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Pulaski County will give the public its first look at a new countywide vision for trails and active transportation during a public event Saturday, September 12, at Two Rivers Park.
The Pulaski County Trails Master Plan Public Popup Event will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. near the restrooms and inclusive playground at Two Rivers Park. The free event will use a drop-in format, allowing visitors to stop by at any time during the morning.
Visitors will be able to view the proposed countywide trail network and participate in activities designed to gather public feedback. Members of the project team will be available to discuss the plan, and water, Gatorade, and snacks will be available.
People already walking or riding through Two Rivers Park are also encouraged to stop by.
A New Countywide Trail Plan
The Pulaski County Trails Master Plan updates the county’s 2006 Pedestrian and Bicycle Trails Master Plan, which established an early vision for connecting communities and destinations throughout the county.
The trail landscape has changed considerably during the past two decades. Since the earlier plan was developed, the Big Dam Bridge and Two Rivers Bridge have opened, the Arkansas River Trail has become one of Central Arkansas’ signature recreation and active transportation amenities, and work is underway on both the Southeast Trail and Southwest Trail.
Several cities within Pulaski County have also adopted their own bicycle and pedestrian plans. The new master plan is intended to bring those projects and planning efforts together into a unified countywide network.
Crafton Tull is developing the plan for Pulaski County.
Isaac Sims, Planning Project Manager for Crafton Tull, said investments such as the Arkansas River Trail and Big Dam Bridge have grown beyond their original perception as primarily recreational amenities.
“These investments bring families and friends together, keep people healthy, improve mental health, and elevate our regional reputation. Not only that, active transportation infrastructure provides dignity to the hundreds of people in Central Arkansas who rely on transit, biking or walking to get to work every day.”
Sims said the impact of the region’s trail investments has become increasingly apparent as the Arkansas River Trail, Big Dam Bridge and Two Rivers Bridge have become established parts of Central Arkansas.
Connecting Existing Regional Plans
The Pulaski County Trails Master Plan is also designed to complement two major regional planning efforts already underway, the Maumelle Pinnacles Recreation Master Plan and the Central Arkansas Regional Greenways Plan.
The Maumelle Pinnacles Recreation Master Plan focuses on the Maumelle Pinnacles Conservation Area, stretching from the Big Dam Bridge and Two Rivers Park west past Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Rattlesnake Ridge and Blue Mountain to the western end of Lake Maumelle.
That plan brings together multiple public and private partners around a vision of connecting parks, natural areas and trailheads through paved multi-use and soft-surface trails.
Metroplan’s Central Arkansas Regional Greenways Plan, adopted in May 2023, provides a broader framework for a regional active transportation network.
That network includes the Southwest Trail and connections to the Arkansas River Trail, along with several proposed regional corridors. The Northeast Corridor would connect North Little Rock with Sherwood, Jacksonville, Cabot and Ward. The Northwest Corridor would extend from North Little Rock through Maumelle and Mayflower to Conway.
The Central Beltway would connect the Arkansas River Trail through Midtown Little Rock to the Promenade at Chenal in West Little Rock, while the East Corridor would primarily use an on-street bicycle route connecting North Little Rock with Lonoke.
The Pulaski County plan is intended to help fill in the space between those larger efforts. It will identify priority connections needed to link the regional trail network with cities and neighborhoods throughout the county.
Public Review Comes Next
Saturday’s event will serve as a preview of the proposed network.
Following the popup event, the official network map will be posted online and a public review period will begin. Additional information about reviewing the plan and submitting comments will be released with the online map.
The project team will also be at the Big Dam Bridge 100 on September 26 to discuss the plan and answer questions.
Balance Bike Giveaway
Pulaski County will also raffle a balance bike and helmet sized for children ages 2 to 6 during Saturday’s event.
Participants can enter by signing in at the event and selecting whether they would prefer to be contacted by email or text if selected. Entrants must be present to enter the raffle but do not have to remain at the event to win.
Pulaski County Trails Master Plan Public Popup
The event will be held Saturday, September 12, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Two Rivers Park, near the restrooms and inclusive playground. Admission is free.
Visitors can preview the proposed trail network, provide feedback, talk with members of the project team, enjoy refreshments and enter the children’s balance bike and helmet giveaway.
This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens, thank you for supporting our work!