibit, which also serves as venue for the monthly “Catfish Blues & Soul Fridays” live music series.
The UAPB Art Department provided artistic talent (professors and students) and matching funds for: Mural wall, street art installation, juke joint façade and various other artistic elements.
As UAPB recently celebrated its 150th anniversary — having been founded in 1873, eight years before Tuskegee Institute — this partnership connects contemporary cultural development to our historic legacy of educational excellence and community building.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
The grassroots community recognized the potential of this vision and contributed to our planning and success: publicly, in the streets and behind the scenes.
PINE BLUFF CITY COUNCIL
This council responded to the massive grassroots support and appropriated $2 million to implement the DRB concept and vision. This was not a small decision. This was a declaration of faith in Pine Bluff’s cultural assets and in our community’s ability to build something extraordinary.
The council then moved the $2 million in funding to the Economic and Community Development Department to be implemented as a Public Works project, which bid and built out the public park with Ron Woods Architect and Wagner Group General Contractors.
This project would not exist without your courage, vision and commitment.
Special recognition for city staff leadership: Lori Walker-Guelache, Economic & Community Development director; Larry Matthews, Public Works director; Michael Gilliard, Public Works and housing specialist; and Michael McCray, cultural development specialist.
These professionals turned vision into reality with skill, dedication and excellence.
PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Looking forward, the Parks & Recreation Department will operate, clean and maintain the plaza — providing it a permanent home within our city’s infrastructure and ensuring it remains a source of pride for generations to come.
Special thanks to: Prutty Holman, Parks & Recreation director, and Ryan Geiggar, Parks & Recreation assistant director.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Jefferson County Quorum Court and County Judge Gerald Robinson authorized the land for the restroom facility, which became the signature faux juke joint art space that has captured imaginations and provided an iconic visual element to the plaza.
This partnership demonstrates how city-county cooperation creates enhanced outcomes for our entire community.
MOMENTUM CONTINUES: WHAT’S NEXT
The Grand Opening is not the end — it’s the beginning. We have already secured additional resources to expand and enhance this cultural district:
A $500,000 matching grant to repair and upgrade sidewalks around the DRB Blues & Wellness Plaza
A $49,000 matching grant for signature art installation “Blues Junction” at the plaza
Active discussions with a national arts endowment and/or charitable organization offering to fund the DRB Cultural District and DRB Highway Alliance (amount TBD)
These additional investments demonstrate that the Grand Opening’s success has attracted national attention and opened doors for continued development.
THE MODEL FOR FUTURE SUCCESS
Every entity contributed its unique strengths. Every partner invested resources. Each stakeholder maintained focus on the shared vision. And together, we created something none of us could have built alone.
This should be the model we use for community development projects going forward.
When we work together — when we pool our resources, align our efforts and commit to a shared vision — Pine Bluff can achieve extraordinary things.
GRATITUDE
Thank you Mayor Vivian Flowers for your vision and leadership. Thank you, Pine Bluff City Council, for believing in this project and for your support. Thank you to every partner, every contributor, every person who invested time, talent or treasure in making this vision real. The grand opening was a huge success because of all of you.
But more importantly, Pine Bluff now has a world-class cultural asset that will benefit our community for decades to come. That is the real success — and that success belongs to all of us.
Sheri Storie is executive director of the Pine Bluff Advertising and Planning Commission.