West Memphis provides land for ‘Ducks Unlimited Park’, accessible by crossing the Big River

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. (WMC) – The Big River Park Conservancy has successfully secured land in the Arkansas floodplain and is moving forward with a new comprehensive conservation effort to restore the land to natural wetland habitat and introduce a new public park.

Accessible from downtown Memphis by crossing the Grand River, Ducks Unlimited Park covers 1,500 acres and currently features a 7-mile paved loop and a half-mile trail that follows the Mississippi River, Memphis. skyline, and agriculture of West Memphis.

The park also connects to the Big River Levee trail system, which includes more than 110 miles of riverside trails above the Mississippi River system.

Ducks Unlimited, the nation’s largest wetland conservation organization and the park’s namesake, is leading the conservation strategy.

Conservation work at Ducks Unlimited Park in the coming years will return reclaimed land to its natural habitat, as well as new trails, a welcome pavilion with classroom and outdoor restrooms, and a dog training retriever park.

Ritchie Smith Associates is developing the master plan.

“Bringing our experience to our own backyard is a significant opportunity for our organization – one we don’t take lightly,” said Adam Putnam, CEO of Ducks Unlimited.

In addition to Ducks Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited Park project partners include: City of West Memphis; Marion, Arkansas; First Horizon Fund; Good luck; Ingram; NexAir; International document; Hyde Family Foundation; Poplar Foundation; AutoZone; TennGreen Land Conservancy; Simmons Bank; and McVean Trading.

“This team effort has been transformative, and we are excited to bring the park’s vision to the next phase of development,” said Chris Ware, executive director of the Big River Park Conservancy.

For more information, visit ducksunlimitedpark.com.

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