Go Kart Track Gets Ahead
Contract To Proceed is Signed
Pine Bluff residents celebrated a significant milestone at the recent Pine Bluff Urban Renewal Agency meeting, where they moved one step closer to the realization of a new state-of-the-art Go-Kart track. The agency's Executive Director, Chandra Griffin, was given the green light to sign a contract with Amusement Products, a company based in Chattanooga, TN, selected to construct this exciting facility.
The initiative to bring a Go-Kart track to Pine Bluff was kick-started in 2017 by Go Forward Pine Bluff, driven by community feedback expressing a desire for more family entertainment options in the city. As Ryan Watley, the Chief Executive Officer of Go Forward Pine Bluff, explained, this idea gained traction during a "Pop Up in the Bluff" event, where attendees at their booth expressed a strong interest in a Go-Kart track. This prompted a search for a suitable location and potential providers.
In collaboration with the City of Pine Bluff, the Pine Bluff Urban Renewal Agency, a city commission, acquired the abandoned and deteriorating Admiral Benbow Hotel on East Harding Avenue, a prominent city thoroughfare. According to Griffin, this project aims to address the blighted conditions of the site and transform it into an entertainment venue. The agency acquired the five-acre-plus property in 2020 for $150,000, focusing on blight eradication and redevelopment as part of its mission.
Overcoming challenges posed by the pandemic, the agency persisted in reaching the contract signing stage. Negotiating pricing and amenities was particularly challenging during the pandemic, with initial quotes significantly exceeding the budget. However, the project's focus shifted towards the Go-Kart track and associated amenities, leading to the successful contract signing. The project includes a 780-foot track, 13 state-of-the-art electric Go-Karts, and expected additional costs for grading, electrical, and plumbing.
Ryan Watley shared the vision of adding a 9-hole themed miniature golf course and a paintball course alongside the Go-Karts, offering entertainment for a wide age range, from teenagers to senior citizens. The goal is to complete the entire project for under $2 million. The Go-Kart track and karts represent the most substantial components of the project.
Go Forward Pine Bluff is a non-profit organization dedicated to seeking private funds to supplement a targeted public tax aimed at improving conditions in Pine Bluff. All projects initiated by the organization must be approved by the Public Private Review Committee of Go Forward Pine Bluff before being presented to the Pine Bluff City Council for implementation, especially if the project is partially or fully funded by the tax. It's important to note that Go Forward Pine Bluff, as a private non-profit organization, cannot, by law, levy, collect, or spend public funds, as this is within the purview of the Pine Bluff City Council.
