Buffalo River gets trails grant

The Buffalo National River will receive a 2016 Active Trails grant from the National Park Foundation, which will support a variety of activities ranging from scheduled hikes and river floats to “flexible opportunities” for groups that wish to visit the park to pursue health and fitness goals.

This involves engaging with the Hometown Health programs in Newton, Searcy, Marion, and Boone counties to identify groups and appropriate activities. The grant can help with transportation and food costs if necessary.

Now in its eighth year, the Active Trails program supports healthy living by getting people out and active in national parks. Since 2008, the National Park Foundation has handed out grants totaling more than $3.3 million through the program. As of early 2015, Active Trails has engaged more than 12,000 volunteers and 740 project partners.