At the base of Mount Magazine in western Arkansas sits the Logan County city of Paris. The city didn’t have much in common with its European namesake across the Atlantic, but all that changed in 2014, when a 25-foot tower was installed in a vacant lot downtown.
The area became known as Eiffel Tower Park, and it’s become a catalyst for community pride and downtown revitalization. What began as a tribute to one man’s wife helped turn an empty lot into a gathering place for the community.
“So back in 2012 and 2013, a gentleman had this replica Eiffel Tower built, and he had it for his wife,” said Tonya Fletcher, CEO of the Paris Area Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the city council. “She had passed away, and he didn’t want it to just sit for no one to enjoy.”
For a time, the tower sat in a pasture. Then the city stepped up. “Citizens in Paris decided, how can we make this work for our community?” Fletcher said. Local businesses donated labor and materials, and a body shop restored the structure. “Ed Williams, who owned the body shop, reached out to the people that painted the Eiffel Tower in France. They not only were happy to provide the color palette, they sent us the exact paint colors they used in France.”
The replica tower was erected downtown in 2014, complete with a two-tier water feature at its base. The once-vacant lot became a vibrant public space. “It really spurred on downtown revitalization for our community,” Fletcher said. “It’s one of the reasons I decided to apply for the Main Street program. We were awarded Main Street City in 2016, and now we have a wonderful group doing great projects. Our occupancy downtown increased, our traffic increased, from locals and visitors.”
In 2017, Fletcher had another idea to enhance the park: a Love Lock Fence, where visitors from all over can come to “lock their love” in Paris. “I went to the Parks Commission a couple times and they told me no. They said, ‘What if no one ever puts a lock on it?’ And I said, ‘Well, what if they do?’”
Today, the fence is overflowing with locks from couples, families and visitors from across the country, and even other countries. “We really need to build more fence because so many people have locked their love in Paris,” Fletcher said with pride. “They take their lock, clip it on the fence, take their key out and throw that key into the tower fountain.”
The stories behind those locks are as varied as the people who placed them, she said. “We’ve had a lot of proposals there. We’ve had a lot of weddings there. People will come from different states and pop into the Chamber and say, ‘We want to get married at the Eiffel Tower.’ They’ve just driven in, got a marriage license, and got married in Paris, Arkansas.”
Visitors from nearby Mount Magazine State Park often make the short drive to see the tower, and locals have embraced it as part of their daily lives. “They grab a cup of coffee at the coffee shop and sit out there and enjoy the park. It’s just a very welcoming place to be.”
For Fletcher, watching that transformation has been deeply rewarding. “To see it evolve from little mini tables out there to now big, nice picnic tables and beautiful benches and flowers, it’s just been really fun to be a part of,” she said. “It’s the anchor of our downtown.”
About this Series
State of Play is a new series that explores how Arkansas cities and towns are investing in active, healthy lifestyles for their residents. From trail systems and bike infrastructure to parks, wellness programs and community design, each installment highlights local leaders and bold ideas reshaping what it means to live well in Arkansas. Sponsored by Municipal Health, State of Play celebrates the places where movement meets momentum.
