NW Arkansas group drafts open-spaces plan
FAYETTEVILLE — The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission has completed the final draft of an open-space plan for the region and will present it next week in three workshops.
“I’d like for citizens to get an overview of the plan so they understand the goals and how the plan will be implemented,” said Elizabeth Bowen, who headed up the project.
Opportunities to be outdoors contribute substantially to the livability of Northwest Arkansas, regional planners say.
Planners want to develop a coordinated, voluntary program to protect and promote the region’s most valued natural landscapes and open spaces. The goal is to preserve those assets in order to maintain a high quality of life as the region continues to grow and to make natural areas in Benton and Washington counties available to residents.
The commission and Alta Planning + Design started working on the plan in January. The plan was funded by a $350,000 grant from the Walton Family Foundation.
The regional planning commission’s resolution to accept the grant said that livability and quality-of-life initiatives are important to future economic development in Northwest Arkansas. A stated goal of the Walton Family Foundation is to preserve a sense of place.
During the planning process, multiple public meetings have been held in Fayetteville, Bentonville, Garfield, Springdale, Rogers, Prairie Grove, Gen- and Siloam Springs.
Numerous comments and suggestions were received, and many have been incorporated into the final draft plan, Bowen said.
Planners estimate that about 750,000 people will live in Benton and Washington counties by 2040, an increase of almost 300,000 people.
“We’re going to continue to grow,” said John McLarty, a senior planner. “We need to keep these areas that are attracting people to this area now so that people won’t be leaving in 2040. We want to preserve those assets and the quality of life.”
Open spaces include the regional trail system, national forests, state and national parks, wildlife management areas, rivers, areas around Beaver Lake, University of Arkansas agricultural property, city parks, properties held in trust and land owned by private nonprofit groups.
Regional planners said benefits to preserving open space in communities include creating a high quality of life that attracts businesses and residents; stimulating commercial growth and promoting city revitalization; boosting local economies by attracting tourists and supporting outdoor recreation; floodplain protection; protecting agricultural land to safeguard farming economies and communities; and safeguarding drinking water and clean air.
The final version of the plan is expected to go before the regional planning commission in February. The resulting plan will be incorporated into the region’s long-term master plan.