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naturally speakingClinton Helps Dedicate Bridge, WetlandsFormer President Bill Clinton, his wifeand Secretary of State Hillary RodhamClinton and their daughter Chelsea Clintonled a list of local dignitaries on hand Sept.30 for the dedication of two projectsadjoining the Clinton Presidential Center.The Clinton Presidential Park Bridge, forpedestrians and cyclists, and the WilliamE. “Bill” Clark Presidential Park Wetlandswere dedicated with a ceremony at thefoot of the bridge on the west side of theClinton Presidential Library.The Arkansas Game and FishCommission has been a partner in bothprojects, through funds and manpower.“You have literally and figurativelychanged the landscape of our state,” LittleRock Mayor Mark Stodola said to thecrowd and the former president. He saidthe “two great amenities” will help citiesand the county continue to grow. “Thebridge represents a connection betweentwo cities. The wetlands is a case study incommunity collaboration.”The adjacent wetlands project is namedfor the late Clark, who was a cofounder ofCDI Contractors, the company that builtthe Clinton Presidential Library. DeanKumpuris, Little Rock city director, cameup with the wetlands idea in the name ofClark.“It is a great site to show the people ofthis city why it’s important to conserveand take care of things,” Kumpurissaid. “Why spend $2 million? It’ll be aneducational opportunity for people to seewetlands. We will be able to take youngpeople out to learn about what wetlandsare, what they do, what they should doand why they should be preserved. It goesalong with the (Witt Stephens Jr. CentralArkansas Nature Center) and Heifer(International).”According to Little Rock PublicThe William E. “Bill” Clark Presidential Park Wetlands is a nice pairing with nearby Witt Stephens Jr.Central Arkansas Nature Center. Photo by Mike Wintroath.Works Operating Manager Eric Petty,$400,000 came from the AGFC forhabitat, $353,000 from a grant through theArkansas Natural Resources Commissionfor a trap to catch trash that washes intothe area and a water lift system, $500,000from the Clinton Foundation, $100,000from One Bank and Trust, and $675,000in the name of Bill Clark. That totals$2.03 million.Although the wetlands isn’t a wetlandsarea in the sense that it filters water, it willhelp visitors understand how wetlandswork. Elevated boardwalks crisscross thewetlands, which includes a large bat house.A statue of Clark and his dog Chloe byartist Clay Enoch has been installed at thewetlands. Clark was an avid outdoorsmanwho loved hunting and fishing. Thesculpture, called “Steady,” depicts Clark inwaders with a duck call.The bridge is the eastern edge of theloop that runs along the Arkansas Riveron both sides, west to the Big Dam Bridge.The loop, known as the Arkansas RiverTrail, is the center and beginning of aseries of trails that local leaders hope willcontinue to spread in all directions.The project got a lift in April 2010 when$2.6 million in Economic DevelopmentAdministration grants became available.“The conversion of the historic railroadbridge into a pedestrian pathway will givecentral Arkansas a distinctive landmarkand will complete one of the best urbantrail systems in the country,” Clinton saidat the time. “By connecting importantdestinations, including my PresidentialCenter, the bridge will also supportrevitalization efforts in downtown LittleRock.”North Little Rock Mayor Pat Haysbrought a cheer from cyclists, walkers andrunners in the dedication crowd when hecalled the bridge “the linchpin of the RiverTrail system.”24ARKANSAS WILDLIFE NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2011
Youth Outdoor ExpoMakes Move to FallWith some prodding from MotherNature, the Arkansas Game and FishCommission’s Youth Outdoor Expo,usually a spring event, moved to fall thisyear.Last spring’s rough weather forcedthe postponement of the expo, whichwas rescheduled for Oct. 11-12 at LakeSylvia Recreation Area, about 30 mileswest of Little Rock. The expo is for fifthgradersfrom central Arkansas. They areintroduced to archery, biology, fishing,BB guns and many other topics during45-minute stops at stations near the lake.“We want them to know that ifthey’re interested in studying wildlife,conservation or other areas, they may beable to contribute and turn that into ajob,” said Eric DeVries, assistant chief ofthe AGFC Education and InformationDivision. “The stress is on scientificmanagement. They’re all fifth-graders;they are at a good age – impressionableand curious.”The expo also includes a “fair” withdemonstrations about safe boating andhunting, a herpetology station, the AGFCDive Team, AGFC wildlife officers withdecoys used to catch poachers, and theAGFC mobile aquarium. This year’s expowill include a cannon net for catchingwild turkey.“What I love most about the expo isthat we are introducing kids to life-longactive hobbies – step away from the videogames and get outside,” DeVries said.“There is a whole world waiting to beexplored.”The expo reaches capacity with 2,000students – 1,000 each day. The first AGFCexpo in 2007 drew 500 students to PetitJean Mountain.“When we had 500 students, werealized we could make this a whole lotbigger,” DeVries said.The USDA Forest Service is a majorpartner in the event, along with ArkansasTech University, University of Arkansas atLittle Rock, University of Arkansas at PineBluff, University of Central Arkansas,Pulaski County Master Gardeners, GemsAmbulance of Perryville and the ArkansasGame and Fish Foundation.Teachers who would like moreinformation about how to get their classesinvolved next fall may contact MendyBoyles at the AGFC, 501-223-6476 ormaboyles@agfc.state.ar.us.Dates toRememberNOVEMBER1 Common snipe season opens.All Saints’ Day. NationalAmerican Indian HeritageMonth begins2 All Souls’ Day.4 Doe-only modern gun deer huntcloses, zones 6A, 8A, 9, 10, 12,13, 14, 15, 16, 16A, 17.5 Woodcock season opens.5-6 Special modern gun youth deerhunt, statewide (except WMAsclosed during modern gun deerseason). Special modern gunyouth bear hunt, zones 1, 2.7-30 Modern gun bear season,zones 1, 2.9 Purple gallinule and commonmoorhen seasons close.10 Full moon.12 Modern gun deer season opensstatewide. River otter huntingseason opens, sunrise. Furbearer(except coyote) trapping seasonopens, sunrise.13 Modern gun deer season closes,zones 4, 5.17 Leonids meteor shower peaks.18 Virginia and sora rail seasoncloses.19-20 Modern gun deer season closes,zones 4B, 5B.24 Thanksgiving Day.26 Modern gun bear season opens,zone 5A.30 Archery bear season closes,zones 1, 2.Fishing is among the popular events at the annual Youth Outdoor Expo at Lake Sylvia.Photo byMike Wintroath.NOVEMBER • DECEMBER 2011ARKANSAS WILDLIFE25
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