Grazing cows and crowing roosters provided the backdrop in 2007 for a groundbreaking ceremony at what would become Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.
Folks who gathered in a 40-acre hayfield that day spoke of the event as the first step in significant development on the town's west side. Restaurants, hotels, a movie theater and a water park were touted as possible neighbors to the Kansas City Royals' Class AA affiliate.
This area near the corner of 56th Street and Watkins Avenue was to become the entertainment, shopping and recreation destination in Northwest Arkansas. At one time a companion indoor arena -- perhaps the site of some other minor league sports team -- was billed as a possibility.
Owners of the land surrounding the ballpark site were described in one report as "big players that have the wherewithal to do anything." Real estate developer Philip Taldo, Tyson Foods, C.L. George and Sons and Claypool Farm were the primary owners of the land surrounding the ballpark.
Taldo, at the time, said development wouldn't likely be a gradual transition. It would "probably all come at once."
For most of the past eight years acreage around the 6,500-seat stadium looked like it did when about 150 folks gathered for the groundbreaking.
We just might be reaching the "all at once" in Taldo's vision all those years back.
About the time the Naturals stadium was open for business, the economy was headed south. Development in Northwest Arkansas stalled, and the pastureland neighboring the ballpark remained undeveloped.
Whenever anybody in the know was asked about the area, the answer often was that the landowners were in a position where they could be patient. They didn't want or need to develop the land just for the sake of developing it.
There were times that seemed like a convenient answer. Days where you could have been excused for thinking the ballpark was going to be it.
Over the last 12-18 months, and particularly in the past 30 days, we've seen significant movement in the area.
All of it is aided by a bond issue approved in 2012 that helped pay for about $45 million in street construction. Don Tyson Parkway was extended and given an interchange onto Interstate 49. The city widened 56th near the ballpark, and there are hopes of one day extending the street.
A Sam's Club is scheduled to open in 2016 at the corner of West Sunset Avenue and South 56th.
Those are just the appetizer.
Earlier this month the Northwest Arkansas Community College board of directors approved plans for a 50,000-square-foot Washington County campus. They'll build on 20 acres to the west of Arvest Ballpark, and initial estimates put the cost of the project around $11.5 million.
A few days before that announcement came word that Arkansas Children's Hospital is planning a 225,000-square-foot facility on 37 acres between Don Tyson Parkway and Sunset Avenue. This $70 million facility will be built on land donated by the George family.
"This is the first vision we had for that area. We are very patient with what we want," Gary George told Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reporter Christie Swanson on the day the land donation was announced.
Thankfully, George and others with land in the area could afford to be patient. Development in the area is cranking up again and it will be meaningful.
A children's hospital. A college campus.
Beats the heck out of an indoor arena and water park, right?
If you have a tip, call Chris Bahn at (479) 365-2972 or email him at
cbahn@nwaonline.com
SundayMonday Business on 08/23/2015