Greenway Trail offers well-kept, impressive views in heart of city
Outdoor writer and photographer Corbet Deary is featured regularly in The Sentinel-Record. For our annual Progress edition, Deary writes about the newest section of Hot Springs Greenway Trail.
I can recall playing baseball at the site of the former Boys & Girls Club of Hot Springs as a youngster. In fact, I returned to the complex annually from the time I was 6 years old until my teenage years.
I have fond memories of the baseball fields. I do, however, remember the reluctant feeling of retrieving the ball on those magical times when stance, technique and a well-served pitch lent to a home run.
The property on the opposing
ing side of the fence was overgrown with a maze of weeds and vines shaded under a thick canopy. The act of finding the ball in the heavy understory proved enough of a chore, let alone other obstacles that might deter one’s progress.
If memory serves me, the poison ivy was thick in places and, of course, this particular environment proved a breeding ground for ticks and chiggers. And if one really got a good wrap on the ball, then came yet another obstacle: Hot Springs Creek provided a perfect habitat for snakes.
And I was no different from any other average boy in the sense that I would notoriously gravitate toward the creek’s edge. I would often return with wet feet, at the least, as crawfish and tadpoles thrived in the waters. And although I do not recall falling into the creek, I suspect there were occasions when I returned back to the field drenched from head to toe.
My greatest stretch of the imagination as a youngster playing on those fields was a successful stint in the Big Leagues. But even as an adult, I never imagined how this otherwise worthless strip of property would eventually be transformed into a beautifully manicured area until the Hot Springs Greenway Trail eventually came to fruition.
In fact, the city has since manicured alongside Hot Springs Creek far beyond the perimeters of the baseball fields where I once enjoyed the sport. The designated route begins just off of Broadway Avenue, at Transportation Plaza. And since the most recent extension of trail, it reaches just beyond where Golf Links Road crosses the creek.
The path is surfaced with both pavement and concrete throughout its 2.5-mile journey alongside the creek, lending to opportunities for walking and biking enthusiasts to get a taste of Mother Nature without ever leaving town. And I am anxious to get even better acquainted with this small tributary, as plans are to continue extending the path in phases until eventually reaching the mouth of Hot Springs Creek.
There are actually several access points along the way. But I chose to cover the entire trail system, beginning at Transportation Plaza and ending the journey at the terminus of the newest section.
From Transportation Plaza, the route makes its way along a wide concrete path running within a stone’s throw of the creek, which is on the lefthand side. The path makes its way through an area that has been accented with various sculptures.
The level trail crosses Orange Street and runs within a stone’s throw of the veterans memorial prior to crossing an impressive wooden bridge spanning Hot Springs Creek.
The designated path makes its way to Grand Avenue immediately after crossing the bridge. Although this particular road is busy, I have crossed it many times, via my bicycle, and have actually been impressed how quickly one can get across.
There are times when the traffic is not an issue. But many drivers are considerate, even during those busy times of the day and often stop and motion the riders and walkers across.
The path then makes its way alongside an old railroad track, through an area that is well shaded just before running alongside yet another sculpture and crossing Maurice Street.
The path continues within sight of the creek for a short distance prior to tying in with and making a short dogleg along Runyon Street while crossing a bridge spanning the creek.
The designated route then makes a hard turn to the left and continues paralleling the small tributary, as it runs within sight of Valley Street Skatepark.
The path then makes a hard turn to the left and crosses the creek yet another time, via another impressive bridge.
The path has run extremely level to this point. However, it will make a very gradual climb just before heading back downhill and intersecting with Belding Street. The path turns right and follows Belding across a bridge and immediately turns left just before reaching the aforementioned baseball fields.
The path continues along the edge of the baseball fields for a short distance and makes a slight turn to the right just as it runs under an old railroad trestle. I personally consider this next section of the designated path as the most inviting, as the narrow strip of property resting between the trail and the creek is always well groomed.
And the occasional picnic tables that are situated alongside the waterway are simply icing on the cake. In fact, this is a great spot where one can walk down to the creek and watch as it cascades over several rock formations during a journey that will eventually end at Lake Hamilton.
The path then makes its way to, and crosses, Hollywood Street and within a few feet of a parking area. I have noticed throughout the years that this seems to be one of the most popular access points, and rightfully so.
From the parking area, the path runs directly behind the Hot Springs Bark Park and begins a winding journey up the largest hill of the entire excursion. This particular climb is nothing to dread. However, the ascent those returning back to the starting point will experience is noticeably steep and long. But again, it’s nothing so drastic to detour one’s plan to traverse the entire route.
The path begins a steep and winding descent after topping out on the knoll, makes its way across a long bridge and makes a hard left just before reaching one of the city’s maintenance barns.
Continuing alongside the creek for a spell, the path then veers to the right and makes a hard turn to the left just before reaching the intersection of a street. This next section of trail was just recently completed and is yet another example of impressive workmanship.
The designated route runs atop a boardwalk and alongside the creek for a short distance, before running under a bridge spanning Golf Links Road. The path then continues along a level route for a short distance to where the trail ends.
Of course, one will simply backtrack along the exact same route to return to their starting point. And although the same path will be utilized, the views will be noticeably different while traveling in the opposite direction.
Although the entire roundtrip journey only about 5 miles, this is a pleasant excursion that one can enjoy again and again. And we can look forward to even more designated path along the Hot Springs Greenway Trail in the future.