Jonesboro lands $557,000 in federal grants

by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) 154 views 

Jonesboro received $557,000 in federal grants Wednesday to build sidewalks, finish a phase of a walking and biking trail, and other projects, according to the city.

About $359,000 will be used to complete phase three of the Greenway Trail. It will add 4,900-feet to the trail, extending from the back entrance of Craighead Forest Park to Harrisburg Road. Phase one has already been completed, and phase two, a bicycle path around the park, is still under construction. The grants were approved through the Arkansas Highway Commission.

“This is a perfect example of why we spend time fostering relationships with state leaders,” Mayor Harold Perrin said. “It allows us to do things that cities could never do with sales tax dollars alone.”

The city will spend $109,000 of the grant money to build fences and gates to enclose the ATV section of the park from the rest of Craighead Forest, according to the city. Nearly $99,000 will be used to replace sidewalks on Rains Street and Thom Street.