Marion revitalization meeting Thursday

Marion revitalization meeting Thursday

Community invited to gathering for information, input on plans

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Marion residents will have another chance to see the proposed suggestions on how to revitalize downtown Marion and to offer more feedback.

The city will be hosting a community meeting Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Trinity in the Fields Anglican Church to discuss the Downtown Marion Master Plan.

Representatives from Ecological Design Group, Inc.

and Fennell Purifoy Architects will be on hand to answer questions and to present their ideas on how to improve Military Road and the area around courthouse square. “They will go over some of the feedback they got and how they incorporated that into this new design, and their final concepts and recommendations,” said Marion Chamber of Commerce President Demster.

The first meeting was held in December and attracted about 70 residents.

Architects commented on the fact that Marion is in a unique position to attract young families who are looking for a smaller and safer community that is close to big city attractions. The revitalization process will take place in two phases starting first with Military Road and then followed by improvements to the courthouse square area.

Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department will be widening Military Road to five lanes starting in 2019.

Among the ideas presented was a plan to transform Military Road from the intersection of I-55 to Highway 77 into a landscaped boulevard leading to a revitalized courthouse square with shops and restaurants.

Designers have recommended adding a decorative arch at the intersection of I-55 and Military Road, decorative lighting, a landscaped media, and a bike lane.

Among the suggested improvements in and around the courthouse are the addition of an open air pavilion, splash pad, farmer’s market, and more retail and restaurants. The plan also calls for a skyway over the railroad tracks and Hwy. 77 from the courthouse square to near the site of the proposed Sultana Disaster Museum.

Demster said he hopes residents will take this opportunity to see the results.

“We want feedback,” Demster said. “I’m hoping it will be well attended.

We’re trying to be as transparent as we can be in this

process.”

By Mark Randall