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Arkansas Outside
Welcoming New Trails to the Delta
Some people believe that mountain bike trails can only exist in mountainous regions, but others have expanded the definition to include areas that aren’t typically considered suitable for mountain biking. Even in states like Florida and Louisiana, mountain bike trails are available. Some of our friends who live in the Rocky Mountain states like to point out that our mountains aren’t as high as theirs, but we remind them that our valleys are lower. In fact, the elevation changes on our mountain bike trails are often equal to or greater than many trail systems out west.
Become an Outdoors-Woman this Fall with the AGFC
LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will host a special Becoming an Outdoors-Woman weekend getaway, Oct. 6-8 at the C.A. Vines 4 H Center in Little Rock with workshops throughout each day to help ladies learn how to hunt, fish, and be a larger part of conservation in Arkansas.
Labor Day Weekend and other News from the US Army Corps of Engineers
ROGERS, Ark. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Beaver Lake Project Office has reopened the swim beach at Dam Site Lake Day Use Area. Bacteria levels are now within the acceptable range which allows the swim beach to reopen. The swim beach was closed on Aug. 11 because...
Metroplan Announces $16.5 Million in Transportation Funding Grants
Southwest Trail receives over $5 Million and the Regional Greenway receives almost $2 Million. Little Rock – The Metroplan Board of Directors recently awarded $16.5 million towards transportation improvement in Central Arkansas. Funding is provided through the Surface Transportation Block Grant and Carbon Reduction Programs, federal-aid transportation programs administered by the Federal Highway Administration that provide funding for transportation improvement projects. Metroplan awards funding to qualifying projects based on applications from member jurisdictions and a rigorous review process. Below are the 15 projects that were awarded for the 2024 program cycle.
Companies Will Impact Multiple Industries in Outdoor Recreation
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program will feature its most diverse and largest group of startups to date, as eight companies begin their entrepreneurial journey in the fall 2023 cohort. Led by the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, GORP is the University of Arkansas’ flagship business incubation...
What Can Little Rock Do With $600 Million?
We published an article on Little Rock Mayor, Frank Scott, Jr., sales tax proposal a couple of weeks ago. At the time, we mentioned that the city had little or no plan for spending the $600 million this plan would bring to the city government. Since then the mayor has supplied a one-page framework for the spending (below). According to city officials, this is a work in progress as the city gets input from citizens through Ward meetings.
American Scholastic Climbing League Comes to Arkansas
You may have heard of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) which has worked for years to develop interscholastic mountain biking programs for student-athletes across the United States. Now the climbing world is getting in with a similar program. After 15 years of running a scholastic climbing league in Colorado, the American Scholastic Climbing League is expanding to Arkansas. Climbers can register with the league and compete in local competitions in the Little Rock area starting in the 2023-24 season.
Arkansas Graveler to be a Traveling “Festival”
Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders came to Lake Wilson Park in Fayetteville today to announce a 336-mile gravel grinding event taking place over 6 days in June of 2024. State and local officials came out to celebrate the announcement. The event will connect the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville with Arkansas...
Women On A Roll – A Central Arkansas Women’s Cycling Group
Wednesday morning, local cyclist, Emma Buron, appeared on the Arkansas Outside segment of Good Morning Arkansas. Emma created the Women On A Roll program and continues to lead the group. She was good enough to tell us about the goals and history of this women’s cycling group. Women On...
Ouachita National Forest Proposes Recreation Fee Changes
HOT SPRINGS, ARK. – August 22, 2023 – The Ouachita National Forest is proposing to implement recreation fees at Wolf Pen Gap Off-Highway Vehicle Trail Complex, Little Missouri Falls Day Use Site, and the Shady Lake Recreation Area Caretaker’s Cabin. The public is invited to provide input to these proposed fee changes.
National Parks Shine as Economic Engines
A new report shows visitor spending contributed $50.3 billion nationwide, supported nearly 380,000 jobs. The Department of the Interior announced that visitor spending near national parks in 2022 resulted in a record-high economic benefit of $50.3 billion and supported 378,400 jobs in the surrounding communities. “At the Interior Department, we...
Why do people volunteer to build mountain bike trails?
Arkansas has become home to several trail-building companies. Professional builders are using heavy machinery to build miles of trails every week throughout The Natural State. Many of these companies are owned and managed by people who got their start in trail building as volunteers. Northwest Arkansas Community College has begun offering certification courses to support professional trail building. Despite this growth of professional trail building, volunteers continue to do much of the maintenance and minor building. Land managers often rely on volunteer organizations to perform in-kind work that supports grant applications that are necessary to fund the professional work.
Stretch of Razorback Greenway temporarily detoured for construction
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Beginning Monday, Aug. 21, a section of the Razorback Regional Greenway in the Dickson Street Entertainment District will be detoured to allow for the replacement of aging asphalt with concrete trail, as part of the continuing construction to develop The Ramble. The 400-foot stretch of trail...
Cycle of Influence Summit is BACK!
Discover the cutting-edge thought leadership in cycling and outdoor industries at the upcoming Cycle of Influence Summit (COI) in Bentonville, Arkansas from September 12-14, 2023. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to stay ahead of the game. Register now! (Make sure to get the Arkansas Outside Readers Special of 20% off by using the code ARKout20/ at checkout.)
Music in the Air at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve
Coler Mountain Bike Preserve stands out for its exceptional qualities. It boasts an Airship Coffee spot accessible only by bike or foot, an extensive trail network offering diverse experiences ranging from smooth paved paths to challenging cross-country terrain, and an upgraded downhill hub featuring the thrilling dual downhill “Thunderdome.” Every aspect of Coler is crafted to deliver an extraordinary experience.
Jamming on Joe’s Garage
In the afternoon, and sometimes we would play it all night long. Even if you played it on a saxophone – Frank Zappa, Joe’s Garage. I can’t help but play the song, Joe’s Garage, by Frank Zappa whenever I think about heading to Iron Mountain for a quick mountain bike ride. The Joe’s Garage Trail is usually the first or second trail we hit on a weekend trip and is one of my favorite cross-country mountain bike trails in the state.
Governor Sanders Announces Shea Lewis as Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism and Director of State Parks
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.— Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced that Shea Lewis will serve as Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism and Director of State Parks. In June, the Governor appointed Lewis as Interim Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. “Shea’s...
Lost Valley Hike
This article was originally published in early 2022 after a cold-weather hiking trip to Lost Valley. The area known as Lost Valley along the Buffalo National River was once a part of the Arkansas State Park system. The land was deeded over to the Arkansas State Land Commissioner in 1935 and was set up as a park with a superintendent and small campground in 1967. Lost Valley was a state park for less than 8 years. In 1975, the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism (now the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism) turned over the area along with Buffalo River State Park to the National Park Service, assisting with the creation of the first National River.
Metroplan Releases 2023 Metrotrends Demographic Review and Outlook
(Editor’s note: About Metroplan – Metroplan is an association of local governments that has operated by inter-local agreement since 1955. Originally formed as the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission of Pulaski County, Metroplan now has members in Pulaski, Faulkner, Saline, Lonoke, and Grant Counties. Metroplan is the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) under Title 23 of the United States Code. A recent article on Metroplan actions concerning traditional transportation (pedestrian, cycling, etc.): Metroplan Announces Central Arkansas Regional Greenways.)
A Plan For Funding Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, Infrastructure, and Economic Development in Little Rock
In September 2021, Little Rock voters rejected a 1 percentage point sales-tax increase proposed by Mayor Frank Scott Jr. The tax increase would have generated an estimated $530 million over 10 years to fund a variety of city priorities, including parks, infrastructure, public safety, and economic development. However, the proposal was defeated by a vote of 62% to 38%.
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Outdoor Recreation News from Arkansas with coverage of events and destinations mainly in the state. We cover Hiking, Camping, Mountain Biking, Road Cycling, Kayaking, Canoeing, Trail Running, Backpacking, Rock Climbing, and more.
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