Arkansas Heritage SITES Office to host a meeting discussing creation of bicycling route on Crowley's Ridge Byway Jan. 14

Jan. 6, 2010 -- The Arkansas Heritage SITES Office at Arkansas State University will host a meeting to discuss the possibility of creating a bicycling route along the entire length of the Crowley’s Ridge Parkway National Scenic Byway.  The meeting will be held on Thursday, Jan. 14, at 7 p.m., at the Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce, 1709 East Nettleton Avenue.

The route along Crowley’s Ridge is being considered as an official segment of the Mississippi River Trail (MRT), a 10-state biking route from Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico below New Orleans, along both sides of the Mississippi River. Terri Eastin, director of MRT, Inc., will serve as the meeting’s facilitator. MRT, Inc. focuses on identifying and signing the route and encouraging use through all 10 states.

MRT, Inc. and the Arkansas Heritage SITES Office are seeking input from cyclists and others regarding favorite routes along the ridge, possible deviations from the official National Scenic Byway route, safety issues, and other ideas for developing the route.

“We especially want to work with groups such as the Northeast Arkansas Bicycle Coalition, the Ridge Riders Athletic Club, and others who have direct experience in biking along Crowley’s Ridge,” said Dr. Ruth Hawkins, Arkansas Heritage SITES director. “We want to develop a route that provides safe and enjoyable experiences for cyclists of varying skills levels.”

MRT board members and other interested cyclists from the 10-state MRT area also hope to conduct a test ride of the Arkansas segment of the Crowley’s Ridge route in April.  Those interested in assisting with planning for this ride also are encouraged to attend the meeting.

For more information, or to RSVP, contact Dr. Ruth Hawkins (rhawkins@astate.edu) at (870) 972-2803.
 

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