Construction Begins On New Children’s House

Donations Sought to Furnish Building

By Dan Craft

Posted: December 12, 2009 at 3:59 a.m.

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SPRINGDALE — A typical construction site will soon become a safe haven for abused children from throughout Northwest Arkansas.

Supporters of Children’s House broke ground on a 24,000-square-foot, $6.1 million center Friday that will triple the program’s capacity. The new complex will handle up to 72 abused children aged 18 months to five years, making it the biggest such program in the country, according to supporters.

“This isn’t going to be a leading facility. It’s going to be the leader in the United States fighting child abuse,” said Vance Wilson, whose Wilsons3 Foundation helped finance the project.

The 12-acre site is a major upgrade from the existing 4,000-square-foot center in southern Fayetteville, said Ben McClintock of the Economic Opportunity Agency. It’s also designed for expansions that could increase capacity to 144 children, he said.

While a combination of grants raised the $4.5 million needed to construct the building, Children’s House advocates are hoping to raise another $1.6 million to furnish and equip the center. They’re offering engraved paving pricks, to be laid in the main entrance, for $500 each.

“Together, we will stop child abuse and we will save lives,” said Trish Jones, center director.

The new complex should be open by Christmas 2010, McClintock said.

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