The Arkansas River Trail is a rail trail that runs in along both sides of the

Arkansas River The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. It generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's source basin lies in the western United Stat ...

in Central

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...

History

The Arkansas River Trail began with funding from a $1.9 million bond issue from the city of

Little Rock ( The "Little Rock") , government_type = Council-manager , leader_title = Mayor , leader_name = Frank Scott Jr. , leader_party = D , leader_title2 = Council , leader_name2 ...

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.

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 William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

, opened in October 2011. Both connect the two cities' riverfront parks. The Junction Bridge is accessed via stairs and elevators. Renovation work on the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge began in May 2010. The railroad bridge, originally constructed in 1899 as the Rock Island Bridge, 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 ( The "Little Rock") , government_type = Council-manager , leader_title = Mayor , leader_name = Frank Scott Jr. , leader_party = D , leader_title2 = Council , leader_name2 ...

, and $750,000 from the city of

North Little Rock North Little Rock is a city in Pulaski County, Arkansas, across the Arkansas from Little Rock in the central part of the state. The population was 64,591 at the 2020 census. In 2019 the estimated population was 65,903, making it the seventh-mo ...

Big Dam Bridge

At 4,226 feet long, the

Big Dam Bridge Originally intended to be called Murray Bridge, the Big Dam Bridge in Arkansas spans the Arkansas River and Murray Lock and Dam between Little Rock and North Little Rock and is open only to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. At 4,226 feet (1288 m) in ...

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.

Baring Cross

Of the three railroad spans in the downtown area one is still in use by the

Union Pacific Railroad The Union Pacific Railroad , legally Union Pacific Railroad Company and often called simply Union Pacific, is a freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Paci ...

(UP). UP gave tentative approval to build a small bridge near the Little Rock Amtrak station.

References

External links

Arkansas River Trail maps, events, businesses, services, and moreThe Arkansas River Trail Page on Traillink.com
{{authority control Rail trails in Arkansas State parks of Arkansas Transportation in Pulaski County, Arkansas Protected areas of Pulaski County, Arkansas Geography of Little Rock, Arkansas 2003 establishments in Arkansas