Arkansas River Trail

Infobox Hiking trail
Name= Arkansas River Trail
Photo= ART_location.jpg
Caption= Location of the Arkansas River Trail
Location=Arkansas, United States
Length= convert|14|mi
Start/End Points= Little Rock, Arkansas
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Use=Hiking, Cycling, Jogging
ElevChange= negligible
Difficulty= Easy
Season= All
Sights= Arkansas River, Pinnacle Mountain, Big Rock, the Little Rock, William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park, The Medical Mile, the Big Dam Bridge, North Little Rock's Burns Park

The Arkansas River Trail is a recreation rail trail that runs convert|17|mi in along both sides of the Arkansas River in Central Arkansas. The trail is open for use by hikers, joggers, and cyclists year-round. The trail is made up of asphalt creating a hard flat surface.

History

The Arkansas River Trail began with funding from a $1.9 million dollar bond issue from the City of Little Rock in 2003. Further fund raising spearheaded by trail organizer Terry Eastin and others has resulted in a trail that runs for approximately 14 miles on both sides of the Arkansas River. When complete in the next few years the trail will run for a total of convert|24|mi and include a loop from downtown Little Rock/North Little Rock on the east to the Big Dam Bridge on the west. There will also be a western link to Pinnacle Mountain State Park and the convert|225|mi|adj=on Ouachita National Recreation Trail beyond. The trail includes part of the former Little Rock and Western Railway right-of-way. Most of the right-of-way is still in use by the railroad and run adjacent to the trail but are not part of it. [ [http://www.rivertrail.org/ Arkansas River Trail...a place for all people ] ]

Issues

Baring Cross

Of the three railroad spans in the downtown area one is still in use by the Union Pacific Railroad. There has been some wrangling over where to build a pedestrian/bicycle bridge and uncertainty whether the railroad would grant permission to do so. Union Pacific has given tentative approval to plans to build a small bridge near the Little Rock station also known as Union Station.

Rock Island and Junction Bridges

Plans are underway to turn both of these former railroad bridges into pedestrian bridges.

Renovation is complete on the Junction Bridge (built on La Petit Roche or the Little Rock) and was opened to the public on Saturday, May 20, 2008. It connects the two cities riverfront parks and can be accessed via stairs and elevators.

Renovation of The Rock Island bridge, to be paid for by the Clinton Foundation has proven more difficult as the foundation didn't expect the price of steel to spike. The foundation is currently seeking further sources of funding before beginning work on the Rock Island bridge. [http://www.railtrails.org/resources/documents/magazine/08-13_RailstoTrails_Fall07.pdf]

References

External links

* [http://www.rivertrail.org/ Arkansas River Trail maps, events, businesses, services, and more]
* [http://www.railstotrails.org/ The Rails To Trails Conservancy website with information on the Arkansas River Trail]
* [http://www.americantrails.org/resources/health/medmile06.html American Trails web page on the Arkansas River Trail]