If there's one thing that really drives me crazy about Fort Smith it's the fact that the "city officials" who run the city of Fort Smith have always been afraid to progress. Why is that? What separates Fort Smith from Bentonville (other than Wal-Mart's HQ) or from Springdale or Fayetteville?
If you don't already you should watch the local news, such as KFSM and 4029, closely. Check out the differences in the new topics. Most NWA topics include something about how the city is doing something to bring in new businesses regardless of the type of business. Fort Smith's big news usually includes some sort of historic reconstruction, or Rheem and/or Whirlpool laying people off.
Ever notice how often a new area is developed in NWA as opposed to Fort Smith? Fort Smith is too tied up in keeping the "Old West" alive where NWA is actively pursuing a 21st century life style. I guess the philosophy is something along the lines of "keep the new age stuff up there and we'll just visit every once in a while and keep Fort Smith a place for old people to retire".
Here's a list of things about Fort Smith that just set me off:
1. Undeveloped River Front area (and I don't mean the "wild west museum" or whatever they plan on focusing on downtown). There is more riverfront land than Clayon Expressway. What about on each side of the I-540 bridge going into Van Buren? It's a wooded disgrace...and that's the first thing people see when entering the city??
2. Who had the bright idea to have Grand Avenue just simply end? Can't we create a plan to connect it to the new Wal-Mart area?
3. How did the Kelley Highway bridge idea get formed? Create a bridge into Wal-Mart to increase traffic....but keep the same amount of lanes going to and from Wal-Mart? Sure there were turn lanes added to increase the flow of traffic OUT of the areas but what about the traffic going in? Rumor has it that the city of Fort Smith tricked Wal-Mart into thinking they were going to help pay for the bridge but when Wal-Mart asked the city to chip in with their part they backed out and Wal-Mart did the best they could do with the money they put in. That figures. It's Fort Smith's trademark to skimp out on when progress is being attempted.
4. Most larger metro areas in the country work with their neighboring cities and towns in order to create a modern atmosphere....not Fort Smith! Every attempt possible is made to keep the rivalries going! Of course I can't say that Barling or Van Buren have done much in the area of modern progress either so maybe it's better this way....
5. Are we going to turn UA-Fort Smith into a medical school or what? Everytime I turn around there's something being said about how the medical area's (dental, etc) are being improved. What about other areas? What about giving more respect to the Technology and Business curriculums?
6. Are we going to turn the land at Fort Chaffee into another uniform look shopping center area full of neighborhoods? I have an idea, how about creating the downtown that Fort Smith SHOULD have? I know I know, it wouldn't be "downtown" but it could be a buisiness district that has the look and feel of a modern city couldn't it? Maybe we should take some pointers from Springdale, Rogers and/or Bentonville? They seem to have adapted fairly well to the 21st century.
Ok so I've gone off on a bit of a rant. I don't really hate Fort Smith as much as it seems. I'm just a little disappointed in its lack of progress. I want to see it flourish with a modern lifestyle like most other cities have adapted to. It is that desire to see the city I have lived in for 26 years of my 30 years of life that sparked my interest in creating my website afterall. (www.FortSmith-Live.com).
I'm sure I've ruffled some feathers here and I apologize. Actually, on second though, I don't apologize. I'm sorry you are upset, but I will never be sorry that I feel the way I do about these things. However, you are more than welcome to leave your own thoughts on anything I've said! That's what this blog is for!