LITTLE ROCK, AR — The Little Rock Regional Chamber has selected Katharine (Katie) Rutledge, PE, as the new 30 Crossing Park Project Manager. In this role, Rutledge will support the development of 30 Crossing Park, a transformative downtown project funded in part by the Bezos Earth Fund’s Greening America’s Cities initiative.
Rutledge will oversee key park developments, including those funded by the Bezos Earth Fund such as the destination playground, wetlands garden, event lawn, and sports courts. Her responsibilities include managing construction timelines and budgets, coordinating with municipal and state agency stakeholders, and administering the Bezos Earth Fund grant to fulfill environmental justice and climate resilience goals.
“I love parks and I love Little Rock,” said Rutledge, “This project truly has the ability to create an anchor destination for our city. I am so impressed with what the extensive group of local stakeholders has put together from the public's input. The Bezos Earth Fund has made this big shared dream a possibility, and our team is going to turn it into a reality.”
A licensed Professional Engineer in Arkansas, Rutledge brings extensive experience managing civil and transportation infrastructure projects, most recently serving as Project Manager at McClelland Consulting Engineers and previously at Halff Associates.Notably, her technical background includes hands-on experience as a grant writer securing federal and regional funding, such as ARDOT TAP and Metroplan STBG & TAP grants, a background that will prove invaluable as she manages grant deliverables, aligns project outcomes with funder priorities, and supports ongoing fundraising strategies for the park. She holds dual degrees in Civil Engineering and German from the University of Rhode Island's International Engineering Program.
"30 Crossing Park represents a generational opportunity to enhance our downtown, drive economic development, and elevate the quality of life for all Little Rock residents," said Jay Chesshir, President & CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber. "Katie brings a unique blend of transportation engineering expertise, grant writing experience, and a genuine passion for our community. Her background makes her uniquely qualified to turn this transformative vision into reality while maximizing the impact of the Bezos Earth Fund investment."
Beyond her professional background, Rutledge brings deep community involvement to the position. She serves as Programs Chair for Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) Arkansas and leads local neighborhood initiatives. Originally an Arizona native, Rutledge moved to Little Rock after spending summers and holidays visiting family in Arkansas.
Rutledge will immediately assume operational duties, serving as the liaison between the Chamber, the City of Little Rock, the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism, local stakeholders, and the Bezos Earth Fund.
About the Little Rock Regional Chamber
The Little Rock Regional Chamber is the principal business-driven leadership organization responsible for fostering economic growth and development in the Little Rock region, working to enhance earning opportunities and quality of life for every citizen.