Corridor

Ron and Sandy Perry, who live east of the Fay Jones woods and Fayetteville Public Library, said they were excited about new trails and having more options for activities outside. Sandy Perry said she particularly liked the performance space planned for the woods. The space, matched with musical performances or art on display and maybe a little wine, could make for a serene experience, she said.

“The music and the arts and people getting together, I think it’s awesome,” Sandy Perry said.

Ron Perry said the proposed work will enhance safety. He said he frequently walks the area near the woods, and while functional, there’s the potential for violent incidents on the trails. The woods, with overgrowth and a lack of lighting, can serve as a camping spot, which isn’t safe for anybody, Ron Perry said.

Mike and Brittney Daily, who live south of the library, said it will be nice to have better connectivity for pedestrians and bicycles with a park made out of the woods. Mike Daily said he uses Frisco Trail, but getting through the overgrowth isn’t a pleasant experience.

“I wouldn’t say it’s easy to walk through,” he said.

The woods as they are now don’t serve as an attraction, Mike Daily said. He said he felt much of what was shown activates the potential of spots downtown.

Brittney Daily said she’s seen other cities in Northwest Arkansas investing in their downtowns, and Fayetteville has to keep up. The plans effectively put together different pieces, such as the library expansion, murals and venues such as TheatreSquared, to create a cohesive corridor, she said.

“I feel like all the cities are trying to find their identity,” Brittney Daily said. “This is going to be good for Fayetteville.”

Kevin and Becky Stegen, eastside residents of the city, said improving West Avenue in particular will bring a different vibe to downtown. New retail will likely come in with the new sidewalks,

Kevin Stegen used as an example.

Bringing more people downtown brings more diversity of life, Becky Stegen said.

“It’s kind of like having the square over here, but with more energy,” she said.

Construction on the first phase should begin in spring. The parking deck could begin construction about a year after that. A location hasn’t been finalized. Work to turn the Walton Arts Center parking lot into a gathering space won’t start until after the deck is finished, most likely in 2022.

Voters in April approved a nearly $31.7 million bond issue to create the arts corridor. The City Council hired landscape architects Nelson Byrd Woltz in June 2018 to lead the design team.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/STACY RYBURN Breck Gastinger (left), lead designer for the Fayetteville cultural arts corridor, speaks Wednesday with residents Kendall Curlee (from left) and Sandy and Ron Perry during an information session at TheatreSquared. Designers and city staff were on hand to answer questions from the public about the first phase of the project, which involves the Fay Jones woods and improvements to West Avenue and the trail network downtown.