Editing Scouting in Arkansas (section)

===Arkadelphia Boy Scout Hut===

The Arkadelphia Boy Scout Hut, located in Central Park,<ref>[http://www2.cityofarkadelphia.com:8080/CityOfArkadelphia/departments-1/parks-and-recreation/parks-and-facilities/central-park Central Park]</ref> [[Arkadelphia, Arkansas|Arkadelphia]], is on the [[List of Registered Historic Places in Arkansas#Clark County|National Register of Historic Places]].  Since the roof and the original shutters and windows were replaced in 1953, the Hut is precluded from being listed on the National Register under [[National Register of Historic Places|Criterion C]].  However, it is listed under [[National Register of Historic Places|Criterion A]] as a "property that made a contribution to the major pattern of American history".<ref name=AHPP>{{cite web|title=Arkadelphia Boy Scout Hut|url=http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/historic-properties/_search_nomination_popup.aspx?id=1967|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130410125450/http://www.arkansaspreservation.com/historic-properties/_search_nomination_popup.aspx?id=1967|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 April 2013|publisher=Arkansas Historic Preservation Program|access-date=12 March 2013}}</ref>

The Boy Scout Hut was constructed from 1938 to 1939 as a [[National Youth Administration]] (NYA) project.  It is an example of the typical type of buildings constructed by the [[New Deal|New Deal's]] [[Works Progress Administration]] (WPA), [[Civilian Conservation Corps]] (CCC) and NYA during the [[Great Depression]]. However, it is the only known building constructed by the NYA and the only building designed in a [[National Park Service rustic|Rustic style]] that remains standing in Arkadelphia that was designed and constructed during the New Deal era.<ref name=AHPP/>

[[Aubrey Willis Williams|Aubrey Williams]], Executive Director of the National Youth Administration, stated in a press release on 24 September 1937:
{{blockquote|City Recreation Departments, children's agencies, YMCA's, YWCA's, Settlement Houses, institutions for the blind, public schools, orphanages, hospitals for handicapped and crippled children, Boy's clubs, Boy Scouts, community centers and churches were reported as cooperating agencies in supervising the students and providing facilities for increased recreational programs to all young people in the community. [sic]|source=<ref name=AHPP/> }}

While the Boy Scout Hut was constructed specifically as a meeting place for two local Boy Scout troops, and its use is controlled by the Boy Scouts, the building is actually owned by the city of Arkadelphia.  Starting around 1958, the Boy Scouts allowed local Girl Scout troops to use the building. Currently Cub Scout Pack 3024 and Girl Scout Troop 454 use the building.<ref name=AHPP/>