Development concept plan : Tyler Bend : Buffalo National River, Arkansas

National Park Service. Denver Service Center

This Development Concept Plan , Tyler Bend , Buffalo National River addresses the following specific concerns for the development and use of Tyler Bend: Of the three areas identified for major development in the Master Plan , Tyler Bend has the least existing recreational development and use; consequently, there are more options for future use. U.S. 65 is the most heavily traveled road bisecting the river. The floating season frequently extends into the summer months at Tyler Bend, leading to a potential conflict between floater put-in and take-out and swimming activities. Some structures remaining at Tyler Bend may qualify as interpretive "discovery" sites. Some of these discovery sites have the potential to contribute to a cultural interpretive program. There are few commercial recreational services within convenient driving distance of Tyler Bend at this time. Periodic flooding occurs on the lower floodplains, limiting the type of facilities that can be developed close to the river. Developments need to be located within easy access of the river resource for visitor convenience, but they must be adequately screened by floodplain vegetation and landforms to visually enhance the floaters' experience. Although Buffalo National River has been designated as a recreational river--allowing appropriate facility development to support visitor use—development should be designed to permit protection and enhancement of the resource. Accessibility to and use of park facilities by physically and mentally handicapped visitors must be ensured in conformance with applicable provisions of the Design and Construction of Public Buildings to Accommodate the Physically Handicapped Act (P.L. 90-480, 82 Stat. 718) and other applicable laws and regulations. In conformance with Executive Order 120031, "Energy and Conservation," buildings will be designed and constructed to be energy efficient. The limiting physical factors of rugged slopes (slopes from 10 to 20 percent grade and over), unfavorable soils, bottomland prone to flooding, travel distance, and the presence of Creek a site on the National Register of Historic Places, affect planning and design of the Tyler Bend area.