Searcy is introducing rock climbing, rafting, and mountain biking to Riverside Park

Searcy, Arkansas – The city of Searcy wants to lead the way in a well-liked pastime in Arkansas. In some areas of the state, mountain riding has been popular for years. Riverside Park is currently working hard to establish itself as a major player in the outdoor leisure area.

Richard Stafford, the director of planning and development for Searcy, has shown the 200 acres to members of neighboring outdoor recreation communities, who have told him that Searcy is “sitting on a gold mine.”

Stafford explained, “Probably one of our biggest jewels of outside promotion bringing people into the town.”

In order to attract visitors from all around Arkansas and beyond to Searcy, he said, the new mountain bike skills course and trail is the first in a planned series of new recreational possibilities financed by a bond authorized by voters in 2023.

“You can go to a place to go rock climbing, mountain biking, or white water rafting in Northwest Arkansas, but you’re going to drive probably about 20 minutes between all of those places,” Stafford said. “But at Riverside, this is 200 acres that has all of those three things.”

In contrast to typical projects, Drew Friday and his buddies used existing Advertising & Promotion tax revenues to assist build the mountain bike track in addition to having residents pitch it.

All of us are volunteers. We simply love doing it and want to see it flourish here, thus we weren’t compensated for it,” Friday stated.

The route is intended for novices, but as riders develop confidence, there are a few more difficult skills and a mile or so of woodland terrain.

Friday said, “There’s a lot here, and it’s cool to see because nobody really knows that this park exists.”

Searcy purchased land near the newly designated Interstate 57 to create an entrance to Riverside Park from Highway 13 in order to facilitate access to the hidden gem.

“Come on and give it a try,” Friday said. “You like it if you do.” It’s probably not for you if it makes you extremely afraid.

The new course will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday at 10 a.m.