Ozan among 4 Arkansas cities awarded Great Strides, Trails for Life grants

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism’s Office of Outdoor Recreation — Outdoor Recreation Grants Program is administering the Great Strides grant program for the Arkansas Department of Health.

The Great Strides Program has been in existence since 2001 and was funded with a portion of Arkansas’s Master Tobacco Settlement award. These grant funds are used to establish smoke-free health and fitness trails with the intention to encourage physical activity and health-related benefits by providing safe and easily accessible facilities to the many communities in Arkansas.

Since 2001, the Great Strides program has funded 105 projects in 58 counties, totaling $3,832,315.60. The agency received 39 grant applications from across the state totaling $6,264,285.49 in requested funds for fiscal year 2025.

The Great Strides/Trails for Life Grant recipients for FY2025 are:

Denning (Franklin County) to provide the citizens of Denning with a pathway to better health by constructing a walking trail around Denning Town Park.

Keo (Lonoke County) to give the citizens of Keo a recreational opportunity that is not available by creating a walking trail in downtown Keo City Park.

Ozan (Hempstead County) to build a much-needed concrete ADA-accessible walking trail in the newly created Ozan Town Park.

Sulphur Springs (Benton County) to add a walking trail at Sulphur Springs City Park and give citizens a low-impact option for outdoor exercise.

The Outdoor Recreation Grants Program (ORGP) resides within the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism’s Office of Outdoor Recreation and is tasked with the promotion and facilitation of public outdoor recreation in Arkansas. To help accomplish these goals, the ORGP offers technical and funding assistance for land acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation facilities to local governments throughout the state.

Funding for matching and FUN Park grants is provided by a portion of the Real Estate Transfer Tax administered by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Visit the website to learn more about the ORGP or call Terrance Youngblood at 501-682-1227.