Gardens in the Park?
Scott Shellabarger • March 30, 2026
A New Chapter is Growing and We Want You to Be Part of It
Something exciting is happening in North Little Rock.
The City of North Little Rock Parks & Recreation has released a Request for Proposals for a 47-acre site in Burns Park. This space was the former RV park that has been sitting unused for 4 years and waiting for its next life. SJCA is getting ready to propose something we think this community deserves- a public garden and education center rooted in the same mission we've carried for nearly two decades- growing community through agriculture, arts, and innovation.
What We're Proposing
Imagine a place where families learn to garden, where new farmers build skills they can take home, where kids get their hands in the soil for the first time, and where the community gathers around something that's literally alive and growing.
The site sits within one of Arkansas's most beloved public parks and our proposal is designed to enhance what Burns Park already offers. We're talking about pollinator gardens, community growing spaces, outdoor classrooms, and hands-on programming that connects people to the land and to each other.
Why Now
SJCA has been through a lot of change recently. After a fire and the loss of our longtime home, we made a decision: we weren't going to shrink, we were going to grow. This proposal is part of that commitment. A permanent home for community agriculture education in central Arkansas that is accessible, inclusive, and built to last.
The R.F.P. process is the city's way of finding the right partner for this site, and we believe SJCA is that partner. But we also know that community support matters to us and to the decision-makers evaluating proposals.
How You Can Help
If you believe that Burns Park deserves a space where people can learn, grow, and gather we'd love your support.
Sign the petition. Your signature tells the City of North Little Rock that this vision has a community behind it. It takes 30 seconds and it makes a real difference.
We'll keep you updated as the R.F.P. process moves forward. In the meantime- spread the word, share this post, talk to your neighbors. The more voices behind this the stronger the case for a space that grows community.
New farmers market supports local producers
Hey everyone, It's been weeks since our last update, so I wanted to bring you up to speed on where things stand. Properties Under Review We're actively evaluating lot of locations for the relaunched Hub: 201 E. Broadway — This is the original Hub building, now owned by Makan Hospitality. We've submitted a lease counter-proposal and are in negotiations. The challenge here is to get the lease down to an amount we can afford. Fire Station No. 1, 723 N. Maple Street — This is the city-owned central fire station in Argenta. Once the new $12M central station opens (expected mid-2026), this 18,000+ square foot building becomes surplus property. It's a strong candidate for a place to reopen the Hub while we develop the longer-term vision. We're already in conversations with the city about it. Midtown 1800 Maple Street — A 4-story, 29,500 square foot building on 1.5 acres with an adjacent 1.34-acre lot. The vision at this location is a full maker campus: Hub operations on the ground floor, artist studio apartments on floors 2–4 (funded through Low-Income Housing Tax Credits), a purpose-built workshop, solar, rooftop gardens, and a standalone farm market. 600 N Broadway (Diamond Bear Brewing) — nearly 25,000 square feet on 3 acres, with an adjacent acre also available. It's zoned industrial and already has heavy infrastructure in place: commercial kitchen, loading dock, overhead doors, offices, and electrical service sized for brewery operations. The building went to auction in late 2024 without meeting its reserve price, and it's been listed with Moses Tucker since. With room for a full campus that include outdoor programming, parking, future expansion. We're taking a close look at this one. Midtown 100 E 11th Street — A 17,000 square foot warehouse (the old Harris Siding & Supply building) Just north of Argenta almost under the main street railroad bridge. It’s not the most visible location, but the price per square foot is hard to beat, and the industrial zoning means workshop and fabrication activities are permitted uses. It's been on the market for over two years. This one functions best as a fallback or interim option it's available now and within reach financially. Learning From What Works We've been studying successful makerspaces across the country to make sure we're building a model that lasts. Some of the spaces we've looked at include: Dallas Makerspace (TX) — 36,000 sq ft, 1,500 members, 100% volunteer-run. Proof that a cooperative model can work at scale. Artisan's Asylum (Boston) — 52,000 sq ft, ~1,200 members, one of the few spaces to publicly report revenue (~$1.4M). Classes drove their early growth; memberships and studio rentals sustain them now. TinkerMill (Longmont, CO) — ~18,000 sq ft, ~300 members. Closest in size to what we're planning. Nonprofit, community-driven. i3Detroit — 8,000 sq ft, entirely volunteer-operated. Membership dues cover all expenses. A lean, sustainable model. Columbus Idea Foundry — 60,000+ sq ft in a converted shoe factory. One of the largest community makerspaces in the world. Strong mix of classes, coworking, studios, and event space. TXRX Labs (Houston) — 50,000+ sq ft, serves 4,000+ people annually. Deep STEAM youth education programs. The common thread across all successful spaces: earned income thru memberships, classes, fabrication services, and studio rentals is what makes them sustainable. That's exactly the model we're building. EDA Lien Update For those who've been following the federal side of this story, the $1 million EDA lien on the original Hub building at 201 E. Broadway has been settled. Winrock resolved it with the EDA as part of the sale to the new owner. We've filed a FOIA request for the details of that settlement, including how much Winrock actually paid. We expect to have that information in the coming weeks and will share what we learn. What's Next Continuing property negotiations and city engagement Building out the new website Volunteer working groups are active in Basecamp, if you want to get involved, reply to this email Financial modeling continues to evolve — all documentation is at savethehub.org Thank you for sticking with us. If you have locations or ideas please email or call. Scott Shellabarger
Established in 1907, St. Joseph's Home & Farm served this community for over a century. As an orphanage, school, military hotel, nursing home, daycare, and retreat center run by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica, it was always a place of purpose. In 2008, when the Diocese of Little Rock announced that St. Joseph's Home would close and the property would be sold, a group of passionate community members stepped up and created of St. Joseph Center of Arkansas . In 2010, SJCA (501c3) signed a 50-year lease with the diocese, assuming all fiscal and management responsibilities for the property. What followed was a remarkable resurrection. Through the hard work and dedication the historic site was transformed into a dynamic urban farm and community hub. Over the course of the last 17 years, we used this historic place to build our community-based organization focused on agricultural education, historic preservation, and supporting local artists. What started on a single Century Farm grew into something much bigger than any of us imagined: Supporting over 50 local artists with subsidized studio space and markets where they could share and sell their work Empowering local farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs through free classes, market access, and the space to grow their businesses Operating the largest community gardens in North Little Rock , putting food and knowledge directly into the hands of our neighbors Welcoming thousands of RV and overnight visitors introducing them to our corner of Arkansas Hosting AmeriCorps groups year after year , giving young people hands-on experience in public service Growing food for the Hunger Relief Alliance and local food pantries , turning our soil into meals for families who needed them Caring for farm animals with the help of an incredible team of dedicated volunteers Building a farm store focused on local farmers and producers that grew to serve 22,000 customers a year, proof that people will show up when you give them a way to support their neighbors On March 19th, 2025, a fire claimed the iconic historic building. It was a devastating loss for the entire community that had come to call this place their own. The fire prompted a period of reorganization and deep reflection about who we are and what we stand for. What emerged was not a new organization, but a renewed one with a sharpened mission and a greater emphasis on community: SJCA grows community through agriculture, arts, and innovation. Cultivating spaces where people grow together. SJCA is no longer physically located at or tied to the historic St Joseph farm and building, but we carry forward the tradition of gathering people together, serving this community, and creating spaces where good things take root. That tradition doesn't live in a building, it lives in the work. By keeping our name we honor the legacy of St. Joseph's Home while making clear that our work has grown beyond any single place. The community spirit that defined that property for more than a hundred years is alive in everything we do.
The SJCA Board of Directors met this February and made several landmark decisions that will shape the future of our organization and the communities we serve across central Arkansas. From a leadership transition to bold new programming initiatives, here's everything you need to know. Honoring Sandy DeCoursey: 18 Years of Dedicated Service With this transition comes a heartfelt farewell and a grateful thank you to Sandy DeCoursey, who is retiring after 18 remarkable years of service to SJCA. Sandy's leadership, vision, and tireless dedication helped build the foundation that SJCA stands on today. From the earliest days of our agricultural programming to the development of community partnerships across central Arkansas, Sandy's fingerprints are on every part of this organization's story. But don't worry — Sandy isn't going far. She will remain as Executive Director Emeritus until September then move on to the SJCA Board of Directors, continuing to lend her wisdom, institutional knowledge, and steady guidance as we navigate the exciting road ahead. We are deeply grateful for everything Sandy has given to SJCA, and we look forward to her continued involvement in shaping our future. Scott Shellabarger Steps into Executive Director Role We are excited to announce that Scott Shellabarger has been named the new Executive Director of SJCA. Scott brings a deep passion for community-driven agriculture, education, and cooperative development, and has been instrumental in guiding SJCA's mission and vision. His leadership will carry the organization forward as we enter one of the most ambitious periods in our history. Scott possesses the skills needed to navigate this challenging transition. SJCA is in good hands. "I'm honored to lead SJCA into this next chapter, and I'm committed to making sure our work continues to grow alongside the communities we serve." The Innovation Hub Is Coming Back Bigger and Better In one of the most exciting developments to come out of the February meeting, the SJCA Board voted unanimously to pursue leading the relaunch of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub. The Innovation Hub was the community resource that provided hands-on STEAM education, maker space access, and creative programming for people of all ages. Under SJCA's leadership, the relaunched Hub will keep all of the programming that made it a community cornerstone and expand it significantly. Here's what's new: Expanded Classes — SJCA plans to offer an expanded catalog of classes that qualify under the Arkansas LEARNS Act, making high-quality education more accessible to families across the state. From coding and robotics to digital fabrication and beyond, the Hub will be a destination for students looking to build real-world skills. Farm and Garden Training — True to SJCA's roots, the relaunched Hub will integrate agriculture and horticulture education into its programming. Expect hands-on workshops covering everything from urban farming techniques and soil science to food forest design and sustainable growing practices. Arkansas Made & Grown Market — Perhaps most exciting of all, SJCA plans to establish an Arkansas Made & Grown market within the Hub space. This market will showcase products from local makers, artisans, farmers, and producers — creating a vibrant marketplace that supports Arkansas's creative and agricultural economies while giving the community a place to shop local and connect with the people behind the products. The Innovation Hub relaunch represents SJCA's commitment to the "Living Bridge" philosophy connecting education, agriculture, and the arts under one roof, owned and operated by the community it serves. The Search for a New Farm Continues SJCA also reaffirmed its commitment to finding a permanent farm location in North Little Rock. The search for a 5–20 acre property in central Arkansas remains a top priority, and the board is actively pursuing opportunities that will allow SJCA to expand its Growing Urban Farmers program, host Field Days, and establish a working demonstration farm that serves as both an educational resource and a productive agricultural operation. If you know of available land in the North Little Rock area that might be a fit, we'd love to hear from you. Looking Ahead This is an extraordinary moment for SJCA. With new leadership at the helm, a beloved community institution is preparing to reopen with a clear vision for connecting agriculture, education, and local commerce, the future has never looked brighter.
