Batesville, Hardy among communities receiving park grants

Arkansas’s smaller communities are getting a multimillion-dollar boost to their outdoor spaces as the state looks to improve local health and connectivity.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Tuesday that the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism is awarding $4.92 million in outdoor recreation grants to 23 counties. The funding is earmarked for playgrounds, trails, and facility upgrades across the state.

“We’re creating more opportunities for kids to get off screens and outdoors, strengthening local communities, and building a healthier, more connected Arkansas,” Sanders said in a statement.

In the local region, two significant projects were highlighted for the 2026 grant cycle:

• In Batesville, a $425,000 matching grant will fund the installation of new mountain bike trails. The expansion will span four locations: Riverside Park, Fitzhugh Park, the East Main Soccer Complex, and a designated green space for nature trails.
• In Hardy, a $100,000 Facilities for Underdeveloped Neighborhoods (FUN) Park grant will focus on recovery and accessibility at Loberg Park. The funds will be used to replace flood-damaged playground equipment and basketball goals, reconstruct the parking lot for ADA accessibility, and repair the pavilion.

Shea Lewis, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, said expanding access to the outdoors remains a top priority for the department.

“Through these grants, we’re helping communities create more opportunities for people to get outside, improve their health and well-being, and connect with the natural beauty that defines Arkansas,” Lewis said.