THE FRONT

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.

Maybe it’s like picking your favorite child, but what’s your favorite state park and why?

Of course picking favorites can get me in trouble with our rangers … . I love the parks where the natural, cultural and historical resources collide into one story. Several places come to mind. Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area, Petit Jean State Park or Moro Bay State Park. If I had to choose one, due to the experience I had working at Village Creek State Park, I hold that place near and dear to my heart. The parks and natural areas on the unique geological feature of Crowley’s Ridge are like nowhere else. Plus, the birding in eastern Arkansas is great. AGE: 47

At least in the first year of the pandemic, Arkansas State Parks broke all sorts of records for visitors. Has that trend kept up?

Yes, the trend continues. There’s no doubt that Arkansas State Parks and other outdoor areas have been essential and important spaces during the pandemic. It has been an honor to welcome new guests and visitors that have found us, as well as those that have been guests for much longer. In a record-setting year of 2021, we welcomed over 10 million guests to our parks.

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 FAVORITE OUTDOOR ACTIVITY: Delta Heritage State Park is going to have an Birding, hiking, mountain biking and impact for years to come. This is the single trout fishing largest investment since the building of Mount Magazine State Park. When you bring partners FAVORITE SEASON IN ARKANSAS: to the table, great things can happen. The goal Spring and fall is to have the trail complete early in 2025.

Another significant trend, aided by the Walton Foundation via the Arkansas Parks and Recreation Foundation, has been the creation of the Monument mountain bike trails at a number of parks throughout the state. Are there new trails coming? How have those trails benefited State Parks?

The impact of the Monument Trails is still being realized. At the Monument Trail parks — Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area, Mount Nebo State Park, Devil’s Den State Park and Pinnacle Mountain State Park — the trails have opened the door to a new audience visiting those parks. We are seeing increases in overnight stays at those parks, as well as out-of-state visitors we haven’t attracted before. For example, it is not uncommon to see guests from Memphis at Pinnacle Mountain and guests from Louisiana at Mount Nebo. As far as new trails, yes, we are in the planning and evaluation stage at several locations but no announcements have been made; more to come in 2022. — Austin Bailey

PUMP IT

NEW BIKE TRACK OPENS IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK.

WHEN DAD’S IN CHARGE: Rob Martin takes laps during an outing with his daughter.

The year is young, but you’re probably already going stir crazy. Particularly if you’re a parent of a busy child or a busy child yourself. Get yourself out of the house and onto a bike and try out North Little Rock’s new pump track at Big Rock Quarry. A pump track is a loop of small hills or rollers and berms designed so cyclists can ride it with minimal or no pedaling. The “pump” part of the name refers to the motion that riders use with their handlebars to propel themselves around the track without pedaling.

The city used around $400,000 of American Rescue Plan money to build the asphalt track, which is the first phase of a broader plan that includes everything an adventurous cyclist could want: downhill mountain bike trails, cross country mountain bike skills trails, asphalt flow trails and a bicycle playground. City leaders are actively pursuing grants and private support to move forward.

EARLY BLOOMER: Catherine Martin, 3, can already navigate a pump track on her own.