ArcBest and Arkansas Colleges of Health Education will partner with FCRA to build connecting trails
The Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA) has plans to continue building new trails with the help of two notable community partners, ArcBest and Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE), both headquartered in Chaffee Crossing. The private-public partnership project is in conjunction with ArcBest’s 100th anniversary celebration in 2023.
The new trails, two segments totaling approximately two miles, will connect the ArcBest headquarters to Celebration Garden and Wellness Park on the ACHE campus and the Chaffee Crossing Historic and Entertainment District. The new trails will ultimately join bike lanes to be constructed by ARDOT along the new Highway 255 corridor (Frontier Road) to create a continuous loop. These additions will extend the Chaffee Crossing and interconnection with Ben Geren Trail System to nearly 40 miles of multi-use, nature, and mountain biking trails for the public to enjoy. The design and engineering for the new trail are complete. Clearing of the trail has begun and construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2024.
Daniel Mann, FCRA Executive Director and CEO, learned in 2022 that ArcBest desired to make a long-lasting gift to its employees and the community in celebration of its 100th anniversary. He suggested ArcBest collaborate with FCRA and ACHE to extend public trails that connect to the ArcBest headquarters campus in Chaffee Crossing. The idea provided the perfect opportunity for all three organizations to invest in community placemaking because trails provide recreational, health, and wellness benefits, elements ArcBest and ACHE incorporate into their company cultures. Mann worked with Jason Turner, ArcBest Vice President of Talent and Growth Initiatives, and Les Smith, ACHE Chief Operating Officer, to determine the scope of the trail project.
Turner says, “ArcBest is heavily invested in Fort Smith and Chaffee Crossing. This city has been our home for 100 years and we are proud of that. As we plan for our next 100 years, we are focused on attracting values-aligned team members who will be committed to this company as well as drawn to this region. One way we can strengthen our efforts is to invest in health and wellness, recreation, art, and cultural initiatives that
complement our culture. In the bigger picture, partnering with FCRA and ACHE to build a network of trails right outside our office doors enriches the workforce attraction formula not only for ArcBest, but for the entire region. It’s a great expression of who we are as a corporate neighbor.”
“Health and wellness are at the core of ACHE’s mission to improve the lives of others by providing healthy living environments,” says Smith. “Trails are an integral part of our campus design and will continue to be inclusive and open to the public as our 500-acre campus is developed over time.”
Mann agrees that collaborations to expand community development should be a priority for talent recruitment. Regional amenities are one of the key development goals for FCRA. He says, “We are excited to have partners like ArcBest and ACHE that share the vision for Chaffee Crossing development and understand the importance of investing in trails and amenities that provide benefits beyond recreation.”
The Chaffee Crossing Trail System was designed and approved in 2014. Phase I (1.6 miles) of that plan was completed with FCRA, City of Fort Smith, and ARDOT TAP grant funding in 2020. FCRA and the City of Fort Smith plan to construct Phase II (0.8 miles) of the trail in 2023 – 2024 and complete the design of Phase III (approx. 4.1 miles), in 2024. The Chaffee Crossing Trail System is part of the Fort Smith Master Trail Plan which is being updated with fresh input from the community to meet the needs of our growing region. When speaking with Michael Mings, Mobility Coordinator from the city, he states, “The City of Fort Smith is committed to building a well-connected network of trails and greenways that serves the needs of our residents and showcases the beauty of the River Valley to our visitors. The new trails planned by FCRA, ArcBest, and ACHE make it clear that this goal is shared throughout our community and can be accomplished through creative partnerships such as this. With these connecting trail segments, Chaffee Crossing will lead the way in showing how trails and greenways aren’t simply for recreation. When we build these connections, we’re building a city where the daily rhythm of getting from point A to point B can be a part of a practical, healthy, and enjoyable lifestyle. The City of Fort Smith proudly supports the trailblazing efforts of FCRA, ArcBest, and ACHE.”
About Chaffee Crossing
Chaffee Crossing is Western Arkansas’ premiere economic development project located within the cities of Fort Smith and Barling. Under the direction and guidance of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority Public Trust, approximately 5,500 acres, formerly part of Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center are being developed. As property is sold by FCRA, land is being returned to the tax rolls for the first time since 1941, jobs are being created, the regional economy is being stimulated, and desirable quality of life amenities are materializing. Since its inception in 1995, the Chaffee Crossing economic development project has attracted $2.5 Billion in industrial, commercial, residential, educational, historical, and recreational development, boosting the entire western Arkansas regional economy.
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About ArcBest
ArcBest® is a multibillion-dollar integrated logistics company that helps keep the global supply chain moving. Founded in 1923 and now with more than 15,000 employees across nearly 250 campuses and service centers, we’re a logistics powerhouse fueled by the simple notion of finding a way to get the job done. Through innovative thinking, agility and trust, we leverage our technology and full suite of shipping and logistics solutions to meet our customers’ supply chain needs.
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About Arkansas Colleges of Health Education
Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) is a not-for-profit institution located on 500+ acres in Fort Smith. ACHE is fulfilling its mission of educating future healthcare professionals through its programs: Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (ARCOM), Master of Science in Biomedicine (MSB), Master of Public Health (MPH), School of Physical Therapy (ACHE PT), and the School of Occupational Therapy (ACHE OT). Off-campus, ACHE is committed to making a difference in the community. The ACHE Research Institute Health & Wellness Center (RIHWC) just celebrated the opening of the first floor in the 317,000 square foot facility. The facility will be used for biomedical research and targeted health and wellness initiatives. ACHE is a private institution dedicated solely to healthcare and wellness. For more information visit www.achehealth.edu
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