The Arkansas River Trail

This morning we decided to check out the Arkansas River Trail across the river from where we were camping.  That meant once again crossing the Clinton Presidential Bridge, passing the Museum/Library and heading to the left where we found this statuary at the entrance to Heifer International

which consisted of two different buildings: the educational building with a shop

and the administrative headquarters.

The organization takes great pride in their platinum level LEAD building - which is the highest rating for a "green" building.  On our tour we learned about many of the steps they've taken to take advantage of the environment to keep daily costs down including trapping rain (note the long indentation coming off the roof for collecting rain water)

in a variety of ways to recycle for flushing toilets, providing heat, watering the plants and grass; making the building narrow with lots of big windows so outside light provides most of the lighting inside; using solar panels to provide much of the electricity; using lots of local materials and recycled items for the foundation and building itself; and even using filtering gravels in the parking lots to capture and begin the process of purifying the water needed in the building itself.  The moats around the building provide an interesting landscaping but also the water needed for some of the heating and cooling of the building

In the educational building there are lots of displays showing the variety of ways they provide support services to communities around the world to help them help themselves including coming up with ways to bring water to their homes from far away and a system for watering with a foot pedal.

and providing needed education along with ways to raise food, care for the land, and so forth.

Because the rains were pouring down outside while we were inside we also decided to try out their little cafe with all homemade foods made with foods raised in local gardens organically.  It was a wonderful and very tasty lunch!!

Our walk along the river toward the downtown area took us past gardens like these of wild flowers

and huge grassy fields like you can see behind this interesting find - a bike tire repair spot

Soon we came upon this statuary at the entrance to the Witt Stephens Central Arkansas Nature Center with its huge windows overlooking a well thought out garden, bird houses, perches, and hummingbird feeders to attract a wide variety of birds that could be recorded on a nearby white board using all kinds of provided literature to identify the birds.

There were also displays like this showing life in the various natural areas in Arkansas.

Not only were there lots of nature displays but also displays concerning caring for the environment, plus "safe" hunting and fishing practices and the policing of them.  This is a picture of just part of a display of lures for fishing

And I loved these chairs

Shortly after leaving this center we found ourselves in this ampitheater area

With the Little Rock Farmer's Market behind it.  We walked around it to the main "drag"

and checked out some of the stores in the area and found this statue out in front of a restaurant

We turned back toward the water and then continued along the river walk enjoying the area called the Medical Mile because it was sponsored by the local medical organization.  It included various murals, statues, and flower gardens like these

We then found ourselves in an area behind the Marriott Hotel with some wonderful children play areas like this water play spot....

tunnels to crawl through and in front another water play area

musical fun

tunnel slides and things to climb on.

Every where we looked there was something special to catch the eye

But our legs were beginning to scream they had had enough so we decided to cross back to the other side on this other walking/biking bridge that is part of the river walk.  It is unique because you have to take an elevator up several stories to the upper section of the bridge when you get near the middle of the river.  It is built this way so boats can travel at all times.

While walking across we could look out at the Arkansas River and a few of the six bridges in the immediate area.

And see the tour boats in the harbor on the opposite side ...

plus the submarine and marine museum which was closed due to the high waters that flooded the entry way.

We had used our umbrellas off and on during our walk but mostly for light rain fall.  However shortly after we returned to our RV the rain really came down hard so we were glad we'd called it a day.  But what a wonderful one it was --- Little Rock is turning out to be a real gem as far as we're concerned.