$30 Million Razorback Regional Greenway Grand Opening Set For Saturday

The Razorback Regional Greenway will officially be dedicated in a grand opening day of activities this Saturday, May 2.

The multi-use paved trail covers 36 miles and connects the Northwest Arkansas’ four major metropolitan areas – Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, and Fayetteville, plus Lowell and Johnson.

It provides access to major destinations including schools, shopping centers, hospitals, parks, churches, and the University of Arkansas.

The trail was designed to be a major recreational amenity for bicyclists, walkers, runners and skaters, but it will also be used as an alternative transportation thoroughfare.

“Many people are already finding the convenience of using the trail to get to and from work every day,” said Misty Murphy of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Council. “Instead of fighting the traffic on Interstate 49, they’re commuting on the trail and getting in their day’s exercise at the same time.”

Individual cities and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission committed significant resources to the project.

The Razorback Regional Greenway was also supported by the Walton Family Foundation, which donated $15 million in the form of a matching grant and gift. Another $15 million was obtained through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Grant from the Federal Highway Administration.

“This is the culmination of a dream that started more than a decade ago,” said John McLarty of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission. “A lot of hard work in planning, engineering and development has gone into this project and it’s exciting to see it become a reality.”

“We are so proud to be invested in this project,” said Karen Minkel, director of the Walton Family Foundation Home Region. “The Razorback Regional Greenway serves as a shining example of what can be achieved when communities pull together for the common good, and serves as a catalyst for similar projects elsewhere around the country.”

The trail will also be transformed into an outdoor classroom for thousands of students in the region through bicycle education programs. The Walton Family Foundation recently awarded a $262,000 grant to purchase 850 bicycles for the Springdale Public School District, which will incorporate the trail in the curriculum and join the Bentonville and Fayetteville school districts in the effort.

Grand opening events will take place at various locations along the trail on Saturday beginning at 9:00 a.m. with a kickoff event at Bentonville’s Downtown Activity Center.

Rogers will have a similar ceremony at 9:30 a.m. at the Mercy Trailhead, and Fayetteville’s event will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Dickson Street near the Depot. Springdale will celebrate the opening at noon at Shiloh Square in downtown Springdale.

Train rides and Ozark Regional Transit buses will be running free routes to locations along the trail. Bicycles will be allowed on the train and buses.

Other events include a demonstration by B Cycle, a public bike sharing company, on how bike-share programs work in metropolitan areas; guided history walks; and, guided horticultural tours.

For more information or for a full event schedule, visit here.