LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On Tuesday, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism is awarding $4.92 million in Outdoor Recreation Grants to projects within 23 counties across the state. The grants fall into three categories: Facilities for Underdeveloped Neighborhoods (FUN) Park grants, matching grants, and Great Strides.
The Sanders Administration revived Great Strides in 2024 after the program went dormant in 2017, fulfilling one of the recommendations of the Natural State Initiative. The funding for this grant program comes from Arkansas’ Tobacco Settlement Fund.
“This year’s multi-million-dollar investment in playgrounds, park facilities, and trails is helping make every part of Arkansas, especially our smaller communities, a great place to live and raise a family,” said Governor Sanders. “We’re creating more opportunities for kids to get off screens and outdoors, strengthening local communities, and building a healthier, more connected Arkansas.”
“Expanding access to outdoor recreation is a top priority for the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism,” said Secretary Shea Lewis, Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. “Through these grants, we’re helping communities create more opportunities for people to get outside, improve their health and well-being and connect with the natural beauty that defines Arkansas.
“Our team works year-round to expand access to outdoor recreation across Arkansas through these grant programs,” said Katherine Andrews, Director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation. “These investments enhance quality of life, attract visitors and new residents, and support the continued growth of Arkansas’ outdoor economy.”
“Arkansas’s natural beauty is one of its greatest public health assets, providing low-cost, community-driven opportunities for physical activity and social connection,” said Secretary Renee Mallory, Arkansas Department of Health. “Encouraging people to get outside and move remains a simple, proven strategy for improving health, and these grants will help more individuals and families across the state access and enjoy the outdoor spaces that make Arkansas unique.”
For the FUN Park and matching grants, project officers make recommendations regarding the feasibility of proposed facilities, eligibility for grant monies and other facets of the planning process. Each year, nearly 200 site visits are conducted to assist local communities. These awards have helped cities and counties develop public outdoor recreation facilities within their local parks and communities.
The 2026 matching grant recipients are:
- Batesville (Independence County) to install new mountain bike trails in four different areas of the city: Riverside Park, Fitzhugh Park, East Main Soccer Complex, and one green space area with only Green Nature Trails. – $425,000.00
- Eureka Springs (Carroll County) to install a new bathhouse at Lake Leatherwood and ADA access. – $200,000.00
- Greenwood (Sebastian County) to install an inclusive playground. – $494,905.00
- Harrison (Boone County) to replace outdated play equipment with inclusive features and construct a splash pad. – $150,000.00
- Highfill (Benton County) to install a new park with a walking trail, pavilion and restroom, fenced ADA compliant play structure, picnic tables, benches, landscaping, parking, and sidewalks. – $250,000.00
- Pea Ridge (Benton County) for phased construction of a series of soft-surface, multi-purpose community trail system. – $500,000.00
- Pocahontas (Randolph County) to install a new pavilion with ADA restrooms, pave parking and roadway to connect two city parks. – $315,00.00
- Searcy (White County) for phased construction of a series of soft-surface, multi-purpose trails at or adjacent to key destinations at four sites: the grounds of the new community center, the McKnight parcel donated for recreation, Berryhill Park’s adjoining greenspace, and the area adjacent to the community center campus. – $463,505.00
- Sebastian County to install a parking lot and restroom at Massard Prairie Trailhead. – $164,772.50
The 2026 FUN Park grant recipients are:
- Black Rock (Lawrence County) to install a new ADA basketball court and ADA playground in a new park. – $98,625.00
- Blue Mountain (Logan County) to upgrade the playground and provide ADA access at Blue Mountain Park. – $99,960.00
- Corning (Clay County) to install a new toddler and ADA play area at Wynn Park. – $100,000.00
- Etowah (Mississippi County) to repave and extend a walking trail, replace outdated play equipment, provide ADA parking and access, and replace picnic tables and ballfield fence at Etowah Park. – $100,000.00
- Hackett (Sebastian County) to install a new inclusive playground at Hackett City Park. – $100,000.00
- Hardy (Sharp County) to replace flood damaged playground, benches, basketball goal, reconstruct the parking lot and ADA accessibility, and replace metal ceiling of existing pavilion at Loberg Park. – $100,000.00
- Holland (Faulkner County) to replace unsafe and deteriorated play area and improve ADA connectivity at Holland City Park. – $100,000.00
- Menifee (Conway County) to install new playground equipment with ADA accessibility, rubber mulch, and ADA parking/signage at Menifee City Park. – $99,989.51
- Mountain Pine (Garland County) to create the town’s first park by installing an active, inclusive, and ADA compliant recreational space and install sidewalks for connectivity. – $99,986.70
- Norphlet (Union County) to install a new pavilion, accessibility, playground equipment, and replace fall zone material. – $99,430.00
- Wickes (Polk County) to add ADA parking and connectivity, new shade structure, and re-arrange the play equipment and install new ones, replace fall zone material. – $100,000.00
- Willisville (Nevada County) to install a new playground, ADA parking and connectivity, and lighting. – $99,979.00
- Little River County to address drainage issues, resurface existing basketball court, install ADA picnic tables, ADA sidewalks and parking, a new playground, and shade trees. – $100,000.00
- Madison County to install playground structure, ADA compliant picnic table, bench, and sidewalk. – $99,604.39
- Union County to replace outdated playground equipment, ADA sidewalks, and benches. – $99,997.30
The 2026 Great Strides grant recipients are:
- Cherry Valley (Cross County) to construct a 1,650 linear feet asphalt walking trail, an ADA parking area, and install four ADA accessible benches along the walking trail. – $219,240.00
- Holly Grove (Monroe County) to construct a 1,330 linear feet rail in their city park along with added striped ADA parking with aisle and wheel stops to their parking area. – $143,813.00
- Trumann (Poinsett County) to develop 930 linear feet long, 10 feet wide ADA multipurpose trail and 520 square feet of ADA parking space at Betty Street Park. – $100,000.00
Since 1988, Arkansas’ Outdoor Recreation Grants Program has invested more than $80 million in projects across the state, supporting communities through the development of parks, trails, and other public outdoor recreation facilities.
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