City issues call for volunteers to build protected bike lane

Bella Vista invites residents and businesses to come out on Friday, Oct. 28, to help build a protected bike lane at the northern entrance of the Lake Bella Vista Trail. The bike lane will close the Bella Vista Trail loop and connect to the Bowling Springs trails to the north, including Cooper Elementary School.

The demonstration project will be built starting at 9 a.m. in front of the Veterans Wall of Honor.

Funded by the Walton Family Foundation, and in partnership with Benton County, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission and the Bicycle Coalition of the Ozarks, the venture is to create a demonstration project that will connect the Lake Bella Vista Trail with the Blowing Springs trails via a combination of protected bike lanes and off-road trails.

The project will be implemented with the technical assistance of the Street Plans Collaborative, an award-winning urban planning, design and advocacy firm with experience helping cities implement needed transportation projects with a fraction of the budget and shorter timelines than conventional projects.

“We have had exceptionally positive responses already from our residents about the new public trail system here, and now we are looking forward to working with the community on this project to help us grow and enhance our city and our region even more,” said Mayor Peter Christie.

The community is encouraged to participate in the BikeNWA demonstration project. For more information, contact Chris Suneson at csuneson@bellavistaar.gov or (479) 268-4980.