Plaza Frida offers a venue for cross-cultural connections. (David Yerby)
Plaza Frida is many things: a sports complex, business center and cultural hub. Its name points to another facet of the facility’s character — after famed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, it reflects expressive design and public art.
“Similar to the woman, Plaza Frida is a combination of beautiful things,” Jamie Taylor, development coordinator, told Arkansas Total magazine in 2023. “She was an artist, and Plaza Frida is a piece of art in itself. Constructed and adorned artistically, it represents the freedom of individuality, pride in cultural heritage and the importance of connection between people.”
First proposed in 2019, Plaza Frida officially opened in 2021 with a set of two soccer — or if you prefer, fútbol — fields for youth players. A partnership with the Little Rock Rangers Soccer Club bolstered Plaza Frida’s program, which has since grown to partner with the Arkansas Fútbol Club, offering recreational and competitive play opportunities for children ages 6 to 17 through the Arkansas Soccer Association.
Plaza Frida has continued to develop, adding an outdoor event venue available to the community, and in 2023, the center welcomed its first small businesses. Currently, it’s home to 18 local businesses, many of which are Latino-owned or cater to local Latino residents. There’s Orobello Dress Shop, where girls can find formal quinceañera dresses, and Dulceria Clarissa, a piñata and Mexican candy shop that has been a Plaza Frida staple since 2023.
But Plaza Frida isn’t for Latinos only; it’s an inclusive space meant to create cultural connections between communities.
“The goal was to create a space for the Hispanic community that would provide opportunities for the connection between cultures and the city,” Taylor told Arkansas Total.
Community-oriented events are held regularly at Plaza Frida, including health fairs, soccer tournaments and movie nights. Festivals highlighting Latino culture are also held often, like an annual Dia de Muertos event on Nov. 1. The center was featured in a 2024 episode of the SEC Network’s “TrueSouth,” when host John Edge visited southwest Little Rock to highlight the city’s growing Hispanic and Latino communities.
Learn more or get involved at Plaza Frida at plazafridalittlerock.com or by calling 501-562-5770.
Shops at Plaza Frida:
- Artesanias Maravillas de Mexico
- Amigos Pediatric Therapy Services
- BellaGloss Beauty Salon
- Casa de Cambio
- Jump N’ Bounce
- Dulceria Clarissa
- Novedades Stefi
- Orobella Dress Shop
- Paleteria y Nieveria Cielito
- PromoPrint & Signs
- Tienda Guatelinda
- VF Clothing
- Tavern 65th
- El Malecon – Tacos y Mariscos
- Sol and Luna
- Beauty Lounge Lash Supplies
- Emporio Boots
- Total Wireless
