SPRINGDALE (KFSM) -- The Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock is hoping to have its Northwest Arkansas campus in Springdale completed by January of 2018.
The Children's Hospital made the announcement about the new campus at their Color of Hope Gala on Friday (August 7).
Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse said almost everyone in Northwest Arkansas knows someone who has been to the Children's Hospital in Little Rock. His grandson was diagnosed with a heart condition during pregnancy and had open heart surgery shorty after he was delivered.
"Our story is minor compared to so many who have to go down there and spend months down there and go back for years," Sprouse said. "So the facility that will be up here will just be tremendous for those families."
Ray Cortez was flown to Arkansas Children's Hospital after he was burned by a wire while climbing a tree to retrieve his football. The burn went through his hand, burnt his finger, and blew out his knee and foot. He had to have skin grafts and a couple surgeries and now has to go back to Little Rock in October for steroid shots and laser treatments.
"If it is closer, I mean that is good because if somebody gets hurt, it is gonna take a while for them to get all the way to Little Rock," Cortez said. "It is pretty good that they are making one where they can get there faster."
The Children's Hospital CEO said they picked the Springdale location because it is at the heart of Northwestern Arkansas, including the River Valley.
By the end of the week, the hospital is looking to pick an architecture and engineering firm. They are only interviewing companies who have a national reputation for designing and planning for children's healthcare.