GRAVETTE — The city of Gravette is the recipient of several new grants for various projects, according to Allyson Ransom, communications director for the city and writer of the grant requests.

The largest grant, in the amount of $72,000, is from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and is to be used to extend the walking trail in and near Pop Allum Park. This is a matchfree grant, Ransom said.

Funds will pay for extending and also paving its surface. Rest stops with benches and other amenities relative to the nature-type trail will be incorporated into the project.

The original trail was created more than five years ago. That trail is not paved and is subject to weathering and other deterioration.

A second grant in the amount of $25,000 from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department is a 20 percentmatch grant. The Gravette Community Foundation will provide the matching funds, Ransom said.

These funds will be utilized in the beautification of the Highway 59 and 72 intersection adjacent to Centennial Park. Details of the project are being worked out at this time, Ransom said.

Another grant in the amount of $3,800 is to fund the recycling program in the city for another year. This will include additional development, promotion and use of the recycling trailer project that began several months ago. These funds came from the Benton County Solid Waste District.

The trailers, labeled for specific recyclables, are available 24/7 in the parking lot adjacent the Gravette Police Station.

A reminder is issued for people to make use of this free service, but “please do not abuse it by depositing non-recyclables and garbage in the bins,” Ransom said. “If the service is abused, it could be terminated.”

News, Pages 9 on 07/27/2011