Arkansas Preservation Plan

Number of Pages: 32
Approval Date: March 28, 2002
Planning Cycle: 5 years

Contact Information:

Mona Hughes
CLG/Easement/Planning Coordinator
Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
1500 Tower Building
323 Center Street
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 324-9783; fax (501) 324-9154
E-mail: mona@arkansaspreservation.org
Website: www.arkansaspreservation.org/preservation/planning.asp

Mission/Vision Statement:
As an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program participates in and supports the vision of identifying a sense of time and place for Akansans and enhancing a quality of life through the documentation, interpretation, preservation, and presentation of the state's natural, cultural, and historic resources.

Table of Contents:

Acknowledgements
Foreword
Introduction
Planning Approach
Using and Updating the Plan
Executive Summary
Vision
Goals
Arkansas' Cultural Resources
Influences on Cultural Resources
Appendix A. Data and Report of Forums
Appendix B. survey Form and Results Report
Appendix C. AHPP Staff Interview Questions
Selected Bibliography

PLAN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
Public Participation Strategies:

• Statewide non-profit organized and moderated 8 regional focus groups;
• Public opinion questionnaire survey;
• National Trust for Historic Preservation conducted confidential staff interviews and analyzed public survey results.

Other Plan Development Strategies:
None specifically mentioned.

HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
Cultural heritage - archeological sites and historic buildings, structures, sites, and districts; historic resources; Native American, French, and Spanish archeological sites; prehistoric and historic archeological sites; cultural resources; residences; commercial buildings; industrial buildings; agricultural buildings; courthouses, city halls, and other community institution buildings; mining and quarry structures; bridges, water towers, corn cribs; dams; roads; fortifications; cultural/vernacular landscapes; prehistoric earthen mounds, rock quarries, fishing weirs, burials, rock art, ceremonial centers, palisaded villages; historic archeological resources, including sites associated with DeSoto's route through Arkansas, colonial & territorial settlements & fortifications, battlefields, German prisoner-of-war camps, Japanese-American relocation camps, industrial sites, farmsteads, mines, house sites, early urban settlement sites, plantation complexes; underwater archeological sites, including submerged ships & aboriginal canoes, waterfronts, piers, wharves, river crossings; Paleo-Indian archeological sites; downtown business districts, residential neighborhoods; military facilities; rural settlements; educational complexes.

ISSUES, THREATS, & OPPORTUNITIES

• Uneven and incomplete survey coverage;
• Increased population growth and urbanization;
• Rural depopulation fosters neglect of historic properties, inappropriate alterations, demolition, or abandonment;
• Increasingly older and ethnically diverse population;
• Seemingly uncontrolled development expanding into rural areas;
• Increasing popularity of moving historic buildings;
• Strong antiquities market encourages looting and vandalism;
• State has one of the lowest per capita incomes in the nation;
• Little access to historic preservation services in rural areas;
• Swings in agricultural economy adversely affect historic properties;
• Growing importance of manufacturing economy;
• Shifts in federal, state, and local government financial and technical support for preservation;
• Challenge at local level in managing growth, stagnant or dwindling economic base;
• CLG and Main Street programs provide assistance to local communities;
• Growing heritage tourism industry.

1. Encourage the widespread understanding and use of accepted preservation standards and techniques.
2. Increase the public's understanding, awareness, and involvement in historic preservation.
3. Establish and/or increase funding mechanisms sufficient to meet preservation needs.
4. Encourage the growth and further development of a statewide preservation network by partnering with local, state, regional, and federal agencies and organizations.
5. Continue to focus on the identification, evaluation, registration, and treatment of cultural resources through the acquisition and interpretation of sufficient amount of information about those properties.
6. Increase the availability and scope of technical assistance sources and resources throughout the state.

Cooperating/Partnering Organizations:
Historic Preservation alliance of Arkansas; Southwest Office, National Trust for Historic Preservation; Arkansas Archeological Survey; Arkansas Department of Park sand Tourism; National Park Service; US Air Force; Main Street Arkansas program; Certified Local Governments.