| Arkansas River Trail | |
| Length Mi: | 14 |
| Use: | Hiking, Cycling, Jogging |
| Elev Change: | negligible |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
| Season: | All |
| Sights: | Arkansas River, Pinnacle Mountain, Big Rock, the Little Rock, William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park, The Medical Mile, the Big Dam Bridge, North Little Rock's Burns Park |
The Arkansas River Trail is a rail trail that runs in along both sides of the Arkansas River in Central Arkansas.
The Arkansas River Trail began with funding from a $1.9 million bond issue from the city of Little Rock in 2003. The trail includes a portion of the Little Rock & Western Railway. The former railbed is still in use by the railroad and operates adjacent to the trail.[1]
Both former railroad bridges have been converted into pedestrian and bicycling bridges. The Junction Bridge opened in May 2008; the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge, named after former U.S. president Bill Clinton, opened in October 2011.[2] Both connect the two cities' riverfront parks. The Junction Bridge is accessed via stairs and elevators.
The Junction Bridge was originally constructed in 1884 as a railroad bridge. As a pedestrian bridge, it is lit with hundreds of colored lights at night.
Renovation work on the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge began in May 2010.[3] The railroad bridge, originally constructed in 1899 as the Rock Island Bridge,[4] is the eastern pedestrian and bicycle connection for the River Trail.
Renovation work on the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge cost $10.5 million and was funded by a mix of funds including $4 million from the Clinton Foundation, $2.5 million of federal stimulus money, $2 million from the Commerce Department, $1 million from the city of Little Rock, and $750,000 from the city of North Little Rock.[5]
At 4,226 feet long, the Big Dam Bridge is the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge in North America which was built specifically for that use. It connects Little Rock with North Little Rock.[6]
Of the three railroad spans in the downtown area one is still in use by the Union Pacific Railroad (UP). UP gave tentative approval to build a small bridge near the Little Rock Amtrak station.