2025 Close the Loop - Next Steps
The City of Little Rock has developed several proposals to complete the Arkansas River Trail loop and recently held an initial meeting with Dillard’s management. According to reports, the meeting was productive, and the city is now refining its plans to address concerns raised by Dillard’s. This progress signals the city’s willingness to advance a solution through this critical and currently hazardous section of the trail. Or does it?
We anticipate sharing updates on the final draft plans soon. In the meantime, you can learn more about the history and goals of our efforts to improve this segment of the trail on our Phase One page.
Scroll down to learn about Phase Two.
Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas continues to advocate for the completion of a safe and enjoyable bicycle and pedestrian connection along the Arkansas River Trail between North Street and the Gill Street Bridge on Highway 10. This segment has been the central focus of the Close the Loop movement for more than two decades. While progress has been made, the project is not yet complete. We will return to this effort shortly, but first, here are several other initiatives BACA is actively pursuing:
Directional Signage on the Arkansas River Trail
Directional signage remains limited or missing along much of the Arkansas River Trail, particularly on the Little Rock side. BACA leadership has been working in collaboration with Metroplan and the City of Little Rock to address this issue by adding signage and improving public communication regarding trail maintenance and temporary closures.
Other Incomplete Sections of the Arkansas River Trail
In Little Rock, two key trail segments remain incomplete and present safety concerns for both visitors and local users. These include the section between the roundabout on Riverfront Drive and the Gill Street Bridge, and the stretch between the area behind Little Rock City Hall and North Street at the Union Pacific railroad bridge. Currently, the City of Little Rock has no plans or funding allocated for the Riverfront Drive segment. The city is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate options for the North Street segment.
Trail Maintenance in Little Rock
BACA has communicated with the City of Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department regarding maintenance needs along the Arkansas River Trail. According to the department, repaving and other improvements would require external grant funding, which would involve a multi-year process to secure.
Close the Loop Progress
In late July, BACA representatives Jeffery Borg and Joe Jacobs met with Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott to discuss the next steps toward completing the Close the Loop project. During last year’s unsuccessful sales tax election campaign, the public was led to believe that the entire project was fully funded. In reality, only the design phase received funding. According to Mayor Scott, no funds are currently allocated for construction. When asked about pursuing grant opportunities, BACA representatives were advised to seek private financial support to help cover project costs.
Shortly after the meeting the Arkansas Times ran the following article: https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2025/08/04/river-trail-travail-after-two-decades-can-we-finally-close-the-loop
Below is a letter template that you can send to the Mayor. Feel free to cut and paste or rewrite to personalize the letter and send it to his email or his office. Make sure to include your name and address. Thank you.
The Honorable Frank Scott, Jr.
Mayor of Little Rock
500 W. Markham Street, Room 203
Little Rock, AR 72201
Subject: Urgent Need to Fund the Close the Loop Project
Dear Mayor Scott,
On behalf of Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas (BACA) and the many residents and visitors who depend on the Arkansas River Trail for recreation, active transportation, and quality of life, I am writing to respectfully urge your administration to prioritize funding for the completion of the Close the Loop project.
As you are well aware, the missing segment of the Arkansas River Trail between North Street and the Gill Street Bridge remains one of the most glaring and dangerous gaps in our city’s trail network. For over two decades, this project has symbolized the promise of a fully connected, safe, and accessible route for pedestrians and cyclists across our city and region. The current conditions are not only unsafe, but they also send the wrong message about our city’s commitment to livability, connectivity, and equitable access to outdoor spaces.
When the proposed sales tax increase was defeated last year, voters sent a clear and direct message: fix what’s broken before building something new. In many ways, the Close the Loop project is not a new amenity it is a long-overdue repair to one of the largest “potholes” in our city’s infrastructure. Completing this project is not just about recreation. It’s about safety, connectivity, economic vitality, and honoring the decades of work and community input that have brought us to this point.
We understand that funding is always a challenge, but we ask that your office demonstrate bold leadership and creativity in identifying resources to move this project beyond the design phase. Whether through city funds, state or federal grants, private partnerships, or philanthropic support, there are solutions and we believe this project is worthy of pursuing every option available.
Little Rock has made great strides in recent years to become a more bikeable, walkable, and livable city. Completing the Arkansas River Trail loop would be a powerful and visible testament to that progress. We are ready to support your efforts, collaborate with your team, and help make this project a reality.
Thank you for your continued service and leadership. We urge you to champion this critical infrastructure improvement and take the next steps toward closing the loop.
Sincerely,