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First Year Progress Report June 7, 2004
Prepared
by: ForewordThe Headwaters Partnership is a unique coalition of federal, state, county, and municipal public and private organizations dedicated to the completion of the Arkansas River Trail. Each agency has provided professional leadership, technical expertise, financial and fund-raising assistance, in-kind labor, materials, and other resources from disciplines ranging from environmental conservation and recreation, to economic development, to community health and wellness in the public and private sector. A partnership is as strong as its leadership. Championed by mayors from two of the state’s premiere cities, the county judge of Arkansas’ most populated county, the lieutenant governor, executive directors of the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, and the Arkansas Department of Health; the district engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the chairman of the Governor’s Council on Fitness, the assistant director for Recreation and Conservation of the National Park Service, the state’s largest and most respected cardiology practice (23 physicians), a U.S. congressman, a U.S. senator, and numerous state legislators, boards of directors, councils, commissions, coalitions, and private individuals, the Headwaters Partnership for the Arkansas River Trail is strong indeed. The Arkansas River Trail is about building a pathway to a better Arkansas - healthier, wealthier, and more attractive. The following people deserve far more than a simple thank you. Their leadership and cooperation is an inspiring exhibition of the best Arkansas has to offer.
Acknowledgments Mayor Jim Dailey, City of Little Rock Mayor Pat Hays, City of North Little Rock Judge Buddy Villines, Pulaski County Lieutenant Governor Winthrop Paul Rockefeller Richard Davies, Executive Director, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Scott Henderson, Executive Director, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Dr. Fay Boozman, Executive Director, Arkansas Department of Health Cathie Mathews, Director, Arkansas Department of Heritage Tom Ross, Assistant Director of Recreation and Conservation, the National Park Service Mike Madell, Superintendent, Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, National Park Service Bryan Day, Director, Little Rock Parks and Recreation Bryan Kellar, Director, Outdoor Recreation Grants, Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism Jim McKenzie, Director, Metroplan Richard Magee, Metroplan Congressman Vic Snyder, Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln, Arkansas Stacy Hurst, Director, City of Little Rock Colonel Benjamin Butler, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Dr. Robert Lambert, Heart Clinic Arkansas Dr. Eleanor Kennedy, Heart Clinic Arkansas Dr. Lynn Davis, Heart Clinic Arkansas Marcia Atkinson, CEO, Heart Clinic Arkansas Heather Gulley, Heart Clinic Arkansas J.P. Francouer, Chair, Arkansas Governor’s Council on Fitness Gerald Cound, Facilities Director, Heifer Project International Tracey Alexander, Heifer Project International Sam Ledbetter, Representative, Arkansas State Legislature Steve Napper, Representative, Arkansas State Legislature Barry Travis, Little Rock Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Tim Vasholtz, KATV Channel 7 Lorri Davis, Little Rock Parks and Recreation Shellie O’Quinn, Little Rock Parks and Recreation Gina Marchese, Special Events, Little Rock Parks and Recreation Mark Webre, Deputy Director, Design, Little Rock Parks and Recreation Bob Rhoads, Director, North Little Rock Parks Department Robert Voyles, Director, Community Planning, North Little Rock Mike Smith, City Engineer, North Little Rock Sherman Smith, Director, Pulaski County Public Works Casche Carter, Director of Planning, Pulaski County Barbara Richard, Director, Road and Bridge Department, Pulaski County Beth Phelps, Staff Chair, Pulaski County Cooperative Extension Service Tennille Blakemore, County Extension Agent, Pulaski County Cooperative Extension Service Nancy Ledbetter, Director of Communications, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Neil Curry, Director of Education, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Angela Kirkland, Art Design, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Arlene Green, Webmaster, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Steve Filipek, Director of Fisheries, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Joe David Rice, Director of Tourism, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Lynn Warren, Planner, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Ian Hope, State Trails Coordinator, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Greg Butts, Director of State Parks, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Stan Graves, Director of Planning, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Jay Miller, Administrator, Program Service, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Christine Stachowiak, Director, Five a Day Nutrition, Arkansas Department of Health Linda Faulkner, Director, Cardiovascular Health, Arkansas Department of Health Martha Hiett, Agency Team Leader, Arkansas Department of Health Jeffrey Ciabotti, Vice President, Rails to Trails Conservancy Jennifer Simmons, Managing Editor, Rails to Trails Conservancy Magazine Ken Gould, Chair, Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas Meryl Hattenbach, The Nature Conservancy Ken Smith, Audubon Arkansas Daniel Levine, Audubon Arkansas Nancy Green, Arkansas Governor’s Council on Fitness Lynda Kyzer, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield John O’Dell, Arkansas Department of Heritage Gene Pfeifer Ken Eastin, Eastin Outdoors, Inc. Barry Williams, Roberts and Williams Landscape Architecture, Inc. Dave Roberts, Roberts and Williams Landscape Architecture, Inc. Diana Allen, Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance, National Park Service Terry Eastin, Headwaters Partnership Coordinator, Little Rock Parks and Recreation, Eastin Outdoors, Inc.
Headwaters PartnersLittle Rock North Little Rock Pulaski County The National Park Service The Trust For Public Lands The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission The Arkansas Department of Health The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department The Arkansas Department of Heritage University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service - Pulaski County Heart Clinic Arkansas The Rails to Trails Conservancy Heifer Project International Arkansas Governor’s Council on Fitness William J. Cllinton Presidential Library Foundation The Nature Conservancy Audubon Arkansas Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas Boy Scouts of America - Quapaw Area Council The Five-A-Day Nutrition Coalition Little Rock Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Little Rock Parks and Recreation Metroplan City in a Park Conservancy and Land Trust KATV Channel 7
The National Park Service The Headwaters Partnership project was made possible by assistance through the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program of the National Park Service. The regional office in St. Louis provides technical assistance in trail planning and coalition building to Arkansas and Missouri through the auspices of the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior. Our St. Louis representative, Diana Allen, along with her colleagues and the Assistant Director for Recreation and Conservation in the National Park Service, Tom Ross, have led the project by teaching us methods and techniques for fostering strong relationships where both similarities and differences can be discussed and resolved in a spirit of cooperation and team-building. Contributions by Mike Madell, Superintendent, Central High School National Historic Site have also facilitated partnership development. The result of their dedicated efforts has made this project and the partnership the success it is today.
Little Rock Parks and Recreation While every partner in the Headwaters Partnership deserves enormous credit, without the vision, commitment, and leadership exhibited by Little Rock Parks and Recreation, the Headwaters partnership would not exist. Bryan Day, Director, has played a key behind-the-scenes role in creating partnerships, managing resources, establishing goals, and resolving issues and concerns fairly and responsibly. Director Day, whose unfailing enthusiasm for the Arkansas River Trail inspired this project, is to be commended. Thank you, Bryan. Thank you, also, to Lorri Davis, Shellie O’Quinn, Gina Marchese, and Mark Webre. Your dedication, humor, desire for success, and willingness to facilitate any request, answer any question, or resolve any difficulty has been the glue that cements Little Rock Parks and Recreation’s commitment to the Headwaters Partnership for the Arkansas River Trail.
Vision The Arkansas River Trail provides an opportunity for outdoor recreation and appreciation of nature in an urban environment while connecting communities. It promotes tourism, enhances economic growth and improves the quality of life in central Arkansas.
Mission Promote a trail along the Arkansas River dedicated to enhancing quality of life.
Headwaters History In the Beginning The Headwaters Partnership was formed on May 27, 2003. Public and private agency executive directors, mayors, a county judge, and key directors and personnel from many federal, state, and private organizations gathered in Little Rock City Hall to discuss the partially-constructed Arkansas River Trail and to acknowledge that the project was bigger than any one agency’s ability to complete independently. Discussions focused on creating a unilateral partnership with a single goal - completing the Arkansas River Trail. During these talks, a Triple Bottom Line Model and a skeleton plan for success were introduced.
The Triple Bottom Line Research by the National Park Service and Little Rock Parks and Recreation staff indicated that a National Forum for Corporate Conscience, created by former Bank of America CEO, Warren Buffet, was challenging corporate leaders and their associates to shift their companies’ focus to sustainability and the “triple bottom line.” This theory encompasses economic, social, and environmental performance as a complete package. This new focus signaled an historic shift from “profit only” to profit with community sustainability and environmental conscientiousness for the betterment of communities everywhere. Upon examination, it was decided that the Arkansas River Trail provided an excellent opportunity to achieve similar goals with the Triple Bottom Line (Attachment 1) - environmental conservation, economic development, and community sustainability through enhanced health, wellness, and cultural preservation. The plan to create the Headwaters Partnership for the Arkansas River Trail included project advocacy, public education and awareness, tourism development, and capital funding. By unilateral consensus, the group approved the idea and the partnership was born.
The Launch A first year concerted effort to establish the Headwaters Partnership began with a launch on September 19, 2003. Two hundred forty-two very special guests representing the diversity of our citizenry, attended a “Headwaters Splash” at the MacArthur Museum of Military History. Among those guests were Mrs. Gertrude Clark, wife of General Wesley Clark, and Lieutenant Governor Winthrop Paul Rockefeller, both of whom advocated strongly for completion of the Arkansas River Trail. Both mayors and the county judge, along with other speakers who framed the context of the Triple Bottom Line, were met with enthusiasm and continuous applause.
A Dedicated New Friend During this event, a very special physician came forward with an offer of assistance. Dr. Robert Lambert, Heart Clinic Arkansas, introduced himself, rolled up his sleeves, and went to work helping to support the partnership and its goals. In Dr. Lambert’s own words, “ We live in a state of engaging natural beauty, and it flows right through the middle of our city. Our population is overweight and needs encouragement to exercise. I want to be involved with something that works.”
Heart Clinic Arkansas His inspiration touched every physician at Heart Clinic Arkansas (HCA). Without a dissent, twenty-three cardiologists voted to spearhead a fundraising program to raise a minimum of $350,000 for the Arkansas River Trail. In their words, “Statistics tell us Arkansans are much more unhealthy than elsewhere in the United States. We [the medical community] do a superb job of treating heart disease and other illnesses, but not such a great job preventing them. Now, in addition to making recommendations and treating illnesses associated with lack of physical activity, we have the opportunity to help prevent these deadly diseases.” A committee was formed under the leadership of HCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Marcia Atkinson. It included Dr. Robert Lambert, Dr. Eleanor Kennedy and Dr. J. Lynn Davis. Together, with the help of Little Rock Parks and Recreation, this committee developed brochures, created a giving program, and the concept for a “Medical Mile” which would offer health information in the form of interpretive displays, a plaza, and other trail features. Using the tag line “The Arkansas River Trail - Creating Healthier Habits by Building a Healthier Community,” their outreach has been positive, supportive, and fruitful. They are well on the way toward meeting their pledge.
Public Education & Outreach Committee As called for in the initial outline, a Public Education and Outreach Committee and a Planning and Construction Committee formed to begin identifying resources and pinpointing challenges. Later, these two groups merged into a single committee with responsibility for public education, outreach, and planning. With technical assistance provided by Diana Allen, the Public Education and Outreach Committee began establishing itself in late 2003 and early 2004. First on the list of things to do was to complete a media plan and design an outreach program. The media plan included generating public service announcements, creating a donor brochure, a visitor brochure, a website, and developing relationships and events which would help educate the public while bringing awareness to the trail’s needs and funding shortfalls. It was agreed that outreach would include researching and contacting newspapers, magazines, and other organizations who could help promote the project.
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Steps Forward The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) stepped forward early on with an offer to design the partnership logo and to help establish a consistent look for promotional materials. This generous offer extended to design and layout of printed materials including the brochures, invitations, flyers, signs, and other materials. Additionally, AGFC agreed to create a website which would provide trail information, maps, photos, partner links, and access to resources from both cities and Pulaski County. The work of Angela Kirkland, Arlene Green, Neil Curry, and Nancy Ledbetter at the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission has been exemplary. Their efforts have given the partnership tools with which to grow.
Advocacy Group Leads Public Charge Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas (BACA), a newly-formed group with 100+ members led by Dr. Ken Gould, Professor of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, stepped forward to lead a public awareness charge regarding the establishment and construction of the Arkansas River Trail. BACA’s bylaws state “The first priority under this objective [development of bicycle trails and marked and signed bicycle routes] is to support and assist in completion of the River Trail, including completion of the Trail on the Little Rock side of the Arkansas River, construction of bicycle-pedestrian bridges across the Murray Lock and Dam and at the eastern end of the River Trail, and extension of the River Trail to the west on both sides of the Arkansas River.” In November of 2003, BACA conducted study on a cold and rainy Saturday to determine how many people were using the trail during the off-season. In one day, over the course of a few hours, tallies on both sides of the river produced an amazing 1,500 users. Attending in large numbers, sporting bright yellow t-shirts, BACA members have been involved with every event, announcement, and support project involving the Headwaters Partnership. Their advocacy and outreach was key to passing a $1.9 million dollar bond issue dedicated to trails in the City of Little Rock in late 2003.
Dr. Lambert’s Research During this period, Dr. Lambert conducted some very important research regarding the benefits of trails in communities through the Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). His findings concluded that after 9 years of intensive study, the CDC had recognized that communities with trail systems had healthier populations than those without. Further investigation determined that Arkansas is facing an obesity crisis and ranks near the top nationally with regard to incidences of heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses associated with a sedentary life-style and poor dietary habits. His research dovetailed that of the Arkansas Department of Health through the Five-A-Day Nutrition, the Cardiovascular Disease, and the Smoking Cessation programs. A formula was provided by the Arkansas Department of Health for use by the committee - Exercise + Better Nutrition + Smoking Cessation = a 70% reduction in the likelihood of chronic disease.
New Partnerships Are Created Through Christine Holland (5-A-Day Nutrition) and Linda Faulkner, Cardiovascular Disease, Nancy Green, Governor’s Council on Fitness, and with a new partner, Tennille Blakemore, County Extension Agent, for the Pulaski County Cooperative Extension Service, plans were created to assist each agency with meeting individual goals while combining efforts to support the trail. Within the Public Education and Outreach Committee, a new team formed and began working to develop events tailored to promotion of healthier eating habits and trail use. A new biannual Diabetes Cooking School (Pulaski County Extension Service) was established, and, through a partnership with Little Rock Parks and Recreation, found a home at the River Market near the trail. A combination fitness walk, cooking school, and partnership with 5-A-Day Nutrition at the Farmer’s Market housed at the River Market is an example of the effective cooperation developed through the Headwaters Partnership.
Sending a Health and Trails Message On May 19, 2004 a combination downtown groundbreaking ceremony for 3 miles of trail, an Out For Lunch event sponsored by the Governor’s Council on Fitness, and an announcement regarding the first Pulaski County Cooperative Extension Service Diabetes Cooking School was met with great enthusiasm. Guests were provided with “salad on a stick” prepared and served by 5-A-Day nutrition staff. Employees from Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Arkansas Department of Health marched from the state capitol to the River Market to emphasize the importance of walking at lunch. Heart Clinic Arkansas staff promoted the fundraising project and discussed the importance of trails as a resource for preventive medicine. It is estimated the combined event was attended by hundreds of downtown employees, trail enthusiasts, and health-conscious individuals.
Public Education and Outreach Committee Develops Flotilla Event Continuing with its overall mission to support the trail with special, the Public Education and Outreach Committee created a unique 2004 event to provide 375 guests and members of the media with a spectacular view of the constructed sections of the Arkansas River Trail from the river. Along with noting the trail’s course, the purpose of the event is to highlight the trails connections between many of the state’s premiere tourist destinations and key federal, state, and municipal parks. Music, entertainment, dinner, and historic/specific site interpretation is planned for the 2 1/2 hour tour aboard U.S. Army Corps of Engineers barges. Responses to invitations mailed on Thursday, June 3, 2004 have already begun pouring in.
Flotilla Emphasizes Connections Linking the Heifer Project International’s new Headquarters, the Clinton Presidential Library Center and Park, downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock, Riverfront Park, the River Market, the proposed Arkansas Game & Fish Nature Center, the proposed Arkansas Inland Marine Museum, the proposed Trail of Tears Historic Visitor’s Center, the North Shore Riverfront District, Alltel Arena, the Old Statehouse, Rebsamen Golf Course, Burns Park, Murray Park, Two Rivers Park, Maumelle Park and Pinnacle Mountain State Park, the trail, when completed, offers a myriad of resources for individuals from all walks of life. Nature enthusiasts, health conscious individuals, tourists, families, and people seeking safe alternate transportation corridors from downtown areas to the western edges of both Little Rock and North Little Rock will be accommodated by the new resource. In downtown Little Rock alone, conservative estimates of visitation by Arkansans and tourists from around the world number close to 2 million. This estimate does not account for visitation at surrounding venues in North Little Rock and other parks and attractions connected by the Arkansas River Trail system. Nor does it take into consideration, the many residential areas, local businesses, corporate headquarters, restaurants, parks, hotels, and other regular traffic along the trail corridor.
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Offers Planning, Publicity, and Flotilla Support The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, has supported the partnership fully since its inception. Providing technical assistance in final route selection, coordinating connections in Pinnacle Mountain State Park, and supporting the upcoming Flotilla on June 24th are just a few of the ways this agency has worked to support partnership goals. Particularly critical to the project’s success, event promotion and media assistance has been provided through this agency. Joe David Rice, Director of Tourism, and Gregg Butts, Director of State Parks, have been instrumental in supporting trail promotion and planning. Lynn Warren, State Parks Planner, and Stan Graves, Director of Planning, have interfaced regularly with Pulaski County officials regarding the final route and connection to the Ouachita Trail, a 223 mile wilderness trail which stretches across the state and into Oklahoma. Lynn has also served on the Public Education and Outreach Committee bringing technical expertise and new resources to the project since its inception. Ian Hope, State Trails Coordinator has promoted the project through the Arkansas Trails Council. Bryan Kellar, Director, Outdoor Recreation Grants, has assisted with bringing national attention to the project. All of these professionals have made significant contributions and facilitated levels of progress seldom achieved during a start-up year.
Hosts and Other Donations Five key agencies are hosting the Flotilla include: Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pulaski County, the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, and the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. Donations of invitations, postage, food, interpretative services, themed barge decorations and beverages are being provided by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, Little Rock Parks and Recreation, North Little Rock, Pulaski County, Macaroni Grill, Southwest Designs, Clear Mountain Springs, the Tourism Foundation, and the Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation.
Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Pulaski County While this report has outlined the work of the Headwaters Partnership with fundraising and education, it is important to note that each of the three agencies responsible for trail construction have been actively working to add new trail, conduct route feasibility and bridge studies, and coordinate needed planning, engineering, and construction at key points along the trail. The City of Little Rock broke ground on a key three-mile section of downtown trail on May 19th to signal beginning construction later this year. Engineering is underway for the section from the Clinton Library to city hall, and final route selection for the connecting piece between city hall and the eastern end of Rebsamen Park is under contract with a local landscape architecture firm. Pulaski County has completed the bid process for construction of the Pulaski County Pedestrian Bridge across Murray Lock and Dam and construction is anticipated to start in late September or early October. Additionally, the county has initiated a feasibility study for a bridge across the mouth of the Little Maumelle River to swing the trail through Two Rivers Park. Approximately 3 miles of trail are currently under construction in the park. The county has contracted with a private firm to develop a comprehensive countywide trails masterplan that will have the Arkansas River Trail system at its core. North Little Rock has announced plans for an Historic Trail of Tears Visitor’s Center and is working hard to complete the proposed Arkansas Inland Marine Museum located on the river along the trail. New trail has been constructed in Emerald Park tying into the North Shore River Trail and plans are in the works to complete a final section of trail to Cook’s Landing.
Accomplishments While everything mentioned in this report is an accomplishment including establishing the Headwaters Partnership, this cooperative effort has generated a multitude of successes worthy of notation. Large or small, each success is a measure of the value of bringing diverse resources and ideologies together to form a consensus and to achieve a common goal impacting generations of future Arkansans. • Passage of a one million nine hundred thousand dollar ($1,900,000) bond issue for trails by the City of Little Rock (2003) • Seven hundred fifty thousand dollar ($750,000) Category A, Trails Appropriation for Little Rock Parks and Recreation by the Arkansas Legislature (2003) • Three hundred fifty thousand dollar ($350,000) fundraising pledge by Heart Clinic Arkansas for construction of the “Medical Mile” stretching from the Clinton Presidential Library westward. • Nine million seven hundred thousand dollar ($9,700,000) funding available for Pulaski County Pedestrian Bridge. Construction begins in Fall, 2004 • Five million dollar ($5,000,000) Rock Island Pedestrian Bridge Project initiated. • Proposed multimillion dollar Arkansas Game & Fish Nature Center relocated to a site in downtown Little Rock along the Arkansas River Trail. • Ninety-six thousand dollar ($96,000) grant received from Metroplan for engineering for the downtown Little Rock section of the Arkansas River Trail • One hundred thirteen thousand three hundred thirty dollar ($113,330) Trails For Life Grant received for the downtown Little Rock section of the Arkansas River Trail • Eight hundred thousand dollar ($800,000) request for funding for land purchase along the Little Rock side of the Arkansas River Trail sponsored by Senator Blanche Lincoln and Congressman Vic Snyder in the new SafeTea Bill under consideration in Congress. • Proposed Historic Trail of Tears Center located in North Little Rock on the North Shore River Trail. • Development of Headwaters Partnership Media Program including 15,000 visitor information brochures and 6,000 project donor brochures. • Creation of a series of four public service announcements by KATV Channel 7 in Little Rock for use by any media outlet in the region. • Development of outreach events (Headwaters Splash (2003), Out For Lunch, Groundbreaking, Flotilla (2004)) to support health/wellness/tourism/environmental conservation and economic development along the completed sections of trail. • Feature article in the National Rails To Trails Conservancy Magazine in Fall 2004. • Establishment of a website at www.rivertrail.org featuring information on the trail, the partners, and ongoing trail construction progress. • Total funding received for trail and bridge construction of approximately $18,000,000 with another $800,000 request pending in Congress. • Economic impact on the region - unknown millions of dollars for construction of the trail, amenities, new tourist destinations, and new business opportunities. • Health impact on the region - Provision of a resource which has been proven in other communities across the United States to positively impact the health and wellness of residents • Environmental conservation impact - New opportunities for nature and avian studies, watchable wildlife interpretation programs, public school science program study sites, greenway development, and additional trail projects. Looking Beyond Today While the first year of the Headwaters Partnership has been a great success, there is still much to be done. With material designed and prepared, support groups, numerous events, and much public education to facilitate, the Headwaters Partnership will begin its second year even busier than the first. Streamlining committees, selecting and meeting key goals, encouraging public participation, and seizing every opportunity to match existing funds with new grants, donations, and resources will be the theme for next year. While encouraged by support from the economic development community, additional outreach and hands-on presentations to developers, corporate executives, business leaders and others are needed to illustrate the value of the trail. Providing key technical assistance to Heart Clinic Arkansas in its fundraising efforts will remain an important part of the project. Through their vision, trails across the country have an opportunity to be impacted by reports of “Doctors Building Trails in Arkansas.” While approximately $18 million dollars has been secured, another $6 million is needed to complete the Arkansas River Trail system. Leverage between public agencies and private organizations sharing costs, providing materials, supporting projects, writing grants, and raising funds will make the completed trail a reality sooner than expected. The Headwaters Partnership for the Arkansas River Trail has shaved years off the Arkansas River Trail construction by bringing attention to the need for this resource. It is hoped that many will remember the spirit of cooperation and groundbreaking new partnerships created by this project.
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