From Turbulence to Tranquility:
The Little Rock Arsenal (continued)
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This land, commonly known as the Arsenal grounds...shall become vested in the city of Little Rock upon the express trust and condition that said grounds shall be forever exclusively devoted to the uses and purposes of a public park for said city. |
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Act of Congress, April 23, 1892 |
The decision to close the arsenal in 1890 prompted much debate about what to do with the land and buildings. Some felt the site should serve as a school, while others argued the city, with a population of 40,000, badly needed its first public park. A Tennessee company considered establishing a brewery on the grounds. Expressing the majority view, one newspaper wrote, "The necessity of a park is paramount to all other needs of the city."
Two years later, on April 23, 1892, the federal
government traded the arsenal and grounds to Little Rock for 1,000 acres
of privately owned property on Big Rock Mountain on the north side of the
Arkansas River. This site later became Fort Logan H. Roots in what is now
North Little
Rock. The stipulation governing the transaction--which
remains in effect today--required the grounds to be used as a public park.
The following year, all structures except the tower Building were removed
and the grounds landscaped.
Arsenal Park became a source of pride to Little Rock's citizens, often depicted in photographs and postcards of the period. In 1911, the park housed over 10,000 Civil War veterans attending the United Confederate Veterans Reunion. Renamed City Park shortly after its creation, the name was changed to MacArthur Park in 1942 in honor of General Douglas MacArthur. Ten years later, General MacArthur visited his birthplace as more than 10,000 people attended ceremonies in the park commemorating Little Rock's native son.