Trail News 

Phase one construction of the lift-served Trails at Mena park began in January.

The park will connect trails at Ward Lake to Round Top Mountain near Queen Wilhelmina State Park. The project is led by Arkansas State Parks, KINCO Constructors is the construction manager, and collaborators include the city of Mena, the US Forest Service and Queen Wilhelmina State Park.

The lift system will be more than a mile long, and the system is expected to be delivered this summer. Phase one will consist of more than 20 miles of trails and encompass about 13 acres, and should be complete by 2028. The trails will consist of beginner-friendly flow trails, advanced jump lines and hiking trails.

This first phase of construction will cost approximately $48 million. The money is coming from State Parks conservation revenues, capital improvement funds and Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council grants, with some initial private funding through the Parks and Recreation foundation.

The Ward Lake Trails opened in 2024 and are temporarily closed while the trail system is expanded. Riders are encouraged to use the recently upgraded trails at Queen Wilhelmina while the construction is ongoing.