FCRA approves trail funding, extends development time

The Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority Board of Trustees on Thursday (July 18) agreed to put $25,000 toward trails connecting Chaffee Crossing to Greenwood. The money would support an effort by Sebastian County to extend trails.

Specifically, the $25,000 would support the Sebastian County Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) grant. The county has applied for the grant to pay for a master plan and initial civil engineering for trails that would connect Chaffee Crossing to Greenwood and eventually to connect to Bob Boyer Park in Midland. Long-term, the trails could connect further in Sebastian County to trails managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

The grant application is for Phase One of the project, approximately nine miles connecting Chaffee to Greenwood. The cost for a master plan for Phase One of the is estimated to be $200,000 with another $200,000 for the initial civil engineering, for a total cost of $400,000, according to the project presentation included in the FCRA board meeting package.

An $80,000 match is required if the grant is awarded. Sebastian County has pledged $30,000 of that match, according to Jay Randolph, Sebastian County parks administrator. The City of Barling has pledged $25,000 for matching funds, and the FCRA money will meet the remaining part of the match.

Daniel Mann, FCRA executive director and CEO, said the funds would only be needed if the grant was awarded.

“This is a great project. It goes back to improving quality of life to keep talent and attract talent to the area. You have to have trails and other amenities,” Randolph said. “It helps the community by promoting wellness and physical and mental wellbeing.”

The trails may be able to use about 0.9 a mile of abandoned railway beds between Fort Smith and Greenwood for a rail to trails feature, he said. Randolph did not know how much it would cost to construct the trails. He said the master plan would be able to calculate that figure.

The FCRA board also voted to give automatic up to 180-day extensions to any contracts for property that have deadlines for construction improvements coming due in the next few months.

The board discussed raising fees for contract extensions on developing sold property, but board members said higher interest rates and inflation have made it difficult for some property owners to make planned property improvements.

“I understand the developers’ perspective. Interest rates have gone up. There are roadblocks. I’d like to find a way to get around the roadblocks,” said Trustee Scott Archer.  “In the current environment people are skittish about dropping money in investment to move their property along. This needs to wait until after the first of the year.”