Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR) along with other state and local officials spoke about the Great Strides Program and praised its impact on local communities.
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00:00All right, good morning everyone. It's great to be here at the Division of Arkansas Heritage,
00:08Division of the Department of Arkansas Parks, Heritage and Tourism. So thank you for being
00:12here today. It's a great day. Any day that we have the opportunity to share in the outdoor
00:18recreation experience across our state, share the resources that our department's been granted
00:25to or with to share across our state is a great day. So thank you for being here. Today's event is
00:33to celebrate the Great Strides program, which is a partnership between the Arkansas Department of
00:38Parks, Heritage and Tourism and the Department of Health. So we're excited to be here today.
00:43These grants exemplify our shared commitment to enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities
00:51all across Arkansas. And so through this program, we're investing in the development and expansion
00:58of our network of trails across our state, preserving the natural beauty and making our
01:04diverse landscapes more accessible and enjoyable for everyone. So across our state, from scenic
01:11greenways, these projects not only encourage people to explore the outdoors, but they also
01:18promote a healthier, active lifestyle for our residents and our visitors. Working with the
01:25Department of Health, we can leverage each other's specialized knowledge and skills, leading to better
01:30results that benefit the state of Arkansas. This work aligns perfectly with the work of Governor
01:37Sanders' Natural State Initiative. When Governor Sanders created the Natural State Initiative, which is
01:43being led by the first gentleman Brian Sanders, it was a bold vision to elevate Arkansas's outdoor economy
01:50and position our state as a leader in outdoor recreation. We continue to see the initiative work
01:56well. And part of the goals of the Natural State Initiative was to break down silos between departments.
02:02And this is an example of that. We've been fortunate to work with the Department of Commerce, Arkansas Game and Fish
02:09Commission, the Department of Health, all of these opportunities for the benefit of our state.
02:17And as part of that vision, programs like Great Strides are helping turn recommendations into reality
02:24by funding projects that get our Kansans outdoor and active. And that's really what we're trying to do,
02:31is not just have a group that works together and talks about things, but really sees the opportunity
02:37of how our state, how our state agencies can work together to follow through. When we support outdoor recreation,
02:44we're doing more than improving parks and pathways. We're investing in public health, economic growth,
02:51and quality of life. I often say that the Department of Arkansas Heritage is in the business of quality
02:58of life in Arkansas. I feel like I have one of the greatest jobs in the state of Arkansas, and the opportunity
03:03of how we preserve and protect and interpret the natural, historical, and cultural resources of our
03:09state, but also provide those opportunities for Arkansans to enjoy those as well. Our Office of Outdoor
03:15Recreation team, as well as the community leaders, planners, and partners who are making these projects
03:22possible, thank you. Your dedication to helping Arkansans take great strides towards a brighter,
03:28healthier future. Now please join me in welcoming Secretary Renee Mallory with the Arkansas Department
03:35of Health. Good morning. The Arkansas Department of Health is thrilled to once again partner with the
03:46Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism to grant awards in communities around our state and
03:52enable accessibility for outdoor activities. Designated outdoor trails and walking paths leads to healthier
04:00communities. Since its establishment in 2001 from the Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act, this grant program
04:07has allowed funding to go directly to communities to design health and fitness trails for everyone.
04:15This includes accessible parking spaces and trails compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
04:21Additionally, we incorporate our Be Well Arkansas signage to encourage tobacco cessation and healthy
04:27interventions in these public spaces. Outdoor trails can improve our physical, mental, social, and wellness
04:35health. This well-being allows us to keep improving and making choices for a healthier lifestyle for
04:41ourselves, our families, and our communities. Our goal is for these grant awards to continue to positively
04:48impact the health of Arkansas communities. Some benefits of outdoor exercise trails are it encourages exercise
04:55for all fitness levels. It increases energy, boosts moods, and restores attention. It reduces stress and calms
05:03anxiety. It improves immunity, lowers cholesterol levels, and protects against chronic disease like heart
05:09disease, diabetes, and obesity. Congratulations to all these well-deserved projects awarded this year. We
05:17encourage all of our communities to promote more outdoor fitness and exercise access through this
05:23beneficial grant program. Okay, so now to the really good stuff. Please join me in welcoming the first
05:31woman to serve as governor of our great state, the youngest governor in the country, and the 47th governor of
05:40Arkansas. And I will add the best boss ever, Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
05:50Clearly she has to say really nice things, but this is definitely not the good part of today. The good part of
05:57today is that we have four amazing communities here in the state that are going to get just a little bit better.
06:03And one of the things that I love so much about what this program does is the way that it invests in some
06:11of the communities around our state, that we want to make sure that they have those same quality of life
06:19components that some of the bigger cities that you may see. The trails here in Little Rock and Bentonville,
06:26but we want every single person in the state to have access to get outside, get moving, and have a
06:33healthier lifestyle. And that's what I love about this program and what it will represent in each of
06:39these communities. I'm proud of the fact that in a little over a year, this Great Strides program had
06:47kind of stopped operating. And through the natural state initiative, this was one of the recommendations
06:54that my husband and the team put forward and said, we have money coming into this through the tobacco
07:00settlement fund, but we don't have money going out. We need to revive this program and start investing in
07:05some of these communities again. And so in the last year and a half, we will have recognized and awarded a
07:13little over a million dollars to 11 towns here in the state of Arkansas, which will get people outside,
07:20hopefully a love and appreciation for all things in the natural state. And one of the things that I
07:27think makes this so special and unique is that it is accessible to everyone. We want any person in the
07:34state, whatever skill level and whatever challenges you may have, have the opportunity to get outside and
07:41enjoy the great outdoors. My husband and I have very different skill levels. He can run up and down a
07:48mountain many times over, fly down it on a bike. I'm much more in line with the announcements that we're
07:57making today on the kind of flat paved walking trails are a little bit more my speed. And so another
08:04reason I love this program is that it's something that every single person can take part in and enjoy.
08:11And that's one of the things that makes it so unique. Thankful for the incredible leadership
08:15that we have and the great partnership. This is how government is supposed to work is to bring all
08:22of our partners together from multiple different agencies, as well as our city, our county officials.
08:29This is everybody coming together and really seeing the success of a program. And Secretary Mallory,
08:35Secretary Shea Lewis and Catherine Andrews do such a great job of partnering together and just getting
08:41the job done. And I'm thankful for their leadership and their work to make not just this program,
08:47but so many other great things that take place across our state happen every day, many of which
08:52they never get recognition for. So thank you for all the great work you're doing. And with that,
08:57I say we give out some money and get to work. Thank you to the communities because while we do the easy
09:05part of handing out the the checks, you're the ones that actually have to put it into practice
09:11and see these projects come to fruition. And so thank you for your work, your dedication,
09:17and we look forward to visiting your communities and seeing the great projects that come from today.
09:22So thanks for being here. And thank you again to the team who's helped make it happen.
09:44Again, congratulations to all awardees. When I call your name, please line up on the right side and
09:49be prepared to get your check and take a picture with with these lovely representatives here. City of Denning.
10:05The City of Denning was awarded $73,897.50 and they will provide the citizens a pathway
10:12by creating a walking trail around Denning Town Park.
10:19The City of Keough.
10:31The City of Keough was awarded $114,192 and they will create a walking trail in downtown Keough City Park.
10:38City of Ozan.
10:55The City of Ozan was awarded $121,200 and they will create a much needed concrete ADA accessible walking trail
11:02and newly created Ozan Town Park.
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11:49Lastly, the City of Sulphur Springs.
12:06The City was awarded $159,550 to Addict Walking Trail at Sulphur Springs City Park.