Extension staff, volunteers create new crosswalks in downtown Marianna
July 10, 2026
By Rebekah Hall
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Two crosswalk sites are at intersections in downtown Marianna
- Crosswalk painting project funded by U.S. CDC High Obesity Program grant
- Crosswalks intended to encourage safer, more active community
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Download photos from crosswalk painting
MARIANNA, Ark. — In downtown Marianna, pedestrians, drivers and cyclists can now more safely navigate two busy intersections thanks to the Arkansas High Obesity Program.
ArHOP, a program focused on reducing obesity in Arkansas through improved nutrition, physical activity and community collaboration, recently helped establish two new crosswalks at the intersections of Poplar and Main streets and Poplar and Mississippi streets.
Darby Waites, extension High Obesity Program regional program associate for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, said the two intersections were chosen for their high traffic volumes.
“As the name suggests, Poplar and Main Street is definitely the busiest intersection in the downtown square for both pedestrians and vehicle traffic,” Waites said. “This particular spot is also the location of Court Square Park, the revenue office, police and fire stations, City Hall, the county courthouse and other businesses.”
The other high-traffic intersection at Poplar and Mississippi Street is site of churches, banks, the post office and the East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging community center, Waites said.
The Arkansas High Obesity Program, or ArHOP, funded the crosswalk project through support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control High Obesity Program. ArHOP is an initiative of the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach arm of the Division of Agriculture.
The program is currently based in 11 Arkansas counties, including Bradley, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Drew, Hempstead, Lee, Monroe, Ouachita, Phillips and St. Francis.
Extension staff and local volunteers painted the new crosswalks in June with help from Marianna police who directed traffic during installation. Waites said Pat Audirsch, chair of the Marianna/Lee County Clean Up Committee, coordinated a group of youth volunteers to help with the installation. Marianna Mayor Ora Stevens and Lee County Judge Terry Sandefer were also valuable partners on the project, Waites said.
Ashley Cuzzort, Lee County extension staff chair for the Division of Agriculture, said working with the mayor and county judge on the project was a “seamless process.”
“It’s highly important for extension to build strong relationships with our local government,” Cuzzort said. “As a small county and community, we all want the same thing — to make life better and safer for our residents.
“Marianna has never had crosswalks before, so I’m looking forward to seeing how these will impact our community,” Cuzzort said.
A healthier, safer community
The crosswalk project builds on another ArHOP program in Marianna, which installed wayfinding signage in the downtown Marianna area in 2023.
“During the previous HOP grant cycle, we received funding to install wayfinding signage to promote walking and biking to everyday destinations throughout town,” Waites said. “The goal with the follow-up project of the crosswalks was to make intersections in main areas safer so more pedestrians could be comfortable navigating throughout town with the new signage.”
Waites said the wayfinding signage includes prompts, such as average distances and times for walking and biking, to show residents that “most walks and bike rides are quicker than you may assume, but can be very beneficial to health, wellness and physical activity levels.”
“The addition of the signage was important to the mission of ArHOP, as it promotes active transportation, leading to an overall healthier life and reduction of obesity,” Waites said.
“Making places accessible for all, including those who cannot afford a vehicle or have the ability to drive, helps people move through their communities more safely,” she said.
Waites said she has heard from residents that they are enjoying the crosswalks and would like more installed in the community. Two additional crosswalk locations at intersections on a nearby street, which also feature wayfinding signage, will be painted this fall to complete the next phase of the crosswalk project.
“I hope this leads to an increase in physical activity and highlights the need for more crosswalks and safety measures to make Marianna a safer and more active community,” Waites said.
Visit the ArHOP program page on the Cooperative Extension Service website to learn more.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
501-671-2061