On Wednesday, The City of Conway was awarded $24.6 million from the United States Department of Transportation to construct the Connect Conway greenway trail.

According to city officials, the money comes from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program.

Organizers of Connect Conway trail said their goal is to build a safe, equitable, and accessible transportation system through investment in 15 miles of bike and pedestrian infrastructure, providing a viable transportation option for many by connecting ten city parks, seven schools, three major retail areas, three higher education institutions, fourteen major employment centers, sixteen neighborhoods, and other vital community services.

"I'd like to thank our team at the City Hall who put in the work to get the job done successfully," Mayor Bart Castleberry said. "A number of community stakeholders came together to work on a short timeframe on this historic endeavor. I'd especially like to thank Finley Vinson, Felicia Rogers, Robbie Alberson, Aaron Knight, James Walden, and Kurt Jones."

The organizers of Connect Conway said rebuilding efforts will create a crucial link between the eastern parts of Conway and west Conway, providing more equitable access to services and opportunities.

"The name of the project rings true to what the project is all about: connecting Conway," Planning and Development Director James Walden said. "This will be a tremendous recreational asset. But it provides a real transportation option for those who can't or chooses not to drive."

The construction of Connect Conway will provide a tangible and significant benefit to those community residents and stakeholders by increasing personal mobility with a safe, accessible transportation alternative.

"This grant will enable us to take a huge step to provide a viable alternative for the people of Conway to vehicular transportation through inter-connectivity between parks, schools, neighborhoods, and commercial centers," City Engineer Kurt Jones said. "We've taken small steps in the past. This is a giant leap."

City officials said Connect Conway's work began four years ago and has evolved and been refined over the past several years. Grant applications were developed as early as 2018 and submitted in previous application rounds.

Congressman French Hill said in a statement, "Over the past four years my office has worked with the city of Conway to fine-tune its grant application and I’m delighted that hard work has persevered, and now the Connect Conway vision is one step closer to reality," Hill said.