Tag Archives: Wixon Huffstetler

Dog Park Awaits Donations

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By Katie Woodall
Delta Digital News Service

JONESBORO – Almost a year after plans for a dog park were unveiled, lack of funding still keeps the city from starting the groundwork.

Organizers presented plans for a dog park for Jonesboro at a late March 2016 meeting, after a group of citizens approached Mayor Harold Perrin and Parks and Recreation Director Wixon Huffstetler with the idea. The park will be located in Craighead Forest Park at Access 6 and be approximately 2 acres large. Huffstetler said the new park will cost nearly $150,000 to build and with no money in his budget for funding, donations for the project will be left up to the citizens.

“The city is going to donate the land. We’re going to do some site work, cutting down trees and getting the ground ready for grass and we’re doing the irrigation. Pretty much the grunt work for it,” Huffstetler said.

One concern voiced by Abby Landers, a local dog owner, remains the lack of awareness being raised for the park and its fundraising.

“I think they would have to put it right under the nose of the average citizen. I didn’t even know there were plans for a dog park at all,” Landers said.

While anyone may donate money, a citizen-led group of individuals has recently been talking with local businesses about sponsorships and major donations for the park. Gary Johnson, one of the citizens involved in talking with local businesses, said they hope to hear back from businesses soon.

Although getting the donations for the park is being left to the citizens, Huffstetler said raising the money can be done quickly.

“This town is so giving with projects like this. Personally, I think they can get the money raised by the middle of summer. We might be able to start the project this year,” Huffstetler said.

For more information on the dog park plans, visit www.jonesboro.org/449/Dog-Park-Information.

(NOTE: Graphic rendering courtesy of the Jonesboro Parks and Recreations Department)

Bicyclist Voices Safety Concerns

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by Kirsten May
Courtesy of A-State Department of Media

There are a growing number of cyclists in Jonesboro, but there are still no roads with designated bike lanes in the city and some cyclists feel there are not many safe places to ride. ASU TV’s Kirsten May looked into what is being done in Jonesboro to make it more bike-friendly.

JONESBORO, Ark. — “We need to wrap our heads as a community around the concept of a bicycle being part of our transportation mix.”

Bill Smith is the marketing and communications director for Arkansas State University and he is a cyclist.

Many people in Jonesboro are students or work in town who are now using a bicycle as their main form of transportation, and he said he thinks the city needs to focus on helping them ride safer.

“Certainly I think that we could see a greater commitment to bicycle infrastructure in our town, a greater commitment to a plan for how that will be moved around town, and not just in a parks and (recreation) mode,” Smith said. “I think that’s the future and I think that’s what millennials want.”

Jonesboro Parks and Recreation director Wixon Huffstetler said bike safety is a priority for the city and they are working to improve it.

“You know, the new trail obviously at Craighead Forrest that we are building that’ll connect eventually to the greenway that’s in town and we’re definitely looking at bike lanes on the outskirts of Jonesboro and on the bigger roads that we can fit them on,” he said.

Huffstetler understands cyclists want more done on the roads and said the city is looking at how to make that work.

“It’s just that Jonesboro is so grown together on the inside of the city, inner city, that it’s hard to figure out how to put bike lanes in without having to buy property or acquire ride away and stuff like that, which is a long process,” he said.

He said the city is constantly looking for grants to help improve infrastructure for bicyclists.

Both Huffstetler and Smith agree the best thing is for both riders and drivers to be aware of their surroundings and obey all traffic laws.

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Smith said cyclists fare best when they act like drivers and are predictable.

Smith is teaching a vehicular riding course that teaches experienced cyclists how to be safer when riding in traffic. He said to message the Arkansas State University Facebook page or email him if you are interested in taking the class.