National Park Service to accept Pullman connection comments

Hot Springs National Park, in partnership with Visit Hot Springs and the city of Hot Springs, will host a public open house at 4 p.m. Feb. 13 in regard to the Pullman Avenue Trail Connection.

The National Park Service has released a plan for potential changes to the trail system in the national park, which would create a short connector trail from Pullman Avenue to the Northwoods Trails System, allowing for more different types of use.

According to a news release from the Park Service, the proposal would allow mountain biking on the trail segment — the first time mountain biking would be allowed on a Hot Springs National Park trail.

While there has long been a history of hiking and equestrian use of the trails in the park, several requests were received to allow construction of a connecting trail across a section of the park allowing access to new recreational mountain biking and hiking trails at the Northwoods via a trailhead at Pullman Avenue.

Just a little more than one year ago, the park service held a public open house for the community to submit comments on the proposed trail connection prior to an environmental assessment.

According to the release, the plan and environmental assessment are now available for public review and comment, and, after review, the park will finalize the plan and determine if a special regulation is necessary. Allowing bikes on park trails requires a special regulation, which would also require a review and comment period.

“We are excited about this potential addition to the trail system in the park and are very interested to hear what visitors and neighbors think about the proposal,” Superintendent Laura Miller said in the release. “The addition of this trail segment will provide trailhead parking at Pullman Avenue and a connection to the new Northwoods trails, increasing recreational opportunities for our visitors and neighbors, alike. We would need support from volunteers to make these improvements and maintain the trails in the future.”

Comments may be submitted online at http://parkplanning. nps.gov/PullmanConnection or by mail at 101 Reserve St., Hot Springs, AR 71901.

Comments will also be accepted at the public open house to be held at the Transportation Depot, 100 Broadway Terrace, from 4-7 p.m. Feb. 13. The public review period will last until Feb. 15 at which point the park service will review all feedback, finalize the proposal and determine how to implement any proposed changes.