Big River Trail to restore wetlands
Plan to feature natural beauty in development for popular park
By JOHN RECH
news@theeveningtimes.com
The Big River Trail announced plans to move forward by moving backwards. Trail developers said a return to a natural wetlands was in order for the part of the trail and park situated in The Natural State across from the Memphis Skyline. West Memphis Conventions and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Jim Jackson shared details with City Council during its _rst meeting of September.
TennGreen Land Conservancy bought acreage under the Harahan Bridge for development. Memphis based Duck’s Unlimited has come along side promising a role to return the park to a wetlands state for tourism and ecology purposes.
“There are approximately 1500 acres in the area and they have options signed with 99 percent of the property owners,” said Jackson. “The ultimate goal is to have the whole 1500 acres back in wetlands. It’s all very positive and we’d been hearing about it for years.”
Master plans discussed in the past included a boat launch to accommodate major _shing tournaments and provide an option for recreational boater access to the river apart from the marina in Memphis.
“The Bill Dance Cat_shing contest guys have asked us for anything they can do to help for a boat launch on the Arkansas side,” Said Jackson. “It’s still a new idea.”
Visitors to the Big River Trail will soon get to enjoy the restored features of the wetlands this area was once dominated by before being developed.
File photo
