RRCA Welcomes Little Rock, AR as a Runner Friendly Community

December 14, 2023

Arlington, VA /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) is pleased welcome the newly designated Runner Friendly Community® for fall 2023:

• Little Rock, Arkansas

Runner Friendly Communities have shown that they meet the program’s criteria, which includes community infrastructure along with support from local businesses and government.  A Runner Friendly Community has a safe network of pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, multi-use trails, paths, share lanes, and more.  In addition, the communities work in collaboration with public and private organizations to support and promote running as a sport and healthy activity.

Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. highlighted in his letter of support, how all of the criteria come together in the city.  “Our Quality of Life subcommittee focused on connectivity through trails and pathways which are clean and aesthetically pleasing,” Scott wrote. “The City’s Parks and Recreation Department has begun numerous projects, totaling over $1.850 million, which are designed to connect neighborhoods and parks with trails that can be used by runners and walkers.”

Every five years, a Runner Friendly Community must work with the RRCA to ensure it continues to meet our criteria for the designation. The following communities have successfully renewed their Runner Friendly Community designation:

• Lakeland, Florida
• Peachtree City, Georgia
• Salem, Massachusetts
• Salisbury, North Carolina

The goal of the RRCA’s Runner Friendly Community program is to shine a national spotlight on communities that standout as runner-friendly and provide incentives and ideas for communities to work towards becoming runner-friendly communities. Runner Friendly Communities can increase the quality of life; improve physical activity for residents; and provide for increased economic impact for the community.

About RRCA: The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) is the oldest and largest national association of running organizations and runners dedicated to growing the sport since 1958. The RRCA champions the development of community-based running clubs and events that serve runners of all ages and abilities in pursuit of health and competition. The RRCA’s vision is to Empower Everyone to Run. To learn more, visit: www.RRCA.org

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