Griffin Pledges $500,000 to Restore Pond
The Arkansas attorney general committed settlement funds to revive a derelict fishing pond in Little Rock's War Memorial Park.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin pledged $500,000 at a fundraising event Thursday at Trio's Restaurant to restore the War Memorial Park fishing pond in Little Rock. The money comes from a $64 million settlement with Monsanto Corp. over PCB pollution dating to the 1970s.
Why it matters
The pond is no longer fishable because sediment has turned it into a shallow wetland, and the pledge is $250,000 short of the stopgap dredging target. Restoration in Little Rock would address siltation that the state identifies as its most prevalent pollutant.
The $500,000 pledge covers two-thirds of the $750,000 cost of the least expensive dredging plan, which the restoration group chose. The total settlement is $64 million, of which $32 million is guaranteed.
The players
Tim Griffin
Tim Griffin is the Arkansas Attorney General, who pledged the settlement funds to the War Memorial Park pond restoration.
Monsanto Corp.
Monsanto Corp. is the agricultural and chemical company that agreed to a $64 million settlement over PCB pollution dating to the 1970s.
The details
The restoration group chose the least expensive option, which calls for dredging mud out of the pond and creating structure for fish. Coleman Creek, which flows through the park and forms the pond, is especially vulnerable to siltation at every wide, deep hole it encounters.
Timeline
Thursday (prior to Nov. 1, 2026): Griffin announces the pledge at a fundraising event at Trio's Restaurant.
Nov. 6, 2026: A joint announcement with state agencies on bodies of water around the state is planned.
Legal Context
The $64 million Monsanto settlement, with $32 million guaranteed, is being applied to local restoration in Little Rock rather than to statewide monitoring alone. The Arkansas PCB contamination case has previously affected Lake Saracen in Pine Bluff and the Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Area.
Residents who use War Memorial Park may see the derelict fishing pond eventually restored to a fishable condition if the funding gap is closed. Until the remaining $250,000 is secured, the dredging project cannot proceed as planned.
The takeaway
Sediment is the state's most prevalent pollutant, so restoring one pond also points to the broader challenge of silted waterways across Arkansas. Local residents can watch for the state's Nov. 6 announcement for details on funding and next steps.
What happens next
A joint announcement with state agencies on bodies of water around the state is scheduled for Nov. 6, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more Philanthropy coverage tied to local Little Rock causes.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
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