A century of natural beauty

Arkansas State Parks celebrate centennial

Arkansas State Parks is marking their centennial during 2023, so get ready for a big celebration throughout the year, with special programs, events and activities.

For many families and individuals from near and far, the parks have been a place where priceless memories have been made for decades. The centennial celebration is an opportunity to enjoy even more special times and make more memories.

The state’s 52

Arkansas State Parks are special. In fact, they are considered some of the best you’ll find throughout the United States. And, unlike many states, Arkansas’s parks are free to enter.

Regardless of your interests, you’ll find something fun and exciting to do.

You can dig for diamonds, climb Arkansas’s highest peak, kayak, canoe, paddle board, learn more about the state’s amazing history and so much more.

One of the reasons Arkansas State Parks are incredible is the mission that has been met every day for the past century: to enhance quality of life through exceptional outdoor experiences, connections to Arkansas heritage and sound resource management.

You won’t want to miss the exciting special centennial merchandise featuring an Arkansas State Park logo exclusive for 2023. You’ll find everything from t-shirts to mugs and nearly anything you can think of at park gift shops across the state throughout the year.

Now’s the time to start planning your special Centennial trip to your favorite Arkansas State Park. If there are one or two or 10 that you’ve always wanted to visit, this is the year! You can find out more about the special Centennial celebrations at Arkansasstateparks. com.

In addition to the centennial celebrations, there are several special programs you can participate in to honor our Arkansas State Parks.

One of these special programs is the newly launched Club 52. As you fill up your Arkansas State Parks passport during the centennial year, take your passport to an Arkansas State Park visitor center during normal business hours and collect your sticker or playing card rewards.

Give them a quick call ahead of time to make sure they’ve got your prize in stock.

Visit all 52 state parks and win an exclusive Club 52 t-shirt.

If you’ve started your Arkansas State Parks passport in the past,

all those stamps count! Stamps do need to be collected all in a single passport to redeem rewards.

For those ages six to 14, there’s the Arkansas State Parks Explorer program, focusing on youth and conservation.

Interested families can request and receive activity field guides from staff at any of the parks. Then, take the explorer pledge and become an official Arkansas State Parks Explorer.

There’s also the Arkansas State Park Passport Program which allows visitors to document their state park experiences.

Pick up your free passport at a park visitor center and begin recording your travels.

Passports can be stamped at a visitor center, or you can make a rubbing of the stamp in parks where there is not a visitor center (bring a pencil or pen).

To learn more about both programs, check out Arkansasstateparks. com/passport.

Special to The Saline Courier (TOP) Lake Dardanelle State Park in Russellville showcases the beauty of The Natural State. (ABOVE) Not only is Historic Washington State Park home to the Bowie Knife, the park’s historic locations make up the largest collection of 19th-century buildings in the state. (BELOW) Petit Jean State Park visitor center near Morrilton.