Following a traditional ribbon cutting from members of the Greater Pine Bluff Camber of Commerce Redcoats, the long-awaited Simmons Bank Park is now open for business.
Located across the street from the new Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library at 6th Avenue and Main Street, the Simmons Bank Park was one of the projects created by Go Forward Pine Bluff to bring traffic and people back to downtown Pine Bluff.
Oldies 1013 Morning Show host Greg Horne broadcast live from the event and told Go Forward Pine Bluff CEO Ryan Watley the whole development “is better than I thought it was going to be.”
The cornerstone of the park is the Magnolia Food Market and Bar which features four professional kitchens, three of which were preparing various things to eat. There are also two bars, one inside and the other on the roof of the building. Indoor and outdoor seating is also available.
One of the first cheerleaders for the total project was former Mayor Shirley Washington, and she never pulled back from that support, even after losing a bid for a third term.
The former Simmons Bank branch on the property has been converted to a retail space for a future tenant.
Current Mayor Vivian Flowers gave the welcome and also spoke to Deltaplex News about the project.
Simmons Bank donated the land for the project and Chad Patillo spoke to Deltaplex Radio about their involvement and hopes for the future of the park.
Now that the Simmons Bank Park is open for business, Watley said Go Forward Pine Bluff will turn to another effort to bring people downtown, and that’s housing.
