Our Non Profit Partners: Featuring the OORC

The OORC’s mission is simple: to advocate for, build, maintain and preserve sustainable multi-use soft surface trails in the Arkansas Ozarks.

Brannon Pack, the Executive Director of the OORC, made it clear that it is of top priority for the OORC to provide trails for all outdoor enthusiasts in the Arkansas Ozarks, not just for mountain bikers. He said that through such multi-use trails they hope to break down boundaries within the outdoor community.

The OORC (Ozark Off Roads Cyclists) began as a trail building non profit long before recent boom in trail building was shaped. Since 1997 they have been working with local, state, and federal agencies to build our trail systems into what they are today. They have been hugely instrumental in developing and building trails at Lake Fayetteville City Park, Mt. Sequoyah, Kessler Mountain, Lake Leatherwood Park in Eureka Springs, Devil's Den State Park, Hobbs State Park, The Buffalo Headwaters Trail System, Lincoln Lake, and numerous other projects that are in the development stage.

In the recent years, as more and more people have moved to the Ozarks, the OORC has stepped up their game. “We respond to people when they request,” said said Pack. “This year has been about growth.” That growth has included the establishment of four new OORC branches, in Caroll County, Russellville, West Benton County, and Fort Smith. The OORC is aiming for the inclusion of two new branches per year.

Another great indicator of their recent growth, was the addition of Pack’s full time job as Executive Director of the non profit. With the massive regional growth in multi-use trail systems, operating strictly with volunteers was no longer sustainable for long term growth. They hope this choice in expansion will allow the organization continued success in providing for the outdoor community through more active leadership, membership growth, event representation, public communication, and through cultivating public land management agency partnerships.

Fresh on the OORC’s docket is the Gregory Park project. Centrally located in Fayetteville about two miles from Woodland Jr. High, plans for the 19 acre Gregory Park property include an updated trail system with the design, build, and maintenance overseen by the OORC. This project was unanimously approved by the Fayetteville Parks Advisory Board in early October 2016. The multi-use trails will provide space for both student athletes, businesses, and area residents alike. Cycling specific flow trails as well as hiking/multi-use trails will be created. The OORC will be creating volunteer opportunities for supporters in the community shortly.

The OORC regularly partners with a variety of user groups, land managers, and businesses to support and run numerous outdoor recreation events including educational training in sustainable trail building, group rides, races, and trail work days. The Club is a proud Chapter Member of IMBA (The International Mountain Bike Association).

Join the #OORC and fellow trail advocates for our monthly Member Meetings, held the 2nd Tuesday of each month. For more information or to join the OORC, please visit http://ozarkoffroadcyclists.org/. You can find out about upcoming events here, learn about volunteer opportunities here, sign up for the monthly newsletters here, or like their facebook page here.