SHANNON HILLS, Ark. – May 15, 2025 — After more than a decade of planning, local and regional leaders gathered Wednesday morning to break ground on a new section of the Southwest Trail in Saline County—a 65-mile multi-use trail that will stretch from Little Rock to Hot Springs.
“This is something we’ve heard about for the better part of 15 years,” said Saline County Judge Matt Brumley. “Three years ago this week, public comment ended. Since then, it’s been all hands on deck to get to this point.”
The trail will span three counties—Pulaski, Saline, and Garland—with 26.1 miles running through Saline County. Brumley praised partners across county lines and multiple agencies who made the effort possible, including Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde, Garland County Judge Darrell Mahoney, and Metroplan.
“To Judge Hyde and your group—phenomenal to work with,” Brumley said. “Casey Covington with Metroplan, thank you for your leadership in making this happen.”
Other partners acknowledged included engineering firm Garver, right-of-way consultants Volcker, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and local city governments in Benton, Bryant, and Shannon Hills.
“This is an answer to prayer,” said Shannon Hills Mayor Mike Kemp, who offered an opening prayer and addressed the crowd with a mix of reverence and humor. “We’ve talked about this trail for 15 years. It’s probably the most historic thing to happen to Shannon Hills.”
Kemp emphasized the transformative potential of the trail for his small city.
“We’re never going to get a state highway through Shannon Hills, nor an interstate,” he said. “But the Southwest Trail has the potential to have that kind of impact.”
Kemp revealed plans for the first trailhead in the area, located near Sardis Road on city-owned land. “We’ve already started acquiring property, about three acres adjacent to the trail. We’re working on grants to make it a reality,” he said, pointing to a potential 20-acre park project awaiting a vote by Metroplan later this month.
Former Saline County Judge Jeff Arey, who helped lay the groundwork for the project, reflected on its early stages.
“The very idea of the Southwest Trail started with good connections—between counties, cities, people, and places,” Arey said. “Connections are key to successful communities, and this trail is all about those connections.”
Arey credited fellow former leaders like then-Judge Lanny Fite and Pulaski County’s Buddy Villines with initiating the vision. “I’m proud to have played a small part in making this happen,” he said.
Pulaski County Judge Barry Hyde, who also chairs Metroplan, closed out the remarks by placing the project in a broader regional context.
“This isn’t just about Shannon Hills, Saline County, or Pulaski County,” Hyde said. “This is about Central Arkansas. This is how we move the needle nationally—by building as a region.”
After the speeches, Brumley invited several officials—including Hyde, Kemp, Arey, and Justice of the Peace J.P. Hatcher—to take ceremonial shovels and turn the first dirt.
“People showed up on a Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. for this,” Brumley said. “That tells you how important it is. This is not just a project; it’s a connection—between people, communities, and generations.”
The Southwest Trail is expected to draw visitors from across the region and beyond, supporting recreation, tourism, and economic development in Central Arkansas. This section of the trail, from the Saline County line to Germania Road is expected to open in the beginning of 2026. It will connect with the first section built in Pulaski County.
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!
