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News • Arkansas • United States • 2011-09-16

President Clinton to Dedicate Bridge and Wetlands Park, Sept. 30-Oct. 2

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Kerry Kraus, travel writer

Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

President Bill Clinton will be in Little Rock Sept. 30-Oct. 2 for the dedication of the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge and the William E. “Bill” Clark Wetlands.

President Clinton and Governor Mike Beebe will dedicate the bridge and surrounding wetlands during a ceremony on Friday, Sept. 30, at 11 a.m. Events will take place in Celebration Circle in front of the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. The wetlands open to the public immediately afterwards, while the bridge will be accessible until 2 p.m. It officially opens at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2.

On Saturday, Oct. 1, the Old State House Museum will be the site of festivities honoring the 20th anniversary of Clinton’s momentous announcement. President Clinton will preside over the activities which include a comprehensive but brief video timeline of his presidential bid. It will also detail the work of the Clinton Foundation, past, present and future. The event begins at 4 p.m. at the National Historic Landmark located at 300 West Markham in downtown Little Rock.

The Clinton Presidential Park Bridge is the former Rock Island Railroad Bridge, which has been renovated into a ramped pedestrian pathway to compliment President Clinton’s vision for his Presidential Center. The project closes the loop to the 15-mile Arkansas Ri runs along both the north and south banks of the Arkansas River.

The bridge was built in 1899 for the Choctaw and Memphis Railroad as a swing-span with a portion that rotated to allow tall river traffic to pass. To accommodate the requirements of the McClellan-Kerr Navigation System, the bridge was retrofitted into a lift span in 1970.

The William E. “Bill” Clark Presidential Park Wetlands are 13 acres along the Arkansas River adjacent to the Clinton Library in downtown Little Rock. Preservation of this important ecosystem provides unprecedented public access to conservation, tourism, educational, environmental and wildlife opportunities. It consists of pedestrian trails, an elevated walkway and two bridges offering spectacular views of the Arkansas River, the channel stream and habitats. Interpretive displays and observation pavilions explain the significance of the area.

“This project is unique for Central Arkansas. It is a great site to show people why it’s important to conserve and take care of things. Also, it’s a wonderful tourist draw. It’s designed so one area is physically accessible while the other part is for viewing only, leaving it natural for people to watch birds and plants and animals without being disturbed,” said Dr. Dean Kumpuris, a Little Rock city board of directors member.

The over $2 million wetlands project is a collaboration of The Conservation Fund, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the William J. Clinton Foundation, Audubon Arkansas, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, The Nature Conservancy, the Army Corps of Engineers, the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, the City Parks Conservancy and the City of Little Rock.

For more information on the planned events contact Rebecca Tennille with Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods at 501-975-7210.

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