Planners approve limited camping along cycling trail

Site near Razorback Greenway in downtown Springdale proposed

SPRINGDALE — Riders might soon have a place to lay their heads after a long day on the trail.

The Planning Commission on Tuesday night approved 8-0 limited camping at a spot along the Razorback Greenway in downtown.

Brenda Anderson, representing Springdale Downtown LLC, proposed the idea for the property commonly known as Magnolia Gardens on Huntsville Avenue and North Main Street. The company plans to open a bed and breakfast at the location, which has served most recently as an event center.

Thursday to Sunday nights, guests would bring their own small tents to erect on five sites. The bed and breakfast staff also will erect two tepees for guests, which Anderson described as “glamping light.” Showers and other facilities will be provided on the grounds to registered guests.

The camping and even the bed and breakfast are designed to appeal to the bicycling enthusiasts.

“Sadly, camping is fairly limited on any bit of the greenway,” said Scott Schroen, director of Ozark Trails. “Camping off the greenway might be worth doing just to do it.”

Sam Slaton, managing director of the Bike Alliance of Northwest Arkansas, said he wasn’t aware of any such facility.

“When can I sign up?” he asked. He’s ready to put his young son in the trailer, bike from Bentonville to Springdale, spend the night in Springdale and ride to Fayetteville in the morning.

A report released last week by the Walton Family Foundation stated in 2017, 90,000 tourists came from outside of the state to ride the mountain bike trails in Northwest Arkansas, Slaton quoted. They contributed $27 million to the economy. “And that’s just mountain bikers.”

Magnolia Gardens’ owners also proposed trail side services including a water station and bicycle repair stand.

Neighbors spoke before the commission expressing concerns about noise, trash and drunken and disruptive behavior.

The camp sites will be south of the bed and breakfast and accompanying buildings, away from the creek and trail, Anderson pointed out.

She said campers will be required to register with the bed and breakfast before they receive secured access to the property. Security gates, fences and landscaping are being constructed, and an on-site manager will be available to oversee the camp and campers. Additionally, quiet hours will be enforced after 10 p.m.

Patsy Christie, the city’s director of planning, said Magnolia Gardens has operated for years under a Planned Use Development zoning category, with a more detailed use of the property required. “If the parameters don’t work out, we can come back and amend it,” she told the commission.

Anderson and Christie admitted the camp sites will be an experiment.

“We’re not sure about demand,” Anderson said, and that’s why the project is small. The campsite would provide accommodations for about 18 people per night.

“Eighteen people does not seem like a huge risk,” said Commissioner Payton Parker. Commissioner Kevin Parsley said keeping the guest count small should also help with security.

Parker pointed out downtown Springdale offers no other options for lodging.

“We’re thinking outside the box,” Christie said. “It’s a unique draw to downtown Springdale,” Christie said. “There’s no other place like it in the region.”