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The Baxter County Library Foundation has raised $205,315 toward its $250,000 fundraising goal for the Library Hill Trail project, leaving $44,685 needed to complete funding for the three-quarter-mile recreational trail.
The campaign received significant momentum this year from major donations including $50,000 from Jess and Beth VanderStek in August and $20,000 from Danfoss Power Solutions in September. The foundation also hosted a monthlong virtual fundraising challenge in October that allowed participants to complete either a 5K or marathon at their own pace while raising money for the project.
The $250,000 in local funds is needed to match a $456,000 federal grant awarded through the Arkansas Department of Transportation’s 2024 Transportation Alternatives Program. The federal grant covers 80% of the total construction costs, with the local match covering the remaining 20% plus establishing a maintenance fund.
The foundation was awarded the federal grant in December 2024 and must raise the matching funds before construction can begin, though no specific deadline has been announced. Federal Transportation Alternatives Program grants typically operate on multi-year cycles, with the current federal authorization extending through 2026.
Library Director Kim Crow Sheaner said the timing is ideal with connecting trails at McCabe Park and Arkansas State University-Mountain Home already in place. The project has been envisioned since the library opened its current facility in 2010.
The trail will loop around the Donald W. Reynolds Library property and connect via crosswalk to existing trail systems, providing safe walking and biking access for students from both ASU-Mountain Home and Mountain Home schools. The City of Mountain Home has already secured separate grant funding to complete a spur connecting the James and Sally Moore Recreational Trail to the sidewalk near College Street.
Foundation Coordinator Adeana Estoll said the project will extend the library’s mission beyond traditional services, allowing for outdoor programming including StoryWalk activities where children’s book pages are displayed along the trail.
The VanderStek family, which made the largest individual donation, noted the trail adds a new dimension to the library’s community services, expanding beyond traditional education and information services to include physical fitness opportunities.
The foundation’s Paving the Way for Library Hill Trail campaign offers various sponsorship levels, though contributions of any size are welcome. While the trail design has not yet been finalized, the foundation hopes to begin construction once full funding is secured.
Brian Ross, Plant Director at Danfoss, said his company was excited to support community infrastructure that promotes health and outdoor activity, calling the local library a great community showplace.
The Library Hill Trail represents part of a broader vision for connecting Mountain Home’s growing trail network. Once completed, it will link the library, which serves as a community hub with more than 35 computers and multiple meeting rooms, to the recreational amenities at McCabe Park and the educational facilities at ASU-Mountain Home.
The library opened its current 35,500-square-foot facility in 2010 with a $9.8 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and has been planning the trail addition for several years as part of its commitment to fostering a connected and active community.
To contribute to the Library Hill Trail project, contact Foundation Coordinator Adeana Estoll at [email protected] or 870-580-0705. More information is available at BaxLib.org/Library-Hill-Trail.
