“They don’t understand what a precious and increasingly scarce product clean water is and how it contributes to wildlife and vegetation that sustain life.”

The $2 million project, set to begin construction this winter, is a collaboration of The Conservation Fund, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the William J. Clinton Foundation. Audubon Arkansas, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission , The Nature Conservancy, the Army Corps of Engineers, the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, the City Parks Conservancy and the City of Little Rock.

“The Game and Fish Commission had four (committee) members – Neil Curry, Jane Anderson, Steve Filipek and Elizabeth Murray – who brought great expertise at all levels, whether you’re talking about fish or habitat,” Kumpuris said. “We have an amazing group of people.”

Clinton said the project is much larger than a spit of land along the Arkansas River.

“This may seem like 13 acres to people who’ll just look at it and they’ll say, ‘Isn’t this beautiful and wasn’t it nice that that nice man’s friends gathered up money and set aside this land and they did this.’ This is way bigger than this. Bill Clark knew how things were built and he knew how nature worked. We have to teach the world how things are built and how nature works.”

Clark, who died of cancer at 63 last May 15, was chairman and chief executive officer of CDI Contractors LLC. He served many civic rolls, including stints on the University of Arkansas, Arkansas Arts Center and St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center boards of trustees. He also was an outdoorsman who loved to duck hunt and – as Clinton pointed out – enjoyed a good game of golf.

“He loved building things and loved leaving Mother Nature alone. Last year I saw a fox on our wetlands site. Goodness knows how many foxes we’re going to get out there once we build them a bridge and make it easy for them,” Clinton said with a laugh. “We couldn’t have done anything that would have made Bill Clark happier.

President Clinton Joins Friends & Family Of Late Bill Clark To Unveil Plans For Wetlands Restoration
Project Will Be Lasting Memorial to Little Rock Civic Leader

LITTLE ROCK – Surrounded by family and friends of the late civic leader William E. “Bill” Clark, President Bill Clinton and Little Rock City Director Dean Kumpuris today unveiled the plans for the thirteen (13) acre William E. Clark Presidential Park Wetlands Project, which will be a lasting memorial to the Little Rock businessman, philanthropist, and outdoorsman who died earlier this year.

The Clark Wetlands Project involves the restoration of riverfront wetlands adjacent to the Clinton Presidential Park and Riverfront Park in downtown Little Rock.  It is designed to showcase wildlife and river life in a restored wetlands habitat for the education and enjoyment of the hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to the Clinton Presidential Park and Library and Little Rock’s River Market District. 

The William E. Clark Presidential Park Wetlands Project is the result of a national collaboration between The Conservation Fund, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and the William J. Clinton Foundation.  Also participating in the Clark Wetlands Project are Audubon Arkansas, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, the City Parks Conservancy, and the City of Little Rock.

The Wetlands is named for William E. “Bill” Clark, an avid outdoorsman and strong business, civic, charitable, and political leader in Arkansas for over three decades. The Clark and Dillard families created one of the South’s largest construction firms, CDI, of which Bill served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Bill built his personal and professional reputation nationally as CDI successfully completed award-winning projects from coast to coast.

As the builder of the Clinton Presidential Library, Bill Clark and CDI turned the attention of the world to Little Rock for innovation, craftsmanship, skill, and quality in completing perhaps the most intriguing, efficient, environmentally-sensitive Presidential Library in our nation’s history.

In remembering his friend, President Clinton noted, “Bill Clark was respected and beloved throughout Arkansas for his leadership, generosity, candor, humor, and ability to make things happen. Throughout his career, he transformed many landscapes, and the transformation of the Wetlands is a tribute to him personally. It is also a major, environmentally-sensitive addition to the riverfront of Little Rock and to the area which is now the home of my Presidential Library and Heifer International world headquarters.”

Clark’s friend and fellow outdoorsman Dr. Kumpuris remarked, “Bill always loved the outdoors and devoted much of his time to preserving and enjoying it. An avid hunter and fisherman, he spent many sunrises and sunsets overlooking the Arkansas River and wetlands, enjoying nature.  With this project, millions more will get to share that same experience and do so in the City that Bill loved next to two parks that he loved.”

The Clark Wetlands will provide unprecedented public access to conservation, tourism, educational, environmental, and wildlife opportunities.  The project will feature pedestrian trails and an elevated walkway to provide access to the entire site.  The Clark Wetlands will also include two bridges that offer spectacular views of the Arkansas River, the channel stream, and wetland and aquatic habitats.  It will feature interpretive displays and observation pavilions for visitors, students, and patrons to both enjoy and learn from the Clark Wetlands.

Arkansas Times Check the jump for the details on the 13-acre wetlands park to be build along the Arkansas River next to the Clinton Library. It will be named in honor of the late William Clark.