It was McNutt’s forward thinking that literally set the stage for Hands of Hope
Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future: Jonesboro’s New Greenspace
Bob McNutt, 87, has lived in Jonesboro all but two and a half years of his life.
He can easily rattle off the various businesses and landmarks along the cobblestone Main Street where the city’s town hall and police department call home.
One block past city hall on the east side at Fifth and Main streets for years was a prominent part of Jonesboro’s history. At one time the land was home to State Bank and next to it was a building where doctors and lawyers practiced, McNutt said. Over time the use of the buildings changed to apartments and a laundromat, eventually becoming vacant and dilapidated.
During McNutt’s term as mayor, the city was given the property at Fifth and Main with the broken-down buildings that had become an eyesore. McNutt knew the importance of that city block filled with history and wanted to preserve it as best he could. So, he had the buildings on the property demolished and three years ago, McNutt had a large gazebo built at an angle on the property amidst broken concrete and sections of asphalt. It was a start and what the town at the time could afford to do.
It was McNutt’s forward thinking that literally set the stage for Hands of Hope and Mayor Bob Goins to capitalize on what McNutt had started. I still remember meeting with Mayor Goins, discussing the vision Hands of Hope had for a greenspace in Jonesboro. Goins had the perfect spot to create a greenspace and asked if we would be open to this option.
As we walked out of Jonesboro City Hall and crossed the street to the empty lot where the gazebo sat, it was a eureka moment – which a short four months later has transformed into just what McNutt had envisioned, a welcoming greenspace for residents, family and friends to gather.
It is thanks to a partnership with the City of Jonesboro, its residents who completed surveys to determine what the greenspace would include and the creation and implementation of Tim Voss, owner of Voss Landworks LLC, that the project was completed. A testament to the importance of community and leaders who truly want what is best for their citizens.
Join us in celebrating the opening of this beautiful new space that honors our past and looks forward to our future. Come and experience the new heart of Jonesboro, a perfect place for community gatherings, family picnics, and tranquil moments.
