100-year-old power plant
reimagined downtown.
By Lindsey Fisher
Downtown Paragould has been a growing destination for locals and tourists alike for shopping, dining, local theater, live music and events for years. This thriving historic district will soon have the capability to host even more gatherings for family and friends with the highly anticipated restoration of Paragould’s 100-year-old power plant. Originally the town’s first pump house and generator, the reimagined power plant will once again spark new life into Paragould as a multiuse event facility known as The Station Powered by First National Bank.
Inside, The Station will feature theater-style seating for over 700 people or nearly 500 people in a banquet-type setting. The outdoor area will include an amphitheater as well as green spaces and lawn seating. There will also be dressing rooms for wedding parties as well as a lounge area near the stage for performers. The Station will soon become one of Arkansas’s premier destinations for not only concerts, but also weddings, farmers markets, art outings, business meetings and beyond.
When it came to selecting the ideal location for this new venture, Mayor Josh Agee explains that the old power plant, constructed in 1923, was always the city’s first and only choice.
“Our historic power plant is the centerpiece of our downtown. Our city and community leaders feel that our downtown is our inheritance. It is what our city founders left us, and it is our responsibility to ensure its success,” Agee said. “There is no better symbol of Paragould’s history than the power plant. For nearly 100 years it brought our citizens electricity and water. Now, we hope that it will bring our citizens together to enjoy the arts and each other’s company.”
Main Street Paragould Executive Director Miranda Reynolds furthers this sentiment of dedication to Paragould’s most prized structure. “The rounded windows, tall walls and weathered brick have been the backdrop to hundreds of people’s photographs,” Reynolds said. “With this restoration, I am certain locals will pay homage to see this building saved. Tourists have always been attracted to the building’s unique design and I’m sure they will be stopping by more once the building is reopened.”
Downtown Paragould’s historic power plant is getting a facelift, preserving its architecture and enhancing community engagement and tourism.
And even though the existing power plant will receive a significant overhaul, preserving the characteristics that made this building so unique is a key component to the unfolding project.
Allison Hestand, CEO and director of economic development for the Paragould Regional Chamber of Commerce, believes that The Station’s revitalization can set a standard for future projects. “We take pride in seeing this instrumental building saved and reused,” she said. “It shows developers what can and should happen to our historic buildings. Historic districts need preservation. These buildings have withstood the test of time and make our communities unique.”
Successful projects like this require heavy lifting and many hands. Endless conceptual work, partnerships and money need to align for completion, and Downtown Paragould was able to find the perfect balance.
City officials partnered with First National Bank, The Economic Development Corporation of Paragould and many passionate citizens to turn the abandoned power plant into an open-concept event venue.
It was determined that the cost to save the historic power plant would be approximately $4 million. City officials started by pledging $1 million to work toward saving the structure. The Economic Development Corporation of Paragould then pledged an additional $900,000 toward the project. At that time, First National Bank, an Arkansas-based bank with roots in Downtown Paragould, pledged $2 million to make the project a reality. Due to the support of the community’s private and public sectors, the city was able to begin the work on executing the project, breaking ground in November 2023.
“Watching this project take shape and see the number of individuals work to make it a success was inspiring to see. When you have the city of Paragould, a nonprofit board and private business work together for the betterment of our community, it becomes evident that all things are possible,” Hestand remarked.
Looking toward the future, Mayor Agee hopes The Station will continue to bring the community together and further the exciting revitalization of Downtown Paragould. “The rehabilitation of the power plant was something that opened a lot of eyes in our community to how great things can happen when everyone works towards the common goal,” she said. “Over the past five years you have seen our downtown experience tremendous growth and mostly due to our businesses and local entrepreneurs, buying into the vision that has been cast for our downtown. While the renovation of this historic power plant is a huge leap forward, we are not done. The future is extremely bright for Paragould and I’m excited to be able to see it unfold.”
Lindsey Fisher is an Arkansas-based freelance writer and photographer focused on promoting tourism in The Natural State.