LITTLE ROCK — Former President Clinton on Tuesday helped detail plans for a Little Rock wetlands park near his library complex, an addition he described as an environmental and educational treasure.
The downtown park will develop over the next couple of years into a showcase of marshes and wildlife. Walking-path access and observation decks should help take nature to the public in a way Clinton said could highlight the importance of environmental conservation.
"This may seem like [just] 13 acres," he said, speaking to nearly 200 invited friends and family of the late William E. Clark. The wetlands park will be named for Clark, a Little Rock contractor and philanthropist who built the Clinton center. "But this is way bigger than that."
The $2 million project is to stretch between the Clinton Presidential Center and the Interstate 30 bridge. The western one-third will be off-limits to public access for environmental preservation.
Work on the William E. ClarkPresidential Park Wetlands Project, which will continue to be city-owned and maintained, is expected to begin within months.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, along with Audubon Arkansas, will help ensure that the project will transform a frequently trash-strewn eyesore into a wildlife haven for blue herons, bats, bobcats, fresh-water mussels and other animals.
A grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will cover $400,000 of the project's cost. Private donations will pay forthe rest of the work at the park.
Clark's son, also named William, said the wetlands will be a fitting tribute to his father, who loved the outdoors and the presidential center he played such an important role in developing. In addition to leading many charitable fundraisers, the elder Clark founded Little Rock's CDI Contractors, one of the state's largest building companies. He also once was chairman of the University of Arkansas board of trustees.
He died of cancer in May at63. No private donations to the project in his honor have been announced, but after his death, Clark's relatives urged their friends to donate to the park.
Clinton, who said the wetlands will be "just as important as the library," spoke of Clark's fondness for the outdoors and his understanding of how much people depend on a healthy environment.
He said that understanding must be widespread if the world is to successfully address climate change and other conditions that have led to low water levels in the West and severe drought in the Deep South.
"We have to teach the entire world how things are built and how nature works," he said.
On Tuesday morning, some trash floated in the pool of water where the wetlands will go. The site currently is little more than a city stormwater drainage pool surrounded by vegetation.
Ultimately, it will feature backwater channels and a deep pool. Elevated walkways and boardwalks will wind through most of the park.
At-large Little Rock City Director Dean Kumpuris, who has spearheaded much of the city's downtown riverfront development, praised the wetlands as anopportunity to teach people to take better care of their environment than they do today.
"We're ruining habitat at a remarkable rate," he said.
He said the city will install a filter to keep trash like paper cups and cigarette butts from sullying the natural vistas and habitat.
Arkansas, Pages 11, 17 on 10/24/2007