Photo Credit: American Ramp Company
Fort Smith, a city of approximately 88,000 people, sits along the Arkansas River and is best known for its historical attractions—the National Historic Site’s military exhibits and buildings, the Massard Prairie Battlefield Park, and the Chaffee Crossing Historic District. But thanks to the recently opened Riverfront Skate and Bike Park, Fort Smith will forge a new reputation—a premiere destination for skating and biking enthusiasts across Arkansas and the rest of the United States.
The park opened to great fanfare, with close to 2,000 people in attendance and several local businesses on hand at the October celebration. Together, Frontier Engineering and First National Bank raffled off 20 bicycles for children in need. Champion Cycling also provided bicycles for attendees who wanted to test out the park. Boardertown Skate Shop & Park gave away skateboards and additional prizes. Several attendees competed in bicycle time trials and free ride skate competitions, with prizes donated by Kip’s Kids Fund and the Tony Hawk Foundation.
Even beyond the grand opening, the enthusiasm for the park remains high. “The amount of usage of this park is beyond anything that any of us could’ve imagined,” says Bobby Aldridge, P.E. of Frontier Engineering, Inc. Aldridge was a key player in the construction of the park, from inception to execution.
