Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines was all smiles as he sat on a bench that was dedicated in his honor of his advocation of Coleman Creek improvements.

Villines was honored at the Coleman Creek Trail Dedication and Grand Opening Ceremony Monday, April 21, held on the UALR campus. The bench was inscribed with a plaque that thanked Villines for being a “champion of parks and trails.”

In remarks made during the dedication, Villines confessed he had grown up during the “couch potato generation.” However, new generations expect and need more, he said.

“Nearly one million people have walked the Two Rivers bridge and park since April 2012,” Villines said. “Folks, people will be flocking here.”

Villines will have served 30 years as an elected official when his current term ends.

Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola also delivered remarks at Monday’s dedication, saying it represented a tremendous opportunity for the campus to facilitate its primary purpose–learning.

“This is just another level of growth for our wonderful university,” he said.

UALR Chancellor Joel E. Anderson said the newly dedicated creek trail provided natural beauty for personal enjoyment and exercise, and he thanked a wide range of agencies who had worked together to ensure its completion.

“Good things happen when we all work together,” he said.

Also attending the event were Program Manager Randy Dennis of the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council, which provided major support for the development of the trail, and Charlie Coleman, a member of the Coleman family of Coleman Dairy, originally near the UALR campus.

Members of the Coleman Creek Parkway Committee and the UALR Sustainability Committee were also recognized.

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