An early rendering of a possible expanded Cisterna Park in downtown Fort Smith. A new design effort is now underway. Image via Talk Business & Politics.
Hey Fort Smith — here's a downtown project that had gone pretty quiet but is officially moving again.
Fort Smith's Central Business Improvement District is putting the Cisterna Park expansion back near the top of its downtown priority list, and a local architecture firm is now working on a new design.
The goal is to get a plan through approvals by the end of 2026 and, if everything lines up, potentially build it in 2027.
Cisterna Park is the small downtown plaza at 1001 Garrison Avenue, around North 10th Street, where the statue of Fort Smith native Gen. William O. Darby sits today.
The City currently lists the site as a downtown park with benches and on-site parking.
The bigger idea is to turn that small pocket into an actual downtown gathering space instead of something most people simply drive past.
The concept is bigger than replacing a few benches and planting flowers.
An earlier version of the expansion included closing a short transit street beside the park, creating additional green space, adding mature trees and brick elements and building out an area that could work for vendors during downtown events.
The park sits right along Garrison in the area between 10th and 11th streets.
That means even though the footprint is relatively small, the project sits on one of downtown Fort Smith's most visible corridors.
If the final design keeps the street-conversion portion, it would physically change how that little section of downtown works.
Instead of using every available foot of pavement for vehicles, part of the area could become space for people to walk, sit, gather, attend an event or visit vendors.
Fort Smith Parks & Recreation Director Sara Deuster said the department supports the project because an expanded park could create a new downtown gathering place while making the area more pedestrian-friendly.
A new design is being worked up now.
The Central Business Improvement District discussed the project again during its Sept. 15 meeting.
CBID members Trent Goins and Eric Hartness said Cisterna Park is again a priority.
Fort Smith-based MAHG Architecture is now working on plans for the park.
The group also wants the project to lean more heavily into the history of Fort Smith native Gen. William O. Darby, who organized and led the original Army Rangers during World War II.
That connection isn't just branding somebody came up with for the redevelopment.
Cisterna Park is named after Cisterna, Italy, one of Fort Smith's sister cities.
Fort Smith's relationship with Cisterna grew out of the city's connection to Darby and the Army Rangers during World War II.
Fort Smith also has a sister-city relationship with Nago-Torbole, Italy, tied to that same history.
Current design discussions include looking at monuments and public spaces in Italy that recognize Darby and the Rangers and finding ways to bring some of those ideas into the Fort Smith park.
But don't mistake this for an approved $900,000 construction project yet.
An earlier version of the project developed in 2024 had an estimated price of $899,263.
That is not a confirmed current project cost.
The design is being reworked.
The final scope hasn't been approved.
And officials don't yet know what the updated version will cost.
Funding isn't locked down either.
Potential sources could include the Central Business Improvement District, the City through Parks & Recreation and private donations.
The CBID itself raises revenue through property assessments inside the downtown improvement district.
So nobody should read this as:
“Fort Smith just approved spending $900,000 on a downtown park.”
It didn't.
What happened is the project has moved back into active planning, an architectural firm is developing the next version and downtown officials want to push it toward an actual decision.
The timeline they're talking about is pretty aggressive.
The people pushing the expansion want input from the City, state officials, Darby-related organizations, Army Ranger groups and other stakeholders wrapped into the design process.
Their goal is to have a design ready for approval before the end of 2026.
If that happens, Goins said the hope would be to get the project completed sometime in 2027.
That's a fast timeline for a public-space project that still needs design work, approvals and funding.
So I'd treat 2027 as the goal, not a guaranteed opening date.
Why is a little park project worth watching?
Fort Smith has talked for years about making downtown easier to walk and giving people more reasons to stay on Garrison instead of showing up for one event, getting back in the car and leaving.
This isn't a convention center, hotel or massive private development.
But small public spaces can completely change how a block feels.
Right now Cisterna Park is essentially a compact downtown plaza anchored by the Darby statue and seating.
If the new plan actually expands the park, adds shade and green space, removes unnecessary pavement and creates a usable vendor or gathering area, people would probably notice the difference immediately.
And this isn't the first time Fort Smith planners have looked at that area this way.
The City's own long-range downtown planning documents have previously identified the Cisterna area as a redevelopment opportunity involving more pedestrian-oriented streets and a larger public plaza concept.
So the idea isn't brand new.
What's new is that people are actively trying to move it again.
Hey Fort Smith — here's the useful version.
Cisterna Park at 10th and Garrison may finally be getting another real shot at expansion.
A new design is underway.
The concept could mean more green space, mature trees, a better event and vendor area and possibly converting a small piece of roadway into pedestrian space.
The project would also put more focus on Fort Smith's Gen. William O. Darby and the city's relationship with Cisterna, Italy.
The goal is to have the design approved by the end of 2026 and potentially finish construction in 2027.
But we're not at construction yet.
There's no final design.
There's no final cost.
And the funding still has to come together.
So the next thing worth watching isn't another pretty rendering.
It's when the actual design becomes public.
That's when residents and downtown businesses will finally be able to see exactly what streets, parking, green space and public areas could change.
Community takeaway: Fort Smith's Central Business Improvement District has revived plans to expand Cisterna Park near 10th Street and Garrison Avenue. MAHG Architecture is developing a new design that could add green space, shade, event and vendor areas and potentially convert a small street area to pedestrian use. Officials hope to seek approval by the end of 2026 and potentially complete the project in 2027. No final design, construction price or funding package has been approved yet.
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Sources: Talk Business & Politics — CBID revives Cisterna Park expansion effort · City of Fort Smith — Cisterna Park information · City of Fort Smith — sister-city and Gen. Darby history
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