Board delays talks on center's funding
Members of the Board of Directors are now waiting until September to discuss funding of the CareLink Fitness and Wellness Center.
The facility at 1200 S. Cleveland St. has asked the board for $90,000 for the remainder of 2018 and $180,000 in each following year until it is able to meet its own financial needs.
CareLink Chief Executive Officer Luke Mattingly said the center faces a budget shortfall of about $195,000 and will be forced to close without the additional funding.
The center offers "fun and fitness for active older people in Little Rock," according to its website. It has more than 500 participants, about 300 of whom are paying members, Mattingly said. All members reportedly are city residents.
Friendly-driver plan wins $28,000 grant
The BikePed initiative has received an award of more than $28,000 to implement its Friendly Driver Program.
The AARP Community Challenge grant program had 129 recipients, three of which were Arkansas cities, according to a news release. The challenge received 1,600 applications from nonprofits and government entities.
The grants will go toward "quick-action" projects that are designed to increase mobility and improve public spaces for people of all ages. The projects must be completed by Nov. 5.
The Friendly Driver Program will provide drivers with education about their rights and responsibilities to keep bikers and pedestrians safe. It is planned to culminate in a 90-minute course on traffic laws, avoiding collisions and navigating traffic infrastructure for people on foot or on wheels.
Rail crossing work to shut road for day
A section of Geyer Springs Road at the Union Pacific Railroad crossing will be closed Wednesday starting at 7 a.m. for the replacement of railroad crossing panels, a city news release said.
The construction is expected to be completed in one day and will require total road closure until it's done.
Northbound traffic on Geyer Springs Road will detour west on 65th Street to north on University Avenue to east on Mabelvale Pike to north on Geyer Springs Road.
Southbound traffic on Geyer Springs Road will detour west to Mabelvale Pike to south on University Avenue to east on 65th Street to south on Geyer Springs Road.
Water utility invites bikers to join study
Central Arkansas Water is taking applications for participation in a study on whether mountain biking on the Ouachita National Recreation Trail in the Lake Maumelle watershed affects water quality.
Participants will be part of a limited group with permission to bike a 3-mile segment of that trail, the utility said in a release. Mountain biking is not currently allowed on the utility's property in the watershed area.
Demand for recreation activities in the area is increasing, but research on whether biking in the watershed affects drinking-water quality is limited, the utility said.
Applications are due Aug. 5 and are available at lakemaumelle.org. The study is expected to last a minimum of nine months and is tentatively set to begin Sept. 1.
Beasties to sculpt ice on chill-out day
The Little Rock Zoo is inviting patrons to chill out with ice-themed events Saturday.
Elephants, gorillas, bears and penguins will create ice sculptures throughout the day. The Fire Department will face off against the elephants in a watermelon-eating contest, then hose the animals down.
Popsicles and ice cream will be sold throughout the day.
The name of the zoo's new baby gorilla will be announced at noon. People can vote for one of three names on the zoo's website, littlerockzoo.com.
Metro on 07/22/2018