New Razorback Greenway trailhead to open at Lake Springdale
by October 5, 2015 5:40 pm 289 views
Springdale announced the opening of its new lighted trailhead that links the city’s mountain bike trail with the Razorback Greenway at Lake Springdale.
The Lake Springdale Trailhead was constructed by Boulder Construction at a cost of $600,000. It includes a small plaza area with pavilion, drinking fountain, pet bowl, a 55-space parking lot and bicycle repair station.
The Illinois River Watershed Partnership will be planting 25 additional trees with the help of School of Innovations EAST students and the Kawneer Company. Installation of a rain garden and a bio swale will be completed in the following weeks. A kiosk, wayfinding signage and regulatory signs will be installed to complete the project. The construction cost of the trailhead was provided by a grant from the Endeavor Foundation, Transportation Alternative Program funds administered by the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, and a grant from the Illinois River Watershed Partnership.
The trailhead and mountain bike park represent the first phase of a multi-phase project that will ultimately provide biking enthusiasts access to soft surface trails across more than 200 acres west of the Razorback Regional Greenway.
The Springdale Mountain Bike Trail was built at a cost of $1,050,000 with funds provided by the Walton Family Foundation on land provided by the Springdale Water and Sewer Commission. Phase One includes a coaster-like experience with up and down grades; a downhill flow trail as well as pumptrack that is a closed-circuit track that allows riders to generate speed with out peddling. There is also a skills course that provides several elevated features to teach balance and technical bike handling.
Construction is also complete on a re-route of the Razorback Regional Greenway on the south side of Lake Springdale. Completed by Sweetser Construction, Inc. at a cost of $80,000, relocation was needed to relieve potential conflicts between pedestrians, bikers and fisherman at the lake and to update that portion of the trail to the same quality and standard as the Greenway. The relocated trail also allows for a direct access from the lake to the wildlife observation deck and Rabbit’s Foot Lodge.