Jonesboro: A trendsetter city preparing for the future 

When it comes to Northeast Arkansas, the vision many visitors hold prior to arrival is one of fertile soil, dense forest and typical quiet country living. However, the combined efforts of Jonesboro and neighboring communities are evolving our image and appeal, while maintaining a friendly and welcoming atmosphere that we have all grown to cherish. 

While measuring progress is often subjective, recognition from outside entities highlights that positive growth is happening before our eyes. Since 2022, the city of Jonesboro has nabbed numerous awards — from both state and federal institutions. Jonesboro’s recent master parks plan won Plan of the Year by the American Planning Association and 2025 ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards recognition for its vision of making city parks more health targeted and accessible by people of all physical capabilities. In 2024, the Arkansas Municipal League Trendsetter award for Diversity and Inclusion similarly recognized the plan for its efforts to adapt city offerings to ensure that children and adults with a variety of physical challenges can enjoy parks to their fullest. 

In fact, when it comes to Arkansas Municipal League Trendsetter Awards, since 2022, no city has been more “trendy” than Jonesboro. Our recent recognition builds upon past achievements that have established Jonesboro as forward-thinking. Jonesboro has been recognized as a trendsetting city six times since the awards resumed in 2022 post COVID-19:

• The aforementioned Trendsetter City Award for Diversity and Inclusion for park access and development initiatives to help equip individuals with developmental disabilities with training and skills to help with independence and meaningful employment.

• Trendsetter Award for Technology and Safety for the efforts of our E911 department in collaboration with Jonesboro police, fire, information technology, and communications departments recognizing programming and software investments to better aid in emergency calls and remove language barriers during the most critical of times. 

• Trendsetter Award for Infrastructure and Water for the city’s efforts in cleaning up drainage ways from litter and overgrowth through a combination of neighborhood clean-ups, the “Keep Jonesboro Beautiful” initiative, and investing in new excavators to improve city services.

• Trendsetter Award — Tourism Development and Creative Culture for the Jonesboro Shooting Sports Complex, a facility that has boosted tourism and provided a unique recreational opportunity for residents and visitors.

• Trendsetter Award for Technology and Security for our Real-Time Crime Center, which has improved law enforcement’s ability to monitor and respond to incidents in real time.

• Trendsetter Award Culture Education and Workforce Development for programming by our regional chamber of commerce to prepare the next generation of workers for ever-evolving industry needs.

These awards and others received in recent years are not the sole result of actions by Jonesboro city government, but a shared effort by the Jonesboro City Council, nonprofits, the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, industry, local businesses, and scores of motivated community leaders to invest in our community, not for any one person’s benefit, but for moving the region forward as a collective unit. 

Soon, we will see the opening of a state-of-the-art multisports complex that will redefine tourism in the region, a new large park and greenspace in Northeast Jonesboro, more funding for pedestrian infrastructure and various quality of life investments in the queue, and significant investment in trollies and mass transit. Our region is positioned for continued progress.  

Changing a mindset is more than just bold statements and projects, it’s hands-on efforts large and small. It’s hosting more community events, conventions and competitions. It’s amenities, infrastructure and safety. As we move toward a city of 100,000 residents, we must continue the necessary investments to keep Jonesboro — and Northeast Arkansas — ahead of the next challenge we face. 

Editor’s note: Jonesboro Mayor Harold Copenhaver was first elected to the office in November 2020. The opinions expressed are those of the author.