THE FRONT Q&A
THE PERKS OF PUBLIC PARKS A Q&A WITH ARKANSAS STATE PARKS DIRECTOR SHEA LEWIS.
While plenty of institutions suffer through this pandemic era, Arkansas State Parks thrives, offering clean, fresh air, plenty of space to social distance and no entry fees. Visitor numbers are way up, and the trend shows no signs of slowing. As the new director of the Arkansas State Parks system, Hot Springs resident Shea Lewis aims to keep the momentum going. A 24-year veteran of Arkansas State Parks, Lewis claimed his new post Jan. 1, taking the place of retiring longtime director Grady Spann.
AGE: 47 FAVORITE OUTDOOR ACTIVITY: Birding, hiking, mountain biking and trout fishing
Perhaps the biggest news in many years for Arkansas State Parks was the award of $20.5 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which, coupled with a matching grant from the Walton Family Foundation, will allow the state to finish the Delta Heritage Trail. What’s the timeline on that and what will that trail mean for the state? This investment in the Arkansas Delta and at Delta Heritage State Park is going to have an impact for years to come. This is the single largest investment since the building of Mount Magazine State Park. When you bring partners to the table, great things can happen. The goal is to have the trail complete early in 2025.
Maybe it’s like picking your favorite child, but what’s your favorite state park and why? FAVORITE SEASON IN ARKANSAS: Of course picking favorites can get me in trouSpring and fall ble with our rangers … . I love the parks where the natural, cultural and historical resources collide into one story. Several places come to Another significant trend, aided by the Walton mind. Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area, Foundation via the Arkansas Parks and RecrePetit Jean State Park or Moro Bay State Park. ation Foundation, has been the creation of the If I had to choose one, due to the experience I Monument mountain bike trails at a number had working at Village Creek State Park, I hold of parks throughout the state. Are there new that place near and dear to my heart. The parks and natural areas on trails coming? How have those trails benefited State Parks? the unique geological feature of Crowley’s Ridge are like nowhere else. The impact of the Monument Trails is still being realized. At the Plus, the birding in eastern Arkansas is great. Monument Trail parks — Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area, Mount Nebo State Park, Devil’s Den State Park and Pinnacle Mountain State At least in the first year of the pandemic, Arkansas State Parks Park — the trails have opened the door to a new audience visiting broke all sorts of records for visitors. Has that trend kept up? those parks. We are seeing increases in overnight stays at those Yes, the trend continues. There’s no doubt that Arkansas State Parks parks, as well as out-of-state visitors we haven’t attracted before. For and other outdoor areas have been essential and important spaces example, it is not uncommon to see guests from Memphis at Pinnacle during the pandemic. It has been an honor to welcome new guests and Mountain and guests from Louisiana at Mount Nebo. As far as new visitors that have found us, as well as those that have been guests for trails, yes, we are in the planning and evaluation stage at several locamuch longer. In a record-setting year of 2021, we welcomed over 10 tions but no announcements have been made; more to come in 2022. million guests to our parks. — Austin Bailey ARKANSASTIMES.COM
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