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SARACEN LANDING CELEBRATES SECOND ANNIVERSARY

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 12:54 AM CDT

With hot dogs, cake and soft drinks, organizers, supporters and staff at Saracen Landing celebrated its second anniversary Tuesday.

Pine Bluff Commercial/Ralph Fitzgerald Pine Bluff Festival Director Greg Gustek explains phase one of the new walking trail with Joy Blankenship, Executive Director of Pine Bluff Downtown Development, lending a hand Tuesday afternoon as Saracen Landing celebrated the second anniversary of the pavilion.

“Two years ago today, June 16, 2007, we dedicated the Simmons Pavilion in honor of J. Thomas May (chairman and chief executive officer of Simmons First National Bank),” said Joy Blankenship, executive director of Pine Bluff Downtown Development.

Quoting a line from the movie Field of Dreams, Blankenship told a group of elected officials, members of the Chamber of Commerce, bankers, educators and others that “‘if you build it, they will come,’ and they have.”

Blankenship, who with others has been involved in the project since its beginning, also cited the “public-private partnership that made this dream a reality.” She explained that it started with $100,000 that Simmons donated during the bank’s 100th birthday celebration.

Susan Jones, facilities manager and events coordinator for Saracen Landing noted that the farmers market, currently in its 35th year in Jefferson County, is now located at Saracen Landing and will be celebrating its grand opening Saturday.

“When we opened the gates, we were challenged to come up with a new festival so we developed the Harbor City Festival and Gumbo Cook-Off and that’s been a real success,” she said. “Next year, we’re going to change that to a chicken cook-off and we’ve already had inquiries from people wanting to get involved with that.” That event will take place next April.

Noting that Saracen Landing is a public park and is open daily until 9 p.m., Jones said it’s a “good safe place to bring the family.”

As far as the future, Pine Bluff Festival Director Greg Gustek, who has also been involved in the Saracen Landing project since it began, explained that phase one of the new walking trail that will eventually circle the lake is almost complete.

“Phase two is in the grant process and phase three is in the planning stage,” Gustek said.

The trail will eventually encompass about four miles, and will be handicapped accessible.

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