Opening events set for Argenta Plaza
Finalized plans are set for the grand opening of Argenta Plaza on Nov. 30 and the annual Northern Lights Festival that will be held at the plaza, the Convention and Visitors Bureau announced.
The $5.36 million Argenta Plaza, 510 Main St., is scheduled to open at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 30, which also will kick off the annual Northern Lights Festival, according to a schedule released by the bureau. The bureau announced the Nov. 30 date in April, but times and a complete list of activities and attractions weren't announced until this month.
After the plaza's official opening, the lighting of the city's new, 38-foot-tall Christmas tree will occur at 6:30 p.m. A Big Dam Horns Concert will begin at 7 p.m. with a fireworks display to start at 9 p.m. Also planned are horse carriage rides, holiday vendors and food trucks.
Events are free and open to the public.
The North Little Rock Sertoma Christmas Parade will follow the next day, Dec. 1, starting its trip down Main Street at 2 p.m.
The festival is the first major event to be held at Argenta Plaza. The plaza features a "front porch" area with swings, a 50-foot-long cascading water wall, jetted fountains and a 40-foot projection screen above a raised stage.
The Convention and Visitors Bureau, city government, the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, the Argenta Downtown Council and the Argenta Community Theater will sponsor the Northern Lights Festival. The bureau will manage the city-owned plaza.
National Night Out activities in works
Several neighborhood associations have registered to observe National Night Out on Oct. 1.
Neighborhoods will offer food and music, with activities to include children's games, face painting, door prizes and cakewalks.
The aim for the annual National Night Out events is to promote a sense of community, help make neighborhoods safer and form stronger partnerships between police and residents.
More information on participating and on which neighborhoods will have activities is available from the Neighborhood Services Department at 791-8500.
Wheelchair users to get own swing
The One Heart all-inclusive playground in Burns Park is adding a platform swing to accommodate children in wheelchairs, according to legislation approved Monday by the City Council.
The swing is by Inclusive Play, a Scotland company that manufactures "specialized playground equipment for children of all abilities," according to the legislation. The resolution approved by the City Council authorized hiring the Gilscot-Guidroz International Co. Inc. to act as a broker to process the equipment through customs.
The specialized platform wheelchair swing costs $12,000, with the estimated shipping cost to be $1,500, according to Jeff Caplinger, special-projects director for the Parks and Recreation Department. Hiring the customs broker will cost about $750, he said.
One Heart Playground was built specifically for special-needs children with varying degrees of physical and sensory impairments. The playground opened in September 2017.
The tentative delivery date for the swing is early next month, according to Caplinger.
Metro on 09/15/2019