Searcy City Council Approves Land Acquisition

The Searcy City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward with negotiations for a land acquisition totaling approximately 108 acres. The purchase will include approximately 95 acres located on the west side of South Main Street, 12.5 acres on the east side of South Main Street, and a half city block located next to the Black House on Race Ave. 

“The opportunity to purchase this much land in the middle of Searcy doesn’t come around every day,” City Councilman Rodger Cargile said. “While the exact plans for the property are yet to be determined, we believe this is an impact purchase that will benefit generations to come.” 

Plans for the property will be developed through the 20-year planning efforts currently underway with Crafton Tull. 

“During our meetings with Crafton Tull we mentioned the possibility of purchasing this property,” City Planner Richard Stafford said. “After evaluation from their team, it was abundantly evident that this property could be a valuable asset for the master plan.”

Funds for the purchase are available due to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which was a federally-funded program through which the City received $4,901,898.82 and is required to fully dedicate to a project by the end of 2024. 

“Being able to purchase such a significant amount of land without having to rely on local tax dollars is a home run for our community,” Rodger Cargile said. 

The City is in the community input stage of the 20-year master planning and is set to complete the plan this fall. There is currently a Parks survey open to the public that can be accessed by visiting cityofsearcy.org/planning. 

“Our goal is to get as much community input as possible throughout the 20-year planning process so the outcome will be a plan that everyone is excited about,” Mayor Mat Faulkner said.