Yesterday, I found myself in Gilbert with "Very Low" amounts of water on the Buffalo. Even after raining most the day yesterday, the river is still "Very Low" according the the USGS. So, rather than figure out a shuttle and drag a kayak down a few miles of gravel, I decided to explore some nearby trails. The Buffalo River Trail, which I believe is now part of the Ozark Highlands Trail, runs past Gilbert, but I'd been on that part of it a few times already so I drove to nearby Tyler Bend, one of the most popular put-ins on the river, which happens to also be home to several medium-length, nice trails.
After parking at the Visitor Center, I got on the River View Trail and followed it 1.3 mi. up to the Collier Homestead. Along the way, I took in great views of the river and enjoyed the changing vegetation which varied from river cane and ferns to cacti, large white oaks, and beautiful moss-covered cedars.
From the homestead, I followed the Buffalo River Trail to the Spring Hollow Trail and took that downhill back to the visitor center.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Arkansas Trail Funding News
There is lots going on this week with trail funding in our state:
1. From the AP (via the DemGaz) the Highway Commission awarded a total of $1.8 million to 31 different trail projects around the state. Big winners include Arkansas State Parks and Hendrix College.
2. Also from the AP (via the DemGaz) as part of the aforementioned $1.8 million, the City of Hot Springs got $40,000 to build a bridge that will connect two existing recreational trails. (see map below, if you are from Hot Springs, let me know if I got this right)
3. Voters in Little Rock will head to the polls Sept. 13 to vote on two separate sales tax increases. If passed, at roughly $28 million will go to parks and trails in Little Rock. Given that Little Rock has the lowest sales tax in the state, this is a tax we can handle.
UPDATE: The two sales taxes passed.
Map below:
1. From the AP (via the DemGaz) the Highway Commission awarded a total of $1.8 million to 31 different trail projects around the state. Big winners include Arkansas State Parks and Hendrix College.
2. Also from the AP (via the DemGaz) as part of the aforementioned $1.8 million, the City of Hot Springs got $40,000 to build a bridge that will connect two existing recreational trails. (see map below, if you are from Hot Springs, let me know if I got this right)
3. Voters in Little Rock will head to the polls Sept. 13 to vote on two separate sales tax increases. If passed, at roughly $28 million will go to parks and trails in Little Rock. Given that Little Rock has the lowest sales tax in the state, this is a tax we can handle.
UPDATE: The two sales taxes passed.
Map below:
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Tsa La Gi Trail
Update 7/4/14: The Tsa La Gi (Cherokee in Cherokee I'm told) Trail has been extended and now runs from Razorback Rd. to the Razorback Greenway near MLK and School Ave. While it isn't the most scenic trail in Northwest Arkansas, it is important since it connects numerous restaurants, large apartment complexes, and businesses to the trail system. This makes it easier for more people to use the trail not just for recreation, but for transportation.
The Tsa La Gi Trail in its current form is little more than a wide sidewalk for the Hill Place apartment complex. At a under 0.2 mi. in length, this trail is the shortest mentioned in the Fayetteville Trails Guide brochure. I think the main reason for its inclusion is to raise awareness of plans for connecting it to the university and Fayetteville High School campuses to the west and the Scull Creek Trail just 0.3 mi. to the east.
The Tsa La Gi Trail in its current form is little more than a wide sidewalk for the Hill Place apartment complex. At a under 0.2 mi. in length, this trail is the shortest mentioned in the Fayetteville Trails Guide brochure. I think the main reason for its inclusion is to raise awareness of plans for connecting it to the university and Fayetteville High School campuses to the west and the Scull Creek Trail just 0.3 mi. to the east.
View Tsa La Gi Trail in a larger map
Gulley Park Trail
Gulley Park is a large city park in northeast Fayetteville located near the intersection of Township Rd. and Old Wire Rd. The park has large open mowed areas that are great for picnics, playing with your dog, or tossing a frisbee or ball around. It also has a creek, sand volleyball court, gazebo, picnic tables, a large playground and ~1.5 mi. of fairly flat asphalt trail. The dark blue outer loop on the map, including the spur to Azalea Terrace, is 1.5 mi.
There isn't much shade along the trail, but lots of young shade trees have been planted recently and should provide some good shade here in 10 years assuming they don't die from lack of water (which some of them looked close to doing).
The best views of Niokaska Creek are along the light blue trail on the map. This creek has had some problems with bank erosion in the past, and has benefited from restoration work. The creek was bone dry when I visited today (early September).
The plan for this trail is to extend it to the north and connect it to the Mud Creek Trail.
There isn't much shade along the trail, but lots of young shade trees have been planted recently and should provide some good shade here in 10 years assuming they don't die from lack of water (which some of them looked close to doing).
The best views of Niokaska Creek are along the light blue trail on the map. This creek has had some problems with bank erosion in the past, and has benefited from restoration work. The creek was bone dry when I visited today (early September).
The plan for this trail is to extend it to the north and connect it to the Mud Creek Trail.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Are Trails a Part of Your City's Master Plan?
If you are reading this blog, chances are you're a fan of trails. If you want your city to build more trails, you better make sure they are a part of the parks, transportation, or planning departments' Master Plans. Communities often spend a lot of time developing these plans and decisions on funding and spending are typically based on the priorities spelled out in them.
If your municipality has a master plan than focuses entirely on building more baseball fields, then you might want to attend planning meetings and public comment periods in order to get trail planning and creation included. Since dirt paths are pretty cheap and easy to make and maintain, there shouldn't be much resistance to at least including some nature trails in the plan. Well-lit, paved trails are much more expensive, but they are still cheaper than roads and can often be funded largely using grants from federal and other sources.
If your town doesn't have an official plan, they should make one! You should look over the ones included below and encourage them to use the best ones as a model. Many cities around the country have passed Complete Streets ordinances. These call for streets (and transportation dollars) to be used for the benefit of all modes of transportation. This means giving pedestrians, bicyclists, and bus riders the same priority as cars and in practice it often means wider sidewalks, protected bikelanes, lower speed limits, safer intersections, and more trails. Ask your local elected officials if your town has a complete streets ordinance.
Below are links to Master Plans for municipalities around the state. If you know of one I've missed, send me a link and I'll add it:
Fayetteville: Parks, Planning
Little Rock: Parks, Planning
North Little Rock: No Parks, Planning
Bentonville: Parks, Planning
Bryant: Parks, Planning (These links need to be updated. Here is a Transportation Plan Map with trails.)
Conway: No Parks, Planning
Ft. Smith: Parks, Planning
Hot Springs: Parks, Planning
Springdale: Parks, Planning
Eureka Springs: Trails
If your municipality has a master plan than focuses entirely on building more baseball fields, then you might want to attend planning meetings and public comment periods in order to get trail planning and creation included. Since dirt paths are pretty cheap and easy to make and maintain, there shouldn't be much resistance to at least including some nature trails in the plan. Well-lit, paved trails are much more expensive, but they are still cheaper than roads and can often be funded largely using grants from federal and other sources.
If your town doesn't have an official plan, they should make one! You should look over the ones included below and encourage them to use the best ones as a model. Many cities around the country have passed Complete Streets ordinances. These call for streets (and transportation dollars) to be used for the benefit of all modes of transportation. This means giving pedestrians, bicyclists, and bus riders the same priority as cars and in practice it often means wider sidewalks, protected bikelanes, lower speed limits, safer intersections, and more trails. Ask your local elected officials if your town has a complete streets ordinance.
Below are links to Master Plans for municipalities around the state. If you know of one I've missed, send me a link and I'll add it:
Fayetteville: Parks, Planning
Little Rock: Parks, Planning
North Little Rock: No Parks, Planning
Bentonville: Parks, Planning
Bryant: Parks, Planning (These links need to be updated. Here is a Transportation Plan Map with trails.)
Conway: No Parks, Planning
Ft. Smith: Parks, Planning
Hot Springs: Parks, Planning
Springdale: Parks, Planning
Eureka Springs: Trails
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