Little Rock and Western Railway, won’t you be our neighbor?

Mayor Frank Scott Jr. recently articulated in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette the economic magic in Little Rock: “a secret sauce that many cities don’t have: river, railroad and runway all strategically located in downtown and central Little Rock.” 

I like the alliteration, but may I add one more R to Little Rock’s economic secret sauce recipe: River, Railroad, Runway, and River Recreation. OK, it was two R’s.  Little Rock’s portion of the Arkansas River is not a secret, but the opportunity for fun, family, fitness, fishing, picnicking, hunting, rowing and moving along the Arkansas River Trail system with whatever transportation mode you choose, from bikes to skate boards pulled by a dog, is its own economic driver.  

Like most kids, I liked seeing trains. Still do. Seventy years ago my grandmother lived a half block from a railroad track in southern Oregon. Being the kind Nazarene woman she was, she developed a reputation for the men riding the rails as being a safe place, a house with a nice woman who would make you a sandwich to go while you waited on the porch, and she’d throw in 50 cents. She was neighborly.

Where I walk along the Arkansas River Trail from River Mountain Park, the railroad track parallels the trail. I like it when the Little Rock and Western Railway goes by. This is the short-line railroad that runs from the Port of Little Rock to Danville. I sometimes wave at the engineer. But Little Rock and Western Railway, please consider being more neighborly to this beautiful part of the Little Rock parks. There are far too many old railroad ties thrown aside, ending up near our beautiful, economically vital Arkansas River Trail. The trail is a treasure, and we want it to keep getting better and better.  

Here are two photos to show a bit of what I mean.  Several years ago, some old railroad ties were replaced on the Jimerson Creek bridge. One of the new ones accidentally ended up in Jimerson Creek. It is still there, and there are others nearby. And this abandoned cabinet has been along the trail for years.  I have never tried to count the number of old railroad ties that were thrown near the trail and never picked up, but there’s a bunch. I have heard people complain: It makes portions of our beautiful trail look junky. 

As Mayor Scott pointed out, where roads, railroads, and runways come together in Little Rock, there is economic vitality. I like seeing continued investment in railroad track and facilities at the Port of Little Rock. How about where railroads and river recreation come together, the relationship also be good for our parks and the Arkansas River Trail?  

Aha! Another R word: Relationship. Like a neighbor. 

For those of you wondering why so many bikers, joggers, and walkers are out on the Arkansas River Trail in Little Rock so early in the morning:

Wednesday morning in Little Rock.

The Arkansas Symphony’s 250th Celebration

These days I am old. There are advantages. My teenage sons impress their friends with the story of their dad as a boy seeing Sputnik in the skies over southern Oregon. And last night during intermission at the Arkansas Symphony’s America 250 concert, I talked with another oldster about which we thought was better: America’s big 200th party in 1976 or this past year for our 250th. We both so far liked 1976’s celebration better, but last night it all came together for me thanks to Geoffrey Robson and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. It was wonderful.

There are still tickets available for today’s 2:30 p.m. performance. My son’s favorite was the Florence Price, which is saying a lot since the second piece was George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. And the finale was Aaron Copland. Geoff Robson put the concert together as a celebration of America. It was wonderful. Don’t miss it! It felt like America. We can talk about it at the 300th.