Thousands of children and youth visit the West Central Baseball Complex and West Central Community each year, and many joined us last week as we celebrated a newly renovated baseball field.

The construction updates were funded with $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act money from the Biden administration, and used for new lighting and renovations that make the complex fully accessible and inviting to all.

At the grand re-opening last Wednesday, we enjoyed visits from the Arkansas Travelers, snow cones for kids, and base-running and home run contests. Ward 6 Director Andrea Lewis and I even participated in the on-field festivities during a ceremonial first pitch on the newly updated field!

We share a special appreciation to Parks and Recreation Department Director Leland Couch and his team, which works day in and day out to make certain our young residents have things to do within the parks and recreation system.

For the last two decades, the World Changers organization has made a positive impact on the City of Little Rock, placing service above self as young volunteers from across the country focus on helping members of our community.

World Changers, in partnership with our Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs, connected more than 200 young people from six different states with service projects in the community.

These service-oriented volunteers helped paint and make minor repairs at a dozen different homes in Little Rock. We applaud their willingness to help those in need, especially during the hot Arkansas summers. The City uses federal Community Development Block Grant funds to support these projects.

Last week, we visited a World Changers work site in Little Rock’s Love neighborhood to kick off the 2025 projects. We appreciate Life Line Baptist Church for its support and sponsorship of the World Changers teams.

The Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs is already accepting applications for 2026 assistance. To be eligible, residents must be 62 or older and have lived in their homes for at least a year. For more information, call (501) 371-6825.

Tuesday, July 22, marks a rare Tuesday when the Little Rock Board of Directors will not meet. You may wonder why there are a few Tuesdays a year when there is no meeting scheduled.

The answer is because regular Board meetings are set for the first and third Tuesday of every month. We meet to discuss the next week’s agenda on the Tuesdays before each board meeting.

Since July has five Tuesdays, that means the next regular board meeting is not until Aug. 5, and we will have our next agenda meeting on Tuesday, July 29.

So, in months with five Tuesdays, there is not a meeting scheduled on the fourth Tuesday.

Residents are welcome to attend any Board meeting. Check the meeting dates and agendas on our website.

And, if you have other questions about how the Board or City government operates, send us an email, and I may answer it here!

Here’s a quick look at what’s going on this week in the City of Little Rock:

Tuesday, July 22: It’s not just vehicles used to get from place to place in Little Rock. Bicyclists and pedestrians use our streets and sidewalks every day. Because of that, the City of Little Rock is hosting a certification program for Friendly Drivers. This interactive program motorists learn how to drive around people who are walking and cycling. The free class is at noon at the Willie Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 W. 12th St. Email here to register.

Thursday, July 24: Little Rock’s City Beautiful Commission will meet at 4 p.m. in the Board Room at City Hall, 500 W. Markham St. This commission handles requests for variances from the City’s landscape ordinance and considers other beautification-related issues.