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Harrison’s Downtown Entertainment District is scheduled to open today.
From 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., adults can legally walk from one participating business to another with a cork in hand in a special mug.
Mayor Jerry Jackson said it will be a soft opening to see how things go.
The Harrison City Council voted 5-3 in September to approve the recreation district in part at the request of Russell Tucker, co-owner of Rapp’s Barren Brewing Co. of Mountain Home, Jackson said.
Tucker plans to open a microbrewery in downtown Harrison Square, but that may not happen until next year, Jackson said.
Matt Bell, executive director of Explore Harrison, said Rapp’s is a partner of Explore Harrison (also known as the Harrison Convention and Visitors Bureau) in the entertainment district.
“Our goal is to keep our downtown alive,” Bell said. “Our goal is to stimulate the economy in the inner city.”
People can buy alcohol at the Lyric Theater tonight and walk to participating businesses, if they have one, Bell said. As of late Thursday, no one had signed up. He hopes that changes today.
Bell said city officials will see what happens today and make any necessary changes before permanently opening the recreation area.
“Our target is June 1,” he said.
By then, there should be permanent signage to ensure people know the boundaries and rules of the recreation area, Bell said. At that time, the entertainment district will be open 7 days a week from 4:30pm to 11pm.
According to https://exploreharrison.com/attractions/entertainment-district, the rules include:
Exotic alcohol consumption is prohibited in the area. Only beverages purchased at participating locations are permitted to be shipped within the area.
Always stay within the boundaries of the area when consuming beverages.
You can only bring drinks to participating businesses (those with decals on the windows) within the area
Public property excluded from the area includes the Boone County Courthouse and grounds, the Boone County Library, and the Boone County Assessor’s Office
“Enjoy responsibly. Laws regarding intoxication and disorderly conduct in public places are strictly enforced.”
Music will be provided by Kickin’ Kountry tonight from 6-8pm. Bell said people are encouraged to bring lawn chairs tonight, as they do at their monthly square music event.
But in general, Bell doesn’t want people bringing lawn chairs to hang out and drink on other nights of the month.
“I didn’t want to create a tailgate area, so I didn’t want them to sit,” he says.
Arkansas Bill 812 of 2019 allows cities and towns to create recreation districts, and since the law passed, several recreation districts have been established, including one at Mountain Home.
According to the Arkansas Code of Note 14-54-1412(b)(A), “a city, municipality, or incorporated town creating a designated entertainment district under this section shall establish reasonable standards for drinking by ordinance. The boundaries of the designated entertainment district.”
Harrison Act No. 1508 established the recreation area. It also established a five-member Recreation District Oversight Committee.
Sam Boyd, pastor of Harrison Church of the Nazarene for 23 years, objected to the recreation area.
He now serves on its oversight board.
Boyd said the mayor of Jackson invited him to join, and knowing that the city council would approve, he decided to become a member of the oversight committee.
“If you’re trying to revitalize a downtown, using alcohol is a terrible way to do it, but that’s just my opinion,” Boyd said. “If we go back to Carrie Nation, I’ll be fine.”
Boyd said the question now is “how can we do this where it works best, without crossing the line or being reckless?”
A guide would help, he said.
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