Mercy Trailhead Wins Top Prize for CEI Engineering

A water quality improvement project tied to a trailhead on the recently completed Razorback Regional Greenway has been recognized by the American Council of Engineering Companies.

The ACEC presented Bentonville’s CEI Engineering Associates Inc. with the Grand Conceptor Award, the organization’s top honor for engineering excellence. The award is given to one outstanding project from any of the ACEC’s award categories. CEI was recognized for the state’s best engineering project in 2014 within the Water Resources-Small Division.

According to a news release, the water quality improvement demonstrations were at the trailhead southeast of Mercy Hospital along Rife Medical Lane in Rogers. It began as an initiative from the Illinois River Watershed Partnership, with an initial task to create a water quality demonstration and educational program for the Illinois River Watershed.

The trailhead was identified because of its central location between Bentonville and Rogers, and its direct connection to the Illinois River Watershed.

The Mercy trailhead was completed in May 2013 as part of the 36-mile RRG, which stretches from Bella Vista to Fayetteville. A grand opening for the trail system is scheduled May 2 in downtown Springdale.

B&A Property Maintenance of Springdale was the general contractor for the $48,500 project.

Development team members included Delia Haak, executive director of the Illinois River Watershed Partnership, Tom Oppenheim, Jacob Shy, Nathan Streett, Daniel Marley, Mike Clotfelter and Victoria Reiter with CEI and Steve Glass and Lance Jobe with the city of Rogers.