| News from Arkansas State University For Release: June 22, 2002 |
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| News from Arkansas State University For Release: June 22, 2002 |
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University Communications Office Jonesboro, Arkansas Staff: Tom Moore Straley Snipes Vic Nelson 870-972-3056 fax 870-972-3069 Send mail: ASUnews@astate.edu Links: List of News/Announcements Upcoming Public Events About ASU ASU Home Page |
Great
River Road Celebration Tour set for 18 stops in Eastern Arkansas Schedule of Events A Great River Road Celebration Tour, with stops in 18 towns in Eastern Arkansas, will be conducted July 8-10, according to Dr. Ruth A. Hawkins, executive director of Arkansas Delta Byways at Arkansas State University. The Great River Road in Arkansas was declared a National Scenic Byway by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta on June 13. The route through 10 counties in Eastern Arkansas is part of a 10-state route, from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, along both sides of the Mississippi River. Arkansas joins Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and part of Missouri in achieving this national recognition for their segments of the route. More than 200 volunteers along the Arkansas route were involved in developing the nomination and a long-range plan for the route. The assessment included identification of natural, cultural, archeological, historic, recreational and scenic assets along the route, along with improvements that should be made. "The designation will have a major impact on the region," Hawkins said. "Not only will it involve national promotion of the region, thus attracting more visitors, but it will make us eligible to apply for competitive grants to do many of the projects identified along the route." A highlight of the stops will be introduction of the "fresh-off-the-press" 2002-2003 Arkansas Delta Byways Tourist Association visitors’ guide, the first to feature The Great River Road as a National Scenic Byway. Stops also will include announcement of the latest tourism statistics for the Arkansas Delta Byways region, recently announced by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. The tour will include representatives from the Mississippi River Parkway Commission (official organization for The Great River Road), Arkansas Delta Byways (regional tourism promotion association serving the 15 counties in Eastern Arkansas), Arkansas State University (coordinator for the National Scenic Byway application and Corridor Management Plan), Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, and city and county officials. July 8 stops along the route will include Blytheville, Osceola, Marion, West Memphis, Hughes and Forrest City. Stops on July 9 will be in Brinkley, Marianna, Helena, St. Charles, Stuttgart and DeWitt. Towns visited July 10 will be Monticello, Dumas, Arkansas City, McGehee, Lake Village and Eudora. # # # |
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