RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. \u2014 Russellville\u2019s growing trail system has a new addition, offering hikers and cyclists a route from a residential neighborhood up through the woods to Skyline Drive, with scenic views of the city along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RussVegas Ridge officially opened Thursday, Oct. 15, with a ribbon cutting attended by city staff, local cyclists and community members who gathered to celebrate the completion of the nearly mile-long trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trail begins near the intersection of West 12th Street and Inglewood and winds up the hillside toward Skyline Drive. Along the route, visitors will encounter switchbacks, resting areas, a bridge crossing a ravine and several opportunities to enjoy views overlooking Russellville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
City Council member Chris Olson, who has been involved in the project, said the trail was designed to accommodate more than just mountain bikers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s for hiking as well as biking,\u201d Olson said. \u201cWe want people to hike, use it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Olson said the trail has a grade of approximately 4%, providing a manageable climb for recreational users. Trailforks, an online trail mapping service, classifies RussVegas Ridge as a green-rated, family-friendly trail suitable for mountain biking, hiking and trail running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Affordable Trail Solutions constructed the trail over the summer, but bringing the project to completion required the involvement of several organizations and community partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Olson said part of the funding came from the RussVegas Foot Races Foundation, which had money remaining after the organization ended its operations. Organizers wanted to direct those funds toward a project that continued the foundation\u2019s original mission of encouraging physical activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur vision in the very beginning was to get people moving off the couch,\u201d Olson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The foundation approached Ozark Off-Road Cyclists about developing the trail. Olson credited Blake Slater and the organization with helping bring the project together, including coordinating the professional trail construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also thanked the Lamoureux family for its cooperation in providing access to the land needed to connect the two ends of the trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Thursday\u2019s ribbon cutting marked the official opening of RussVegas Ridge, Olson said the trail represents another step toward a much larger vision for Russellville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new route connects the city\u2019s existing multi-use trail network at the bottom of the hill with Skyline Drive at the top, and additional connections are planned in both directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the lower end, Russellville\u2019s trail system already extends toward Kroger. Olson said grant funding has been secured for another extension that will eventually connect the route to downtown Russellville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll be able to ride here to downtown without getting on a city street,\u201d Olson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the upper end, another approved grant will fund a connection between RussVegas Ridge and Pine Knob Mountain Bike Park, located within Confederate Mothers Memorial Park. Longer-term plans also call for potential trail connections extending toward the Lock and Dam area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These projects are part of a broader citywide effort to develop an interconnected network of trails linking neighborhoods, schools, parks, shopping areas and other destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russellville\u2019s Connected Trail System initiative has identified numerous proposed improvements, including routes along Prairie Creek, downtown connections and trails extending south toward Old Post Park and the Arkansas River.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The goal is not simply to create additional recreational trails, but to develop a network that also gives residents opportunities to travel across the city by bicycle or on foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the meantime, RussVegas Ridge offers another outdoor recreation option while filling an important gap in the planned trail network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Olson said residents were already showing enthusiasm for the new trail before its official opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople have already been using it, even though it said closed,\u201d he said. \u201cSo that\u2019s always a good sign. That means you put it in the right place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n