An unassuming plot at the corner of John and Second streets in Little Rock will soon mark the beginning of the new Southeast Trail.
Pulaski County and city officials officially announced the new walking, jogging and biking trail Wednesday morning in front of an appropriately large dirt pile and a track hoe.
A small crowd was in attendance for the announcement, seated in metal chairs positioned in a tuft of thick grass near blooming daffodils. In about a year, a 12-foot-wide paved pedestrian trail will cut through this land and link the Arkansas River Trail to eastern sections of the city.
Mayor Frank Scott Jr., who often mentions the importance of providing more amenities that enhance residents’ quality of life in Little Rock, said the Southeast Trail is critical for connecting communities.
“We are all making a decision on where we want to live, where we want to age, by having more quality-of-place amenities,” he said. “… One of those amenities is this, this off-street recreational trail that’s connected to the East End Park. That is vital.”
The first phase of the project is expected to stretch for about a half-mile from John Street over the levee along the Arkansas River and connect to a trailhead near the East Little Rock Community Center before stopping at Sixth Street.
Construction for the first mile of the project is slated to cost $1.3 million, said David Hopkins, the city’s civil engineering manager. About 80% of that cost is covered with federal transportation funds, Hopkins said, with the remaining paid for with local dollars split between the city and the county.
Burkhalter Technologies, a paving contractor based in North Little Rock, was tapped for the construction job.
Eventually through two more phases of construction, the Southeast Trail is expected to connect to the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, the Little Rock Port and the David D. Terry Dam site.
Charlie Hart, a 67-year-old cyclist, came to the trail announcement before he set out on a 40-mile ride he had planned for the day from Argenta to the new Pinnacle Mountain Visitors Center. Hart said he has been looking forward to a connection out east for a long time, and he’s excited about an off-road option to avoid traffic.
Hart’s cycling pals George Collins, 68, and Steve Shepherd, 77, were also showing support for the new trail on Wednesday. The trio agreed that cycling keeps them young, and that a good ride after a bad day can always improve their spirits.
The starting point for the trail is pretty close to a handful of restaurants — Sterling Market, Fidel and Co. and The Rail Yard — and the Heifer International campus. The area already seems bike-friendly, with racks available outside and some places to park cars.