Mabelvale facts for kids
Mabelvale is a neighborhood in Little Rock, Arkansas. It used to be a small, independent train station town. In 1973, people voted to make it part of Little Rock.
Even though it's now part of Little Rock, Mabelvale still has its own special postal code (72103). It's located in the southwestern part of Little Rock. The area is mostly in Pulaski County, but some parts stretch into Saline County.
Contents
What Services Does Mabelvale Have?
Mabelvale gets many services from the City of Little Rock.
City Services in Mabelvale
The city's street department takes care of all the roads. Important roads like Mabelvale Main Street and Mabelvale West Road are maintained by them.
Little Rock Fire Station #18 is on Mabelvale West Road and helps keep the area safe from fires. The Little Rock Police Department provides police services from its Southwest Substation. You can also get around Mabelvale using the Central Arkansas Transit Authority's Route #17 bus service.
Schools in Mabelvale
There are four Little Rock School District schools in and around Mabelvale. They teach students from pre-kindergarten up to eighth grade.
- Mabelvale Elementary School opened in 1980. It's on Mabelvale Cut-Off Road.
- Mabelvale Magnet Middle School opened in 1952. It joined the Little Rock district in 1987. It's located on Mabelvale West Road.
- Chicot Elementary serves younger students.
- Little Rock Southwest Magnet High School opened in 2020. It serves over 2,000 students in grades 9-12.
Parks in Mabelvale
Mabelvale has two parks for fun and recreation.
Morehart Park: A Big Green Space
Morehart Park is a large, forty-three-acre park. The City of Little Rock's Parks and Recreation Department manages it. Before the park was built, experts studied the land in 1978.
Today, Morehart Park has many cool features:
- A pavilion for gatherings.
- A disc golf course.
- Tennis and basketball courts.
- A softball and baseball field.
- Playgrounds for kids.
- Paths for hiking and jogging.
The Morehart Spring is hidden in a wooded part of the park. This spring provides clean water for the park's animals and birds all year long.
Who Was Morehart Park Named After?
The park is named after the Morehart family, especially Amos Morehart and his wife Emma. Amos and Emma settled on this land in 1890. Amos's father, Henry Morehart, gave him the land as a wedding gift. Over the years, Amos bought more land, which later became part of the park.
Amos Morehart ran a farm where he grew berries, fruits, and vegetables. He also had a place for bees (an apiary), a sawmill, and a tanyard (where animal hides are turned into leather). He was a community leader and served on the school board for the Mabelvale Rural School District.
Henry Morehart, Amos's father, was also active in the community. He donated land for Mabelvale's first school, called Good Hope School. The Morehart family helped the community a lot. Many of their descendants still live in the Mabelvale area today.
Little Oaks Park: A Smaller Spot
North of Morehart Park is a smaller park called Little Oaks Park. It started as a ballpark for Little League games. It's located near Leah Lane and Sardis Road. Its name might come from the saying, "From a small acorn a mighty oak will grow."
Where Can You Shop in Mabelvale?
The Outlets of Little Rock is a big shopping center in Mabelvale. It opened on October 15, 2015. It's the only outlet shopping center in Arkansas.
Community Groups in Mabelvale
Mabelvale has several community groups. The Vedanta Society of Arkansas has a temple here. There are also Masonic organizations like Adoniram Lodge Number 288 (for men), Adoniram Chapter Number 604 (for women), and Adoniram Assembly Number 99 (for girls). These groups meet at the Masonic Temple on Mabelvale Main Street.
