Our View A vision for West Memphis’s future

Even the most skeptical among us has to admit that West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon’s high energy, his optimistic attitude as well as his seemingly overwhelming plans for the future of this county’s largest municipality generates excitement and a positive feeling that this city can again become what it once was and even better.

Since becoming mayor, McClendon has laid out a very ambitious building plan for the future that calls for two new fire stations, a new police sub-station, a new district court facility as well as a mind boggling plan to spend over $10 million to transform city parks into Disney World like sports, recreational and entertainment venues.

McClendon is a politician who has been very fortunate to be at the right place at the right time when it comes to his vision of the future in that if it weren’t for the record amount of new money flowing into city coffers from Southland Casino Racing most of his plans would be no more than a dream.

When Arkansas voter gave a thumbs up to casino gambling McClendon and every city politician knew it would be like striking gold.

And when Delaware North, parent company of Southland, announced plans to invest over $250 million to expand the current casino to include a towering, multi-story five-star hotel the sky is the limit to what McClendon wants to do.

Granted, the two old fire stations that are being replaced should have been abandoned years ago and as far as the district court building is concerned that too should have been addressed. The library, which has been located at the same address for decades is another city building that has far outlived its usefulness.

We have to say, Marco’s ever expanding plans for the city’s parks are a little overwhelming and very ambitious. For instance, not only does he have plans to foot the bill for an elaborate water park but he also wants a fullfledged, state-of-the-art amphitheater complete with the latest electronic technology.

But that is nothing in comparison to what McClendon has in plans for the Tilden Rodgers Sport Complex on College Boulevard.

There, we’re told, will be brand new, top notch facilities that will include eight, count them, eight turf fields, sand volleyball courts, new tennis courts, an expanded and enhanced walking trail and even a new dog park. Somewhere in all this there are also plans for a community swimming pool.

The mayor says the Tilden Rodgers complex will serve as a major magnet drawing traveling tournament teams as well as tourists known to spend thousands of dollars in the local community from motels to restaurants.

All this doesn’t include what will be done to the other parks throughout the city and this folks, none of all of this will cost the taxpayers of West Memphis a single dime in new taxation.

You see, city Treasurer Frank Martin says funding will come from where? Of course, Southland Casino, also known as the goose that laid the golden egg right tab in the laps of these city politicians.

Again, let us say the timing of all these ambitious projects couldn’t have come at a better time for this administration, which we must say is taking full advantage of the opportunity.

Let’s also say if all this does become a reality the credit rightfully goes to McClendon for having the intestinal fortitude to “gamble” on a good thing that will sure be a major economic shot in the arm to West Memphis economic development. Oh, by the way, this is all being possible because of the tremendous investment and success of Southland Casino Racing.