Ozark Foundation Partners with Arkansas Department of Agriculture to Conserve Rural Roads and Waterways
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — November 3, 2025
Ozark Foundation, through its newly acquired Rural Recreational Roads Program, has partnered with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture to support the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program. This partnership is funded through a federal 319(h) water quality grant, which enables outreach and education efforts focused on the watersheds these roads traverse across the state.
Ozark Foundation plans to expand the Rural Recreational Roads Program into priority watershed regions identified under the Clean Water Act, a federal program that funds water quality projects. These efforts will establish recreational hubs serving as trailheads for collections of preferred gravel routes. Each hub will promote outdoor recreation and environmental education to support the preservation of Arkansas’s rural roads and waterways.
Ozark Foundation is proud to champion this initiative, helping communities and its visitors to protect local streams and rivers by reducing everyday sources of water pollution. The project focuses on maintaining and improving unpaved roads while promoting simple steps to keep sediment and waste out of waterways by amplifying existing recommendations and educational resources.
Ozark Foundation has named Cave City resident and veteran gravel cyclist Bobby Finster as Program Director of the Arkansas Rural Recreational Roads Program.
“The R3 program links road care with waterway protection through this project,” said Finster. “By combining scenic gravel routes and trailheads with watershed education, we’re fostering a culture of conservation and environmental stewardship across Arkansas.”
For more information, visit ArkansasR3.com and follow Rural Recreational Roads on Facebook and Instagram for updates and ways to get involved.
About Ozark Foundation
Ozark Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that creates healthy and enriching outdoor recreational experiences in Arkansas that honor and celebrate the natural beauty of the Ozarks and elevate the region as a better place to live, work and play. To fulfill its mission, Ozark Foundation partners with organizations to host, create and operate a variety of outdoor recreational events in Arkansas. From world-class championship caliber races to fun outdoor family events, the foundation aims to position Arkansas as a premier outdoor recreation destination where all are welcome regardless of ability. More at: www.ozarkfoundation.org.