Friends,

Many of you have raised questions or expressed concerns about data centers, including a hyperscale data center planned for the Port of Little Rock, our City’s industrial park. To address those issues, we have asked the Little Rock Board of Directors to approve a proposed ordinance regulating data center projects and prioritizing the welfare and safety of our residents and our environment.

Board members will consider the proposed ordinance at Tuesday’s meeting. The Board meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall, and the meeting is open to the public, though seating capacity is limited. Representatives of the proposed data center project and from local utilities will be present to answer Board members’ questions. The City’s Department of Planning and Zoning team will be available to talk about the regulatory proposal. As with any other agenda item, residents will have the opportunity to provide feedback.

To be clear, the City is limited in its ability to regulate data centers. A 2023 state law restricts what municipalities can do, such as prohibit data center construction altogether. This proposed ordinance sets out sensible, measured regulations that establish buffer zones and require data centers be constructed only in industrially zoned areas, protect residents against noise pollution, and ensures sufficient capacity for utilities. Read the proposed ordinance and news release for many more additional details.

We live in a tech-driven, 21st century economy. This approach to sustainable economic development supports our growing City in an environmentally responsible and transparent way. We appreciate the input from all our residents as we continue this process.

I appreciate you!

Sustain The Rock Awards Honor Environmental Leadership

The City of Little Rock’s Sustainability Office promotes our broad, holistic array of programs and initiatives to support environmental stewardship across Arkansas’s capital city. These efforts take all of us working together as we build a more sustainable City for future generations, and each year we recognize our partners in doing just that.

At the 14th annual “Sustain The Rock” awards last month, we highlighted the individuals, businesses, and organizations leading the way. Our Sustain The Rock award winners for 2026 make a positive impact on long-term sustainability through conservation efforts, renewable energy initiatives, sustainability education, social and environmental justice, and community engagement.

The 2026 Sustain The Rock award winners are:

Chloe Chapman, Our Little Rock: Chapman is the founder of Our Little Rock, which is driving people-centered urban design through community conversations, tactical urbanism, and a vision for a more walkable Little Rock.

Crystal Boerner, MetroGnome LR: The grassroots nonprofit organization has adopted 26 blocks in Little Rock’s SoMa neighborhood since 2024, using volunteer cleanups to clear litter, drains and overgrowth.

Dominique Kelleybrew, Nathan Miller, and Everett Gooch, Pedal Party LR: This free, weekly community bike ride allows riders to explore Little Rock together. Up to 185 cyclists have participated to champion sustainable transportation for all.

Jerry Shurgar and Page Shurgar, Trinity Tree Project: Following the March 31, 2023, tornado, they raised $250,000 and planted more than 200 trees at no cost to residents. This will help restore the tree canopy in the Kingwood neighborhood.

Gabe El-Bey, Turtle Island G.K.: This urban garden in the South End neighborhood offers free produce and hands-on nutrition workshops, demonstrating how one person with a vision can transform a neighborhood.

Vanessa Scroggins, Central Arkansas Library System Seed Library (McMath Library branch): Through the CALS Seed Library, Ms. Scroggins offers free hydroponics, seed swaps, and year-round gardening programs. This makes green space and food knowledge accessible to all.

Award winners are selected annually based on nominations received by the Little Rock Sustainability Commission. Nominees must be Little Rock residents or have their organization or principal place of business located in the City. Learn more about our sustainability programs on our website.

Pro Tournament, Baseball Regionals

Highlight Big LR Sports Week

It was an exciting time to be a Little Rock sports fan this past week, as the Little Rock Trojans punched their tickets to the Super Regionals of the NCAA Baseball Tournament, while local tennis fans were able to see future stars in action at the UAMS Health Little Rock Open.

First, congratulations to the Trojans, who won all three games in the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional and advanced to the Supers for the first time in school history. Little Rock will play either Florida or Troy in the best-of-three Super Regionals for the right to advance to the College World Series.

The Trojans, led by head coach Chris Curry, are a resilient team that won six games in five days in their conference tournament just to earn an NCAA berth. Join us in supporting them in the Super Regionals!

Meanwhile, the 45th edition of the Little Rock Open concluded a successful run at Rebsamen Tennis Center. This free event is part of the ATP Challenger Tour, the second-highest level of professional tennis competition.

The players we watched last week at Rebsamen could be playing next year at Roland Garros, Wimbledon or Arthur Ashe Stadium.

We are proud to host this annual event to support the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.

Congratulations to this year’s champions, Colton Smith in singles competition, and Pranav Kumar and Karl Poling in doubles play.

It was a privilege to speak at a Little Rock Trojans athletic event late last year.

Little Rock Recycles Day

is Saturday, June 6

Join us Saturday, June 6 in the east parking lot of the Little Rock Zoo for the next quarterly Little Rock Recycles Day.

On Saturday, residents may safely dispose of electronic waste, plastic bags, glass, documents for shredding and more. Little Rock Recycles Day is from 9 a.m. to noon.

Through this initiative, residents can help make a significant impact on the environment and play an important role in creating a sustainable future.

Little Rock Recycles Day is sponsored by the City of Little Rock Sustainability Office, Little Rock Zoo, and Keep Little Rock Beautiful. We appreciate the residents who participate in these events, as well as the City team members and volunteers who help contribute to their success.

Items being accepted at the event are:

• Single-stream recycling (plastic bottles and jugs, cardboard, paper, aluminum & steel cans)

• Plastic bags (and other soft plastic packaging like shrink wrap)

• Glass

• e-Waste (anything with a power cord, except refrigerators & window air conditioners)

• Bicycles

• Documents for shredding

• Household goods and textiles

  
  

  The drop-off point is at the intersection of Zoo Drive and South Monroe Street.

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

Tuesday, June 2: The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet at 6 p.m. in the Board Room at City Hall, 500 W. Markham St. All board meetings are open to the public, and all meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock’s Facebook and YouTube pages. View the agenda here.

Wednesday, June 3: The City of Little Rock’s Commission on Children, Youth, and Families will hold its monthly meeting at the Willie L. Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 W. 12th St. That meeting starts at 11:30 a.m.

Thursday, June 4: The Little Rock Civil Service Commission meets at 8:30 a.m. in Room 207 at the Willie L. Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center.