The Baxter County Library Foundation has received state approval to proceed with construction on the Library Hill Trail, a new walking and biking loop planned around the Donald W. Reynolds Library. Library Director Kim Crow Sheaner announced the progress during the foundation’s Heart of the Library ceremony on October 22, detailing the completion of a property survey and the start of preliminary design work.
“We’ve been waiting so patiently to hear from ARDOT that we could proceed on the project,” Crow Sheaner said at the event. “We actually are getting to move forward.”
The trail will span approximately three-quarters of a mile and connect to the existing trail systems at McCabe Park and Arkansas State University-Mountain Home (ASUMH). Funded in part by a $456,000 grant from the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT), the grant covers an estimated 80% of total construction costs. The Library Foundation is responsible for the remaining 20%, for which it set a fundraising goal of $250,000. That amount encompasses funds for maintenance and optional features such as rest areas along the route.
Crow Sheaner indicated that the fundraising campaign surpassed its target, reaching $258,162 to date. However, she noted that rising construction costs may require additional contributions to fully realize the trail’s plans.
Donors contributed significantly, with a $50,000 lead gift from Jess and Beth VanderStek marking the campaign’s start in 2025. Other notable contributions include $20,000 from Danfoss Power Solutions, $15,000 from John and Katrina Neis, and $10,000 each from the Friends of the Baxter County Library and the Albright Family Charitable Fund. The foundation had announced in February that the initial goal was met.
The trail has been promoted as both a recreational asset and a practical improvement for the community. It will provide ASUMH students and Mountain Home school students with a safe route to the library, addressing the lack of sidewalks along College Street. The City of Mountain Home has secured separate grant funding to extend the James and Sally Moore Recreational Trail to College Street and to install a crosswalk connecting directly to the library property.
In addition to its practical uses, the Library Hill Trail will allow the library to expand programming outdoors. Foundation Coordinator Adeana Estoll previously highlighted plans for activities such as StoryWalk, where pages of children’s books are displayed along the trail for families to read as they walk.
Crow Sheaner described the project as one example of why the library depends on its foundation for resources beyond daily operations. Last year, the foundation accounted for 27% of the library’s operating revenue, with 62% coming from Baxter County property taxes. The foundation raised over $581,000 in 2025, funding initiatives such as study room expansions, a growing "library of things,” and plans for additional educational resources.
The public is invited to contribute to the Library Hill Trail by visiting baxlib.org/library-hill-trail, emailing Estoll at foundation@baxlib.org, or calling 870-580-0705.