Arkansas River Trail
{{Short description|Recreational rail trail in Arkansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Coord|34|54|25.4|N|92|26|47.7|W|display=title}}
{{Infobox hiking trail
|name= Arkansas River Trail
|photo= ART_location.jpg
|caption= Location of the Arkansas River Trail
|location= Pulaski County, Arkansas, USA
|length_mi=14
|trailheads= Little Rock, Arkansas
North Little Rock, Arkansas
|use=Hiking, Cycling, Jogging
|elev_change= 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
}}
{{Multiple image
| header = Arkansas River Trail
| align = right
| direction =
| total_width = 300
| perrow = 1/2/2
| image1= Arkansas River Trail.jpg
| caption1 = Arkansas River Trail west of Jimerson Creek footbridge; Pinnacle Mountain is in background
| image2= Arkansas River Trail southeast of the William J. Clinton National Library..png
| caption2 = Southeast of the Clinton Presidential Center
| image3 = Rock Island Br, Little Rock, raised for barge.jpg
| caption3 = Rock Island railroad bridge in 2006
| image4 = Arkansas River Trail in Burns Park..jpg
| caption4 = Burns Park
| image5 = Arkansas River Trail over the Big Dam Bridge.jpg
| caption5= Big Dam Bridge
}}
The Arkansas River Trail is a rail trail that runs {{convert|17|mi}} in along both sides of the Arkansas River in Central Arkansas.
History
The Arkansas River Trail began with funding from a $1.9 million bond issue from the city of Little Rock in 2003. The trail includes a portion of the Little Rock & Western Railway. The former railbed is still in use by the railroad and operates adjacent to the trail.{{cite web |url=http://www.rivertrail.org/ |title=Arkansas River Trail - Arkansas River Trail |publisher= |access-date=June 17, 2007 |archive-date=June 23, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070623140231/http://www.rivertrail.org/ |url-status=live }}
Bridges
=Junction and Clinton Presidential Park Bridges=
Both former railroad bridges have been converted into pedestrian and bicycling bridges. The Junction Bridge opened in May 2008; the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge, named after former U.S. president Bill Clinton, opened in October 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.kuar.org/kuarnews/36252-dedication-for-clinton-presidential-park-bridge.html |title=UALR Public Radio | FM 89 KUAR - Dedication for Clinton Presidential Park Bridge |accessdate=November 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002201741/http://www.kuar.org/kuarnews/36252-dedication-for-clinton-presidential-park-bridge.html |archivedate=October 2, 2011}} Both connect the two cities' riverfront parks. The Junction Bridge is accessed via stairs and elevators.
The Junction Bridge was originally constructed in 1884 as a railroad bridge. As a pedestrian bridge, it is lit with hundreds of colored lights at night.
Renovation work on the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge began in May 2010.{{cite news |date=May 29, 2010 |title=Clinton marks start of work on railroad bridge at library |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108602393/baxter-bulletin/ |work=Baxter Bulletin |volume=109 |issue=138 |location=Mountain Home, Arkansas |publisher=Baxter County Newspapers |agency=Associated Press |page=2A |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=August 30, 2022 |archive-date=August 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830140005/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108602393/baxter-bulletin/ |url-status=live }} The railroad bridge, originally constructed in 1899 as the Rock Island Bridge,{{cite web |last=Tugman |first=Lindsey |title=Clinton dedicates pedestrian bridge at library |date=September 30, 2011 |publisher=KTHV-TV |url=http://www.todaysthv.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=175248 |accessdate=May 20, 2012 |archive-date=April 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405083926/http://www.todaysthv.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=175248 |url-status=live }} is the eastern pedestrian and bicycle connection for the River Trail.
Renovation work on the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge cost $10.5 million and was funded by a mix of funds including $4 million from the Clinton Foundation, $2.5 million of federal stimulus money, $2 million from the Commerce Department, $1 million from the city of Little Rock, and $750,000 from the city of North Little Rock.{{cite web |url=http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/news/groundbreaking |title=AP: Clinton marks start of work on bridge at library | News | William J. Clinton Presidential Center |accessdate=October 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101141643/http://clintonpresidentialcenter.org/news/groundbreaking |archivedate=November 1, 2011}}
=Big Dam Bridge=
At 4,226 feet long, the Big Dam Bridge is the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge in North America which was built specifically for that use. It connects Little Rock with North Little Rock.{{cite web |title=Big Dam Bridge |url=https://www.littlerock.com/little-rock-destinations/big-dam-bridge |website=Little Rock |publisher=Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau |access-date=11 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822195139/https://www.littlerock.com/little-rock-destinations/big-dam-bridge |archive-date=22 August 2022}}
=Baring Cross=
Of the three railroad spans in the downtown area one is still in use by the Union Pacific Railroad (UP). UP gave tentative approval to build a small bridge near the Little Rock Amtrak station.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.rivertrail.org/ Arkansas River Trail maps, events, businesses, services, and more]
- [http://www.traillink.com/trail/arkansas-river-trail-%28project-overview%29.aspx The Arkansas River Trail Page on Traillink.com]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070325153612/http://www.americantrails.org/resources/health/medmile06.html American Trails web page on the Arkansas River Trail]
{{authority control}}
Category:Rail trails in Arkansas
Category:State parks of Arkansas
Category:Transportation in Pulaski County, Arkansas
Category:Protected areas of Pulaski County, Arkansas