This unofficial map shows the property around Lake Maumelle Watershed, Wye Mountain, Little Italy, Monnie Springs, and Roland in red owned by the LLCs of one developer (with near 100% accuracy) and is only intended to illustrate the development potential of the area.
This unincorporated area of the county has no underground sewage lines. Waste Water Treatment Plants will be needed to dispose of the waste into most likely Mill Bayou or other unnamed tributaries. The streams become part of the sewer system for the developments.
Disclaimer: PARD does not in any way guarantee the accuracy of the information nor that all the property would ever be developed although some of the parcels are currently active in various stages of development.
Pinnacle Area for Responsible Development (PARD)
To empower the citizens with information and tools in order to keep the historic communities in which they live rural, safe, and healthy.
July 4, 2021
Pinnacle Area for Responsible Development is a local grassroots citizens group working to shape policy, guide development, protect the rural character, and promote vibrant communities Northwest of Pinnacle Mountain State Park that will benefit the entire community and future generations of Arkansans.
Pinnacle Area for Responsible Development citizens live on the Northwest side of Pinnacle Mountain State Park, which can be described as “The quiet side of Pinnacle” and located in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains just outside of Little Rock. It is composed of the rural and forested unincorporated historic areas known as Roland, Little Italy, and Wye Mountain in Northwest Pulaski County within the Big Rock township. These communities are “bedroom communities” or “commuter towns” where most people work elsewhere. The area’s elevation averages to approximately 645 ft above sea level. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total land area of 759.76 square miles. It is the most populated county in the state of Arkansas with a population of 391,911; however the growth rate has remained flat. Only 4% of Pulaski County is forested land. Residents consist of farmers, ranchers, families, commuters, and outdoor enthusiasts living in non-tract single-unit family dwellings.
The area is a rural, agriculture, and ranching based economy with a shifting emphasis towards recreational tourism. The area is known for its wide variety of attractions including a state park, national forest hiking trails, wildlife, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, ultralight flying, biking, and museum.
The wildlife, vegetation, and water resources are an important part of the area’s beauty and economy. The Lake Maumelle Watershed is located in this area and is the primary drinking water source for over 450,000 consumers in Central Arkansas. Deer, black bear, bobcat, bald eagles, fox, and other species can be found throughout the area. Forests, rivers, and lakes dominate the landscape and provide habitat for mammals, birds, and fish. Along with the PARD, organizations such as the local chapter of the Sierra Club, Audubon Arkansas, The Nature Conservancy, and Friends of the Ouachita Trail work to preserve and protect these irreplaceable treasures.
Roland is an unincorporated community north of Pinnacle Mountain State Park in western Pulaski County, not far from the Arkansas River. It is crossed by State Highway 300, part of which is a component of the Arkansas River Trail, a pedestrian and bicycle trail that goes through Little Rock (Pulaski County) and North Little Rock (Pulaski County). Once a stop on the Rock Island rail line, Roland is home to nearly 750 residents; its post office also serves nearby Natural Steps (Pulaski County), as well as many rural residents and businesses in the area. The Roland post office was established in 1884, several years before the arrival of the railroad.
Little Italy is an unincorporated community and was founded on December 23rd, 1915 by a group of Italian immigrants who had originally settled in Chicago and northern Michigan during the early part of the 20th Century. Little Italy was the last Catholic immigrant colony in Arkansas and is situated in both Northwest Pulaski County and Eastern Perry County. The Little Italy Arkansas Heritage Society and Museum is located in Little Italy proper as well as the 100 –year-old Catholic parish of St. Francis of Assisi which celebrates annually their locally loved spaghetti dinner enjoyed by the greater Central Arkansas Area. In 2021, they were in their 94th year. Little Italy/Wye Mountain is home to nearly 400 residents along the Scenic Highway Corridors 300 and 113.
Wye Mountain is an unincorporated community directly adjacent to Little Italy in Perry and Pulaski Counties rich in cultural and regional history and home to the annual Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival that draws thousands of visitors yearly. In 2021, they were in their 43rd year. Little Italy/Wye Mountain is home to nearly 400 residents along the Scenic Highway Corridors of 300 and 113.
The unincorporated communities are governed by the County of Pulaski headed by an Administrative County Judge and are represented on the County Quorum Court by a Justice of the Peace District 1. At state level, the area is within Senate District 17 and House District 78.