The City of Rison, Arkansas has been selected as a Blossoming Growing Healthy Community! The City of Rison has a Community Garden that received a Grant from the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention and the grant was used to complete a demonstration high tunnel project that will allow local residents to extend their growing season and provide fresh, whole, healthy foods for their families and the community markets.

The grant funding from the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention was also used to implement 27 raised garden beds, strategies implemented for the City of Rison has expanded to meet the needs of the entire county and a coalition has been formed and is known now as “kick Start Cleveland County.” Working through Kick start Cleveland County, new farmers markers were established in New Edinburg and Woodlawn, areas that did not have access to local foods previously, these Venues also afforded local farmers the opportunity to market their produce. 

The Woodlawn School district of Cleveland County recently completed a $150.000.00 fitness trail that includes a ¼ mile walking path with various workout stations. Cleveland County is positioning itself to become a state leader to teach people to grow their own food by hosting an event titled “Arkansas Homesteading Conference” over 300 people from 22 counties attended the event last year. In the past year, famer’s markets were established in 2 more communities within Cleveland County which brings the county’s total to three farmers markets. Cleveland County is really growing and making an effort to better suit the needs of varies communities and counties.