ASHDOWN, Ark. -- A $378,110 project has produced new sidewalks on Locust Street in front of Ashdown High School.
A state grant and a partnership between the city, Little River County and the Ashdown Public School District allowed the three entities to be able to provide sidewalks so students walking or biking to school would have a safer way to travel.
"It is a great opportunity to provide students with a safe route to school," Mayor James Sutton said. "It was a collaborative effort of all of us working together to make it happen. It was one of my pet projects and it is great to see it completed."
Sutton said six years ago, a grant was applied for through the Safe Route to Schools Program through the Arkansas Department of Transportation, and awarded after reapplying a couple of years ago. It was an 80-20 grant, with the remaining balance being split between the city, county and school district.
The grant received was $256,700, and the three entities split the remaining $121,410.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation website, the Safe Routes to School program is an approach that promotes walking and bicycling to school through infrastructure improvements, enforcements, tools, safety education and incentives to encourage walking and bicycling to school.
With the sidewalk now completed, the street should be resurfaced soon, Sutton said.
"We are elated to be a part of seeing our tax dollars along with grant money being spent in a manor to ensure that our students and citizens are safe if they bike or ride along Locust Street," County Judge Mike Cranford said. "This community enhancement project is a testimony of collaboration of the city, county, and school working together for the benefit of our citizens."