From Fort Smith to Bentonville, cities across Arkansas are discovering that paved trails do far more than provide a place to stroll; they connect people, neighborhoods, and daily life.
Arkansas is quickly becoming a model for communities nationwide that aspire to build trail networks offering meaningful alternative transportation options. The state’s growing system of bikeways and greenways demonstrates that trails are far more than recreation, they are a vital part of how cities move forward.
FORT SMITH IN MOTION. When Ben Geren Park constructed one of Fort Smith’s first paved trails in the early 2000s, its intended use was strictly recreational. The goal was to provide bicyclists and pedestrians with a hard-surfaced pathway where they could exercise amid the scenic wooded and prairie terrain of Sebastian County’s largest park.
Today, that same trail is part of an expanding network of paved pathways that offer a safe, healthy, alternative means of transportation. The driving force behind this growth has been one priority: connectivity.
Homebuyers increasingly prioritize neighborhoods that offer walkability, access to outdoor recreation, and proximity to everyday destinations. Studies by the National Association of Realtors show that property values near trails and greenways can increase by as much as 15 percent.
Residents of neighborhoods such as Highland Crossing, Haven, Huntington Chase, Reata, and Stone Brook can now walk or bike from their front doors to numerous destinations using a network of separated paved trails. Restaurants, grocers, health clinics, breweries, park facilities, and many other popular spots are accessible without ever starting a car.
Fort Smith leaders recognize the importance of connected greenways and continue to support their expansion. Fort Smith Mobility Coordinator Michael Mings says the city has a new trail underway that will offer a high degree of connectivity in yet another part of town.
“When complete, the Maybranch Greenway will connect many of Fort Smith’s most celebrated public spaces, such as the Riverfront Trail, Creekmore Park, and the Public Library,” Michael said. “Other destinations that will be accessible by the Greenway include grocery stores, restaurants, schools, neighborhoods, and numerous parks and greenspaces.”
With Phase 1A of the Greenway complete, the trail is already seeing extensive use.
Another Fort Smith trail worth celebrating, even though it does not connect to other pathways, is the 1.2-mile Carol Ann Cross Greenway and Boardwalk. Named the Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association’s 2025 Hard Surface Trail of the Year, the scenic route provides a beautiful link from its namesake neighborhood park to a serene overlook on the banks of the Arkansas River featuring an ADA-accessible concrete trail, and elevated boardwalk.
CONNECTIVITY IN NWA. As the 40-mile Razorback Greenway celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2024, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission (NWARPC) set out to develop a plan for how the trail could serve the region’s future needs. With support from a Walton Family Foundation grant, the group conducted a study examining how residents across the seven cities along the route were using the Greenway. The results mirrored what Fort Smith has seen: recreation was the trail’s primary use, accounting for 91 percent of activity.
NWARPC Multimodal Transportation Planner Tim Reavis said the findings were shared with leaders from each community. The next question for the group was how the Greenway could evolve to meet future needs.
The unanimous answer was connectivity. Many communities noted that the Greenway does not currently reach their neighborhoods, limiting its usefulness for commuting, errands, and social activities.
The lone exception was Rogers. Trail Manager Kara King explained that Rogers faced a similar challenge years earlier when the original Greenway alignment bypassed the city’s downtown. In response, Rogers connected existing trails and built new ones to create the 15.2-mile Railyard Loop, which now spans much of the city.
The Railyard Loop not only connects Downtown Rogers to the Razorback Greenway, but also links residential areas to businesses, schools, parks, entertainment, and industry. Ten schools and nine city parks sit directly along the Loop, with seven additional parks available via connecting trails.
“The goal is to not only provide the citizens of Rogers a safe space to explore the trails recreationally, but also to provide a safe alternative transportation route,” Kara said. Lighting is the next step in improving usability, and NWARPC may support that upgrade.
BENTONVILLE PLAN. Bentonville, which has long enjoyed direct Greenway access to its downtown, did not experience the same initial challenges as Rogers. However, the city’s rapid westward expansion has created new connectivity gaps. To address this, Bentonville has begun work on the 25-mile Bentonville Greenway Loop.
Josh Stacey, Deputy Director of Bentonville Parks and Recreation, explained that the 8th Street Gateway Park, now under construction, will serve as the western anchor of the loop. The 100-acre park will close an important gap in the trail system and offer a destination for cyclists and pedestrians. Features will include a signature playground, climbing boulders, a beginner mountain bike trail, walking paths, a three-acre Great Lawn, a pavilion, and custom urban furniture designed for gathering with friends in a natural setting.
Beyond its amenities, the park is being designed as a community hub for West Bentonville, blending outdoor play, restored natural landscapes, and room for neighbors to come together. It will connect fast-growing neighborhoods to the city’s expanding trail network, support healthier watersheds through thoughtful ecological design, and give residents new opportunities to enjoy the outdoors close to home. As NWARPC continues partnering with regional communities to strengthen trail connectivity, the link created through this park will play an important role in completing the Bentonville Greenway Loop and improving mobility throughout Northwest Arkansas.
