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Morrilton, Arkansas by Mark A Robertson, FASLA and Caitlin L. Robertson, MESA Landscape Architects Inc.
Petit Jean State Park, located on top of Petit Jean Mountain in Morrilton, Arkansas, was established in 1923 as the state's first State Park. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began developing the park facilities and roadworks in 1933, with most of the early projects completed prior to World War II. Petit Jean State Park is an excellent example of CCC-era work and style, as much of the original work remains intact and has influenced all contemporary developments. In the century since the park was established, it has been a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Since the first reported attendance of 63,000 in 1939, visitation to the park has increased to nearly one million people annually, including visitors from across the United States and the globe. MESA Landscape Architects (MLA) from Little Rock, Arkansas was selected to design the new overlook at the west entrance of the park just before the highway descends into the valley below. The site is south of Cedar Creek along the edge of the mountain, overlooking the Arkansas River Valley. For decades, the promontory was secured along the steep drop-off with a chain-link fence that had become a safety issue for visitors. It was the last of the prominent overlook locations within the park providing panoramic views across the expansive landscape that had not been updated since new developments began in 1998. MLA previously designed elevated boardwalks and overlooks at Cedar Falls and Stouts Point at the east entry as part of the first round of improvements, thanks to a dedicated eight-cent sales tax revenue stream directed towards funding for state parks, Arkansas' game and fish, and the state's natural heritage. MLA was responsible for all conceptual design, construction documents, and specifications, as well as providing ongoing construction administration through the duration of the project. AMR Architects in Little Rock served as the project architect and project management while providing construction administration support. The new overlook was challenging due to safety concerns about the extreme drop off and because it was constructed during the onset of the Covid pandemic, which complicated schedules and the availability of key persons due to health concerns.
As seen in LASN magazine, October 2024.
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