Accomplishments Update - August 31, 2004

The Headwaters Partnership for the Arkansas River Trail has been nominated for a prestigious "Innovation in Prevention" National Award presented by the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. Several key federal agencies have agreed to support our nomination based on the partnership's notable successes. Last year only eight projects in the nation were awarded this honor.

Our project is unique in that it marries the need for improved public health with a specific outdoor recreation activity (trail use) and is, if not the single best, certainly one of the best, current national examples of what can happen through effective public/private partnering to accomplish a desired goal. Our project exemplifies the President's Healthier US and Get Fit with US initiatives.

Because of this honor, there may be future opportunities for health research and special studies to determine the impact of trail use upon selected groups of our citizens.