Steve Biernacki and Darrin Riley, of the South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society, helped children on Spring Break dig for fossils and gemstones on Tuesday afternoon at the Murphy Arts District Playscape. The activity is one of a slate planned this week at the Playscape for local children. Today, Liz Young will begin the day at 11 a.m. with a reading of "Otto the Otter & the Great Arkansas Mystery," and at 3 p.m. South Arkansas Arts Center instructor Mike Means will lead children in improvisation games.
Darrin Riley tells Nolan Alexander, 7, that one of the fossils he dug up was a piece of petrified wood, which could be 20-300 million years old. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)
Darrin Riley helps Haven Butler, 6, gather the fossils she dug up during Tuesday's activity at MAD. (Caitlan Butler/News-Times)