It’s an exciting time to be a resident of Northwest Arkansas. Besides all the obvious reasons,
there’s cause to believe that anxious parties (that would include us) could learn the future home of the Northwest Arkansas Science Museum within the next few weeks.
The process began with 15 site possibilities this spring that were eventually narrowed down to just five. The folks behind the museum are preparing for the announcement of a project that will give tourists one more reason to visit the Ozarks — and maybe, just maybe, to relocate here.
“Our vision is to bring a world-class science museum to the region,” according to the promotional materials on the Northwest Arkansas Museum Foundation’s (nwamuseum.org) Web site. “This museum will be responsive to the community, showcase the region’s strengths and engage students and adults alike in the sciences as a way of building the regional economy through developing its workforce.”
Although countless details have yet to be ironed out, it seems to us this effort stands a good chance of being done the right way.
In other words, this Northwest Arkansas Science Museum is not being created simply so the area can say it plays host to such a creation. Based on everything we’ve heard up to this point, it will be a significant contribution to the region, and with its galleries, learning pods and traveling exhibits, serve as a credit to us all for decades to come.
All this probably wouldn’t be happening if John Lewis, “Mr. Fayetteville” himself, hadn’t talked so fondly of the idea in the years preceeding his death. He spoke of a place that would inspire our children to believe in the sciences, a teaching tool that would “enable our adults to navigate the 21st century.” We admit, that’s a mighty tall order. But then shooting for the stars seems to have become something of a lost art these days. So why not turn such a cool concept into reality right here in Northwest Arkansas? What’s stopping it?
Less than a year ago, all this talk evolved from wordiness into action. In November 2007, Brent Robinson, executive director of the Northwest Arkansas Museum Foundation, explained that the general idea “is to put the center where it will be most accessible and visible.” Where might that be? In April 2008, bringing the Northwest Arkansas Science Center to this neck of the woods was described as a top priority for the Fayetteville Economic Development Council, which up to that point had already been hard at work for months.
It’s a little like an actor waiting to see who won the Academy Award, because the development of a science museum will be a real prize for the region. Given the fact that Northwest Arkansas is home to the state’s top research university and the region’s growing appreciation for the value of the science of sustainability, it seems a perfect fit to develop this type of museum. And its development will highlight for the region’s kids the critical importance that science does and will play in our world.
Of course, with the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art set to open in Bentonville in the not-too-distant future; the western edge of Rogers home to massive amounts of economic development in recent years; and Springdale’s introduction of minor league baseball and all that wideopen land surrounding Arvest Ballpark just aching to be developed, the organizers have a lot of good choices as a future site.
We suspect the decision has been made, so there’s no need to fret about what the announcement will be. Wherever museum organizers decide to put this facility, we’re convinced they’re doing the right thing just by pursuing its creation in the first place. Of course, Fayetteville would welcome it with open arms.
Whichever city is able to claim the Northwest Arkansas Science Museum as its own will instantly gain a major attraction that will help create significant revenue by way of foot traffic. It will act as a major feather in that city’s proverbial cap, and rightly so.
But as John Lewis might say, this is about helping the region’s kids and the region’s future. Everyone stands to gain wherever the museum gains a footing. The region would be doing a disservice to lose sight of this important point.
Publication:Northwest Arkansas Times; Date:Sep 12, 2008; Section:Opinion; Page Number:4
