studioDRIFT Secures $650K in Grants for Delta Recreation Projects
StudioDRIFT has secured $650,000 in grants from the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) to advance two transformative outdoor recreation initiatives in the Arkansas Delta. These projects aim to bolster local economies, enhance quality of life, and highlight the region’s natural and cultural treasures.
The Crowley’s Ridge Gravel Trail will receive $330,000 to expand its 249-mile route, which traverses Lee and Phillips Counties. This trail showcases a blend of rugged terrain, scenic landscapes, and cultural landmarks, and the funding will further establish it as a premier destination for adventure tourism in the Delta. The Cache River Water Trail will also benefit from $320,000 to improve access to one of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley’s most pristine river systems. Renowned for its ecological and cultural significance, the Cache River offers a serene retreat for paddlers and nature enthusiasts.
Ammen Jordan, Director of studioDrift, told us about what the organization is up to, “StudioDRIFT tries to identify local champions and then get behind them and provide them with technical assistance.” He went on to say, “That assistance is defined by grant writing support, design documents, construction administration assistance, whatever their need may be. Our preferred methodology for placemaking is to support community leaders. The goal is to create high quality destinations.”
StudioDRIFT continues to bring Adventure Recreation to the Arkansas Delta, they support several cycling and paddling events in the Arkansas Delta.
StudioDrift outdoor recreation initiatives in the Arkansas Delta
Crowley’s Ridge Gravel Trail
Crowley’s Ridge, a unique ecoregion formed during the Ice Age by glacier dust meeting river fog, rises 250 feet above the surrounding Mississippi Alluvial Plain. This geological marvel stretches from southern Missouri to Helena, Arkansas, offering a scenic escape for cyclists and explorers alike. The Crowley’s Ridge Gravel Trail, developed by studioDRIFT, spans 249 miles and features over 10,000 feet of elevation, winding through fertile farmlands, loess canyons, and hardwood forests.
The trail links seven state parks, one national forest, and 18 Delta towns. Highlights include Ernest Hemingway’s writing retreat for A Farewell to Arms, the St. Francis and Mississippi Rivers confluence, and culinary gems like the James Beard Award-winning Jones Bar-B-Q in Marianna. Adventurers can also enjoy a craft cocktail at Delta Dirt Distillery, the only Black-owned farm-to-bottle distillery in the U.S., or visit cultural sites marking the birthplace of blues music. This ambitious project exemplifies studioDRIFT’s commitment to leveraging adventure recreation to support rural Arkansas’s prosperity.
From the southern terminus in Helena, Arkansas, travelers on the route will soon have the opportunity to add another 80+ miles via the Delta Heritage Trail, a bike/pedestrian Rails-to-Trails project managed by Arkansas State Parks is expected to be completed in late 2025 or early 2026.
According to Jordan, the grants for the Crosley’s Ridge Gravel Trail will go toward, “…the reimagining of existing road infrastructure and we, it’s an 8 county project from Phillips County all the way up to Clay County.”We will proceed with the implementation of placemaking components and more specifically, we’re talking about hubs. Trailheads that have a physical welcoming, branded informational presence. Those hubs will have interpretive panels that describe the uniqueness as defined by human history and ecology. Then the third panel will be a regional map to show the perspective trail user where they could go from that hub.”
Mr. Jordan also told us that these “hubs” would serve the same purpose as the information kiosks on the Delta Heritage Trail pictured below. The grants will also go to wayfinding in the communities the trail passes through giving trail users directional signage to restaurants, overnight accommodations, and other local amenities.
Cache River Water Trail
The Cache River Water Trail is poised to become a top destination for paddlers and nature lovers. StudioDRIFT supported Woodruff County to receive a $320,000 grant that will enhance access to this vital waterway, one of the few remaining relatively unaltered river systems in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. The trail meanders through cypress-tupelo swamps, hardwood forests, and oxbow lakes, offering an immersive experience in a biodiverse landscape that supports migratory birds and other wildlife.
StudioDRIFT envisions the Cache River Water Trail as more than a recreational outlet. By improving infrastructure and accessibility, the project seeks to connect communities with their natural surroundings while driving economic revitalization. This initiative reflects studioDRIFT’s dedication to sustainable development, celebrating the Delta’s ecological richness and cultural heritage. StudioDRIFT assisted
Woodruff County Judge, Michael John Gray, said, “Outside of duck hunting season, tourism is an untapped industry in Woodruff County. Duck hunting is 60 days or less of the year and we are working to expand our outdoor offerings into the rest of the year.” When asked about what the Lower Cache River is like, Judge Gray said, “The Lower Cache is America’s Amazon and offers a quiet life getaway only an hour’s drive from Jonesboro, Little Rock, or Memphis.”
Judge Gray expects the Cache River Water Trail to be added to the list of official water trails recognized by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. There are currently two other recognized water trails in the nearby Sheffield Nelson Dagmar Wildlife Management Area. The grant will go toward creating campsites along the trail, both land-based and floating. Although the grant does not cover advertising, the county does expect to be able to use some funds for wayfinding in the area.
“This designation and improvements provide an excellent opportunity for local duck lodges and guides to expand their services into what has been an off-season until now,” said Judge Gray.
