USDA Forest Service announces recreation improvements on Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

RUSSELLVILLE — The Ozark-St. Francis National Forests have recently completed improvements to several recreation areas across the Forests totaling over $300,000.
The improvement projects, funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), address critical deferred maintenance improvements. GAOA legislation was passed in August 2020 and is responsible for funding deferred maintenance needs of all types of Forest Service infrastructure, from bridges to roads to trails to recreation facilities. These investments in Forest Service infrastructure, recreation facilities, and public lands access demonstrate the agency’s commitment to caring for the land and serving people.
“GAOA funding has been crucial for much-needed – and in some cases long-overdue – repairs and upgrades to a wide range of recreational infrastructure throughout our national forests,” said Amy Burt, Planning and Public Services Staff Officer for Ozark-St. Francis National Forests. “We’re proud of the work accomplished in 2023 and look forward to completing additional projects that will help ensure our visitors have the best experience possible while connecting to nature and making memories on the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests.”
Recreation enhancements completed in 2023 consisted of:
Improving roads and drainage at White Rock Recreation Area. This project involved clearing, grubbing, seeding, fertilizing, mulching, reconditioning of roadway and ditches, placing speed bumps, installing signs and culverts, improving parking areas, rock work, installing wheel stops and a new entrance gate. In coordination with this GAOA project, new steps were also added to the main lodge to improve drainage and access.

Replacing the septic lift pumps and controls for the day-use area bathhouse at Shores Lake Recreation Area.
Continued site improvements at Redding Recreation Area, such as installing combination fire ring/grills, leveling site pads, and replacing waterlines for the water distribution system.
Repairing pavement on the Blanchard Springs Accessible Trail on the Sylamore-St. Francis Ranger District. The trail is the only accessible pathway to Blanchard Springs, which is the water source that created the underground caverns network of Blanchard Springs Caverns. This project replaced uneven and broken expansion joints, replaced the missing rocks along the border wall, and repaired the observation deck at the springs’ outlet.
“We’re excited about the important work being planned and executed through GAOA,” said Robert Duggan, Recreation Program Manager for the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests. “We hope our visitors will explore the improved recreation areas and see how this significant legislation is benefiting both the forests and the communities.”