HELENA-WEST HELENA — The Walton Family Foundation has awarded $627,000 in grants for construction of Civil War sites in Helena-West Helena.
The grants were awarded to the Delta Bridge Project, which is a community-led effort in Phillips County. The group is building two sites in Helena-West Helena as events commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
A $242,000 grant was awarded to complete the construction of a replica of Fort Curtis, which will be the largest earthen-walled Civil War fort in the region. A $385,000 grant was awarded for the creation of Freedom Park.
The park will feature five main exhibits and will showcase the experiences of African-Americans during the Civil War.
Officials say the Civil War sites in Helena-West Helena could draw more than 60,000 visitors each year to Phillips County.