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Arkansas Outside
Fayetteville streets, sidewalks survey underway
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For the next few weeks, Infrastructure Management Services (IMS) will perform an analysis of the City’s street pavement and sidewalk conditions. In 2019, IMS performed an inventory and analysis of Fayetteville streets to develop a pavement condition index (PCI) rating for the City’s street network. This PCI data has been used over the last 5 years to implement a data-based pavement management and overlay plan that identifies pavement management strategies to maximize conditions and minimize costs.
ACME Brick Property to Become a City Park
The City of Fort Smith announced the acquisition of a significant 113-acre parcel of land along Old Greenwood Road, formerly owned by ACME Brick Company. Purchased for $2.88 million, this strategically located property in the heart of Fort Smith represents a pivotal step in urban development and environmental management. The...
Army Corps of Engineers waives day use fees at recreation areas in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will waive day-use fees at its more than 2,850 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 15. The waiver covers fees for boat launch ramps and swimming beaches. The waiver does not apply to camping...
Dreaming of Closing the Loop
“The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry” – Adapted from Robert Burns. Since officially opening in 2002, the Arkansas River Trail in central Arkansas has hosted numerous important opening ceremonies, in 2006 it was the opening of The Big Dam Bridge, and two years later it was the Junction Bridge. In 2011 there was the Two River Bridge opening which tied the cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock to what is currently being called the Maumelle Pinnacle Initiative. Also, in 2011, the Clinton Presidential Library Bridge was opened anchoring the eastern end of the Arkansas River Trail. When the Broadway Bridge was rebuilt and opened in 2017, it created the fourth bike/pedestrian-friendly crossing between Little Rock and North Little Rock. (The Main Street Bridge has a narrow protected pedestrian path.) There has not been a ceremony for an actual opening of the Arkansas River Trail, could it be because it’s still not finished?
New Year’s Outdoor Resolutions 2024
I know it may sound strange, but I have resolved for the year 2024 to spend more time outdoors. As a kid, I was always playing outside and exploring various parts of the country with my family. We went camping in the Rocky Mountains and waterskiing in small lakes in Florida. When I got older I started biking through the Washington D.C. – Baltimore corridor, backpacking in the Appalachian Mountains, and even adventure racing in Arkansas. However, in the last couple of years, I have spent most of my time staring at computer screens and have not been able to indulge in my love for outdoor activities. Therefore, I have decided to change that and make a conscious effort to strap on my hiking boots, get my kayak wet, or roll my wheels on the mountain bike trails as often as I can.
Your Favorite Articles of 2023
It’s been a very busy year in outdoor recreation in Arkansas. There were many big initiatives, and controversies surrounding the Buffalo National River, hopes to complete important projects, and plenty of popular destinations that were covered in ArkansasOutside.com articles this past year. To help you catch up and prepare for the new year, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 articles that our readers enjoyed based on page views.
The Bentonville Bike Fest is Back in 2024
NBDA Summit and expanded expo and activities raise the bar in 2024. BENTONVILLE – The biggest bike festival in the Midwest is back. The Bentonville Bike Fest returns for its fourth edition this May 23-26. As with 2023, the Ole Applegate Farm in Bentonville, AR will be home to the festivities. Also returning will be a free festival entry for visitors. The 2024 edition will offer an expanded expo, gravel racing, an Enduro race, UCI trials, a dirt jump contest, a “straight rhythm” event (BMX bikes against MTBs!), flatland BMX competitions, and connectivity to some of the best mountain bike trails in the world.
Add Some Holiday Cheer to Your Favorite Fishing Hole
LITTLE ROCK — “No one loves a Christmas tree on March the 25th,” was the punchline to a favorite poem in Shel Silverstein’s book, Where the Sidewalk Ends, but Silverstein may have gotten it wrong in the eyes of crappie anglers. They love old Christmas trees at the end of March, so long as they’re sitting 10 feet deep in their favorite lake.
Fayetteville named 2023 Trendsetter City for Centennial Park
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The City of Fayetteville was named a 2023 Trendsetter City by Arkansas Business this week, winning a category of the statewide publication’s annual awards. The Trendsetter City program is designed to “honor cities who are leaders in innovative programs and initiatives for improvement and growth,”...
Between a Rock and a Hard Place – Closing the Loop on the Arkansas River Trail
In October 2006, the Big Dam Bridge opened, connecting the Arkansas River Trail on the North Little Rock side of the Arkansas River to the Little Rock side. The bridge, built on top of a federal dam, has always represented to me, overcoming the impossible. Opened 5 years after the 9/11 attacks, the country was still reeling from a sense of intrusion, attacks on our soil, federal facilities deemed as future possible targets were still shut down to casual public use, and security was tight across the country. Riding my bike across the bridge on that beautiful Fall day felt like a return to normal. Every time I look at the bridge now, I’m reminded of what we can do against enormous odds.
Kicking Off the New Year with a State Park Hike
Arkansas State Parks will celebrate the new year with First Day Hikes. These hikes offer a chance for individuals and families to welcome the coming year outdoors while exercising and connecting with nature. For many, it has become an annual tradition. The National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) has grown the idea of starting the new year with a hike in a state park to as many as 45 state park systems across the country participating each year.
Bentonville’s Tennie Russell Primary School Launches All Kids Bike
Trailblazers Celebrates 100th School-based Learn to Bike Program in NWA. “This program makes the 100th school in the state of Arkansas to receive this program with assistance from Trailblazers and the Walton Family Foundation,” says Bike Education Program Manager, Anya Bruhin. “We have worked with teachers, administrators, and community advocates to help them understand the positive impact the All Kids Bikes program has. We have more work to do, yet. These 100 schools represent only 18.5% of all schools in Arkansas. Wouldn’t it be amazing if every child in Arkansas had the chance to learn to ride a bike before first grade?”
Upcoming Prescribed Burns
The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the City of Fayetteville have recently announced plans to conduct prescribed burns on land they manage. A prescribed burn, also known as a controlled burn or planned fire, is a deliberately set and carefully controlled fire conducted under specific conditions to achieve predetermined land management objectives. This practice is carried out by trained professionals, such as land managers, foresters, or fire ecologists, in a controlled and systematic manner.
Annual Christmas Bird Count Takes Flight This Weekend
If you want to participate in over a hundred years of bird research in your area, join the National Audubon Society’s 124th Christmas Bird Count starting this weekend in Arkansas. The Natural State is home to more than 420 bird species. Kevin Krajcir is the compiler for the Christmas...
NW Arkansas Land Trust Announces 130-Acre Conservation Easement in Southern Washington County
FAYETTEVILLE, AR – The Northwest Arkansas Land Trust (NWALT) is excited to announce a significant conservation easement with landowner Bob Breeze in southern Washington County. The 130-acre property, situated east of I-49 and adjacent to the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest, is within NWALT’s Boston Mountain Wildlife Corridor priority area, a critical area for the movement of wildlife under I-49. The property features over 3,700 feet of stream including two main tributaries and several springs. These streams are part of the Upper Frog Bayou watershed and flow into Lake Fort Smith, a source of drinking water to over 200,000 residents in the Fort Smith area. The property is mostly oak-hickory forest and includes east, north, and southwest-facing slopes, with multiple rock outcroppings and caves creating a variety of microclimates and habitat types.
Governor Sanders’ Natural State Initiative Releases Recommendations for Arkansas Outdoor Economy
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.— Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today received a report from the Natural State Initiative advisory council detailing the group’s recommendations to increase access to outdoor recreation and grow Arkansas’ outdoor economy. The Governor established the Natural State Initiative at the beginning of her term through Executive Order, requiring an annual written report summarizing its progress. Arkansas’ First Gentleman, Bryan Sanders, leads the group’s advisory council.
Little Rock Designated as Runner Friendly Community
Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) is pleased to welcome the newly designated Runner Friendly Community® for fall 2023:. Runner Friendly Communities have demonstrated that they fulfill the program’s requirements, such as having solid community infrastructure and backing from local businesses and government. A Runner Friendly Community possesses a safe network of pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, multi-use trails, paths, shared lanes, and other similar features. Moreover, these communities partner with both public and private organizations to encourage and endorse running as a sport and healthy activity.
Arkansas Tech Receives Funding for Trail Management Institute
Arkansas Tech University has earned a $500,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Transportation that will be directed to the establishment of the Arkansas Trail Management Institute. Funding has been made available through the Transportation Alternatives Program and Recreational Trails Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway...
Buffalo National River Cancels Concession Business Solicitation
In early November, the Buffalo National River, through the National Park Service, announced that it was taking applications for shuttle services on the river. In the prospectus, the NPS included the following on Page 10, Exhibit 2:. “Transportation (Shuttle) Services: The Concessioner is authorized, but not required, to provided transportation...
Award Recipients Announced For ARDOT Transportation Alternatives Program And Recreational Trails Program
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) has announced the award recipients for the 2023 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and Recreational Trails Program (RTP). Transportation Alternatives Program. The TAP was reauthorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and provides funding for programs and projects defined as “transportation alternatives” for...
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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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