UA Cossatot hosted an open house on Thursday, September 15, to showcase Phase I completion of the old Lockesburg Middle School restoration project. Visitors toured the Blue Darter Museum, the Community Room, and six classrooms. Dr. Steve Cole, Chancellor of UA Cossatot, was on hand to answer questions about the project and the future plans for the updated facility. New to Lockesburg will be a nursing medical simulation lab and plenty of new classroom space to offer new training and programs.
The Lockesburg restoration project was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council. Phase 2 of the project is scheduled to begin the week of September 19 and will include the south side of the old middle school facility. According to Dr. Cole, when Phase 2 is completed, UA Cossatot plans to ask the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program to name the entire 9.8-acre Lockesburg campus as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places, with the renovated buildings designated as contributing buildings.
Members of the public who wish to donate money or artifacts to the Blue Darter Museum or the campus beautification effort may contact UA Cossatot Director of Development Dustin Roberts at droberts@cccua.edu or call (870) 584-1172. In addition, bricks, classrooms, and the exterior building are available for naming as part of the Blue Darter Heritage Campaign.