News

HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. - The Greers Ferry Lake and Little Red River Association along with and the Army Corps of Engineers are seeking volunteers and sponsors to pitch in from 8 to 11 a.m. Sept. 12 during the 46th Annual Greers Ferry Lake and Little Red River Cleanup.
  
Volunteers interested in assisting should check by 8 a.m. at Eden Isle Marina, Fairfield Bay Marina, Heber Springs Marina, Smith's Hill Creek Marina, Lacey's Narrows Marina, Furgerson's Choctaw Marina, Peter's Sugar Loaf Marina, or the Dam Site Park gatehouse.

If you prefer cleaning up the Little Red River, the Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery and Chapter 722 of Trout Unlimited will be registering volunteers at 8 a.m. at the entrance of John F. Kennedy Park.  Trout Unlimited Chapter 722 will provide a luncheon for river cleanup volunteers at the John F. Kennedy Pavilion beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Cleanup sponsors are asking volunteers with boats to bring them to transport their own families and friends or to help with transportation for volunteers who do not have boats.

Boat owners will not have to use their boats to transport the recovered trash around the lakeshore.  The Corps has made arrangements for contractors to pick up trash left by the volunteers along the shoreline.  To facilitate the contractor pick-up, volunteers should leave the bagged trash in conspicuous locations around the shoreline for later pick-up.  Trash bags for shoreline litter will be furnished to all participants at the check-in stations.

To sign up to clean around JFK Park, Collins Creek or the fish hatchery, call the Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery at 501-362-3615.  For general information, call the association's toll-free at 844-939-7567.

A catfish lunch with all the trimmings and old fashion lemonade will be served from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. to the first 600 volunteers at Lacey's Narrows Pavilion.  Entertainment during lunch at Narrows Park will include the Harding Choir, as well as local musicians, face painting, water safety booth games, recycling booth with bean bag toss and plinko games, three legged recycle race, dunking booth featuring Greers Ferry mayor and other community leaders, door prizes and more.

New events this year include a 1 mile "Love the Lake & River Fun Run/Walk"
that kicks off the day at 7 a.m. at Lacey's Narrows Marina.  All proceeds from the run go towards the lake cleanup.
  
Also, newly added to the cleanup is an Augmented Reality Trail showcasing the history of the lake cleanup, the dam dedication as well as well as other interactive media.  Scan designated places along the trail with your phone and interact with the trail.  The trail can be viewed at the cleanup and will then be placed at City Park in Greers Ferry, Ark. for viewing throughout the year.

Cleanup sponsors encourage those who want to participate in the Fun Run or signup to clean a favorite area to register online at www.visitgreersferrylake.org/cleanup or call before Sept. 12. To sign up for lake areas call the Corps of Engineers at 501-362-2416.

The Greers Ferry Lake and Little Red River Association will hold a special dedication ceremony at the luncheon for the late Carl Garner, founder of the cleanup.

Cleanup sponsors include:  the Army Corps of Engineers, Greers Ferry Lake & Little Red River Association, Greers Ferry Lake National Fish Hatchery, Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, City of Greers Ferry, Save Greers Ferry Lake, Trout Unlimited Chapter 722, XTO Energy, Eagle Bank, Brawley Real Estate, Greers Ferry Chamber of Commerce, Scimitar Shriners & KFFB 106.1 Radio.

Special thanks to Chambers of Commerce in Augusta, Bald Knob, Beebe, Clinton, Fairfield Bay, Greers Ferry, Heber Springs, McCrory, and Searcy.
Little Rock District news and recreation information can be found at www.about.me/usacelittlerock .