Twin Lakes Area residents will soon see new construction underway on the Arkansas State University-Mountain Home campus thanks to grants, university funding and some very generous benefactors.The Arkansas State University Board of Trustees gave the final approval on the projects last month.
A walking/biking trail is anticipated to be 1 mile in length and will be constructed as a 10-foot wide, asphalt surface with marked biking lanes. The cost of the construction is estimated to be under $375,000. The Arkansas Department of Transportation awarded the school a $76,000 grant in late 2018. The auxiliary fund and plant and loans fund will be utilized for the project, to be repaid from a pending planned gift from a donor.
Chancellor Robin Myers says the trail is something that has been in the works for many years. The original master plan for the campus produced in 1999 included the trail. Myers on the current status of the walking/biking trail.
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The other new feature planned for the campus is an outdoor amphitheater with a stage, suitable for large, outdoor events. The genesis of the amphitheater came from Lt. Col. Mary Walker, who wanted to see outdoor cultural events come to Mountain Home. Walker and her husband, Bob, pledged $200,000 to the project midway through 2019, with Kenny and Laura Newth stepping up to provide another $200,000 gift to help make the project a reality.
Myers updates the amphitheater project.
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There are many current events that could utilize the amphitheater, and new events could be brought to the campus, Myers says.
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Myers discusses the benefit of the two projects.
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Two sites remain under consideration for the location of the amphitheater.
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