A ribbon cutting was held on Dec. 8 at 1North Adventure Trails to recognize the Red River Waterway Commission’s (Waterway Commission) funding of the purchase of an Emergency Response UTV for the use of Caddo Fire District 7 at the recreation area.
1North Adventure Trails is a newly developed recreation area in Blanchard operated and maintained by the Waterway Commission. There is a total of 547 acres with 438 acres of the land being owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the remaining 109 owned by the Caddo Levee District and leased to the Waterway Commission at no charge. The purchase of the 438 acres by USACE in 2024 completed the required 14,000-acres of mitigation acreage to offset wildlife habitat losses from the J. Bennett Johnston Waterway (Red River) Navigation Project constructed in the 1990s. The Waterway Commission is responsible for operations and maintenance of the mitigation properties which are located throughout the 7-parish Red River Waterway District.
Over the past two years, the Waterway Commission has developed 7 miles of sustainable bike optimized singletrack cross country trails at the park, with an additional 8.5 miles currently under construction. There are also almost 10 miles of wider multi-use trails for walking, running or biking, approximately 7 miles of which have a compacted gravel surface for all-weather use. The park has been open for less than a year, but the parking lot at the trailhead is frequently packed with vehicles with mountain bikers, runners and walkers enjoying the trails and nature. “The response to the development from the Shreveport-Bossier Community and the region has been overwhelmingly positive”, stated Versa Clark, Red River Waterway Commissioner at Large from Shreveport.
With mountain biking, running and other challenging activities taking place on the sometimes steep and remote hills of the park, the need for efficient emergency response was deemed vital. Many of the trails are too narrow or isolated for access by normal emergency response vehicles; as such, the need for a more suitable emergency response vehicle was considered. As a result, the Waterway Commission partnered with Caddo Fire District 7, which is responsible for emergency response at the park, to purchase an Emergency Response UTV. “This UTV will help minimize emergency response time at the park and allow first responders to provide optimal care and attention to users of the park when the need arises”, stated Caddo Fire District 7 Chief Brandon Lee. The Emergency Response UTV is equipped with a medical skid, basket, and lighting.
“We are excited to bring this unique project to the citizens of Caddo Parish and the Red River Waterway District, and we thank Chief Lee and Caddo Fire District 7 for their partnership in providing emergency response for the park” stated Ronald Lattier, Commissioner representing Caddo Parish.
The UTV will be temporarily housed at the Fire District 7 station in nearby Mooringsport, with the eventual home being a dedicated space in the park maintenance building currently under design. While Caddo Fire District 7 is responsible for emergency response at the park, the Town of Blanchard Police Department provides law enforcement duties.
The next phases of construction for 1North planned for 2026 include the main entrance area with parking, pavilions, restrooms and other amenities, and also the deepening of the 36 acre lake.
Those attending the ribbon cutting from left to right in the photo were Bill Altimus Red River Waterway Commissioner representing Bossier Parish, Thomas Jackson Fire Fighter and Jeff Wilder Captain Fire District 7, James Alexander and Neicy Bass Commissioners for the Fire District 7, Brandon Lee Chief of Fire District 7, Ron Lattier Red River Waterway Commissioner representing Caddo Parish, Tabatha Taylor Chairwoman Shreveport City Council, Jim Galambos Mayor of Blanchard, David Lowery Officer Town of Blanchard, Gerald Allen Chief of Police Town of Blanchard, and Versa Clark, Commissioner at Large for the Red River Waterway Commission.