Jonesboro Secures Grant for New Park Trail

The city will build a 1.5-mile paved walkway to increase pedestrian access to Craighead Forest Park.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Hiking

Bold vector editorial illustration showing a paved trail winding into a dense forest, representing improved pedestrian access to a park. — The City of Jonesboro secured a $977,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Transportation to build a new pedestrian walkway connecting to Craighead Forest Park. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Jonesboro received a $977,000 Transportation Alternatives Program grant from the Arkansas Department of Transportation to build a new pedestrian path. The project will construct a 10-foot-wide walkway along South Culberhouse Street to improve safety and accessibility.

Why it matters

Currently, the entrance to the popular Craighead Forest Park is only accessible by car despite seeing over 100,000 annual visitors. This project aims to provide residents with safe, non-vehicular transportation options to reach the park.

The new 10-foot-wide path will span approximately 1.5 miles along the east side of South Culberhouse Street. This infrastructure will connect directly to an existing trail along Southern Ridge Boulevard.

The players

Arkansas Department of Transportation

The state agency responsible for the planning, design, and construction of Arkansas transportation infrastructure.

Craighead Forest Park

A popular recreation area in Jonesboro that attracts more than 100,000 visitors every year.

The details

The city plans to build this paved walkway starting at the main entrance to Craighead Forest. Future expansions aim to connect this path to a trail north of Southwest Drive, eventually creating a continuous route from the park to the Hilltop area.

Grant funding for the trail project was announced on October 29, 2026.

Culture Shift

This project reflects a broader move toward active transportation and the creation of pedestrian corridors in growing urban areas. By utilizing the Transportation Alternatives Program, the city is prioritizing human-scale transit over car-dependent infrastructure.

Once completed, this trail will offer residents a safe, paved path to reach Craighead Forest Park on foot or bicycle. The connection to the existing Southern Ridge Boulevard trail will expand the local walking network for daily commuters and outdoor enthusiasts.

The takeaway

Expanding trail networks provides essential safety benefits for communities located near high-traffic areas. Residents can look forward to increased outdoor recreation opportunities once the connection between South Culberhouse Street and the forest entrance is established.