The starting point of the Razorback Greenway in south Fayetteville at Kessler Mountain Regional Park. | Photo credit: Chloe Johnson
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Northwest Arkansas continues to rapidly grow in population. Many new residents move here to use one of the region’s most noteworthy quality-of-life features: parks, trails and recreational spaces throughout the cities. And along with that growth has come an increase in federal grants and donations to maintain and upgrade those spaces.
About 50.7 million people visited the state of Arkansas in 2023.
Arkansas’s attractions draw people in from all over to enjoy hiking in the mountains, riding throughout the trails and enjoying the scenery.
Northwest Arkansas led the state in tourism in 2024, and the region saw a 4.9% increase in visitors, according to a Tourism Economics report. NWA provides a vast number of options for outdoor lovers. This is all possible from the help of a complex blend of funding mechanisms including input from federal, state and local government.
Northwest Arkansas has received federal grant money for decades. These funds have been used to enhance the outdoor offerings in the region. The resulting public spaces and park projects include well-designed, structured trails and communal outdoor spaces.
For many residents in Fayetteville, these upgrades have directly impacted their everyday lives.
Russell Stewart, an employee at Phat Tire Bike Shop in Fayetteville, uses outdoor spaces to “ride for fun or ride to work,” he said. “I’ll ride the Greenway mostly to get to work.”
With support from the community and the federal government, many resources within the surrounding areas receive millions of dollars in renovations and upgrades.
Fayetteville is known for hosting events such as cycling competitions, and various running events, ranging from 5Ks to charity runs. With the Boston Mountains nearby and Ouachitas also withing driving range, hiking and mountain biking are popular at several different state parks within Arkansas.
Federal grants have contributed millions of dollars towards outdoor activities and park development.
“In 2023 alone, the outdoor recreation economy contributed $7.3 billion to Arkansas’ GDP, supported more than 68,000 jobs, and generated nearly 8% of all state tax revenue,” Katherine Andrews, director of Arkansas’ Office of Outdoor Recreation, said in a press release. “Through our Outdoor Recreation Grants Program, we’re funding trail systems, access points and recreation amenities across the state that enhance quality of life and drive local economies,” Andrews said.
From 2019 to 2023, Arkansas Outdoor Recreation’s construction has increased 8%, with projects including outdoor trail buildings and hunting lodges. The Outdoor Recreation Grants Program has helped Arkansas for many years by supporting and building parks and trails throughout Northwest Arkansas. Federal funds support those efforts as well, as do the local communities where the projects are located.
“Transportation trails have over the years been able to get federal funding to help support it,” said Fayetteville Park Planner Superintendent Ted Jack, who also credits philanthropic efforts like money from the Walton Family Foundation for the continued regional emphasis on outdoor recreation opportunities. “The local citizenry, through their taxes, are paying for most of the work,” he said.
The Economics of Trail Usage
The economic impacts have been felt at the state and local levels.
In 2022, a Northwest Arkansas resident survey collected data regarding the region’s infrastructure of natural surface and hard-surface trails and how they impact the behavior of Arkansans in Northwest Arkansas.
The most popular surface for local riders was mountain trails, with 44% of riders using this type of trail. Road participants were not far behind with 38.4% usage rates.
Construction of the Razorback Greenway
Perhaps the most prominent of the trails in Northwest Arkansas is the Razorback Greenway.
In the 2000s, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, known as NWARPC, began the process of creating this regional trail. While the idea was proposed for years, in 2006, Fayetteville voted to provide $2.1 million towards the trail’s construction. It kicked off further momentum for the project.
“All of these federal funds are administered through the state or through the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission,” said Matthew Mihalevich, active transportation manager for the city of Fayetteville. “We are a large enough Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), where we have our own grant program through the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission as well.”
The NWARPC was funded by a large grant from 2009 to 2011. During this time period, the NWARPC collected $30 million to create the trail. The TIGER grant federally funded $15 million towards the Greenway’s construction, and the other half of the funding came from local sources.
“A lot of the cities, like Springdale, didn’t have to pay any local money for the Greenway, it was covered by the Walton Family and the federal grant.” Mihalevich said.
The Razorback Greenway officially opened in 2015, spanning 37 miles at the time. Additional Walton Family Foundation funding allowed for three more miles of trail, which now covers 40 miles.
“Mile Zero” starts in south Fayetteville, with the trailhead located near the intersection of Insterstate 49 and Cato Springs Road. The end of the trail in Bella Vista can be accessed near the Bella Vista Lake Park on Mercy Way.
As it exists today, the Razorback Greenway is a path of connections through the seven downtown areas. It extends through multiple destinations, passing 23 schools, the University of Arkansas and three major hospitals and more along its route.
Funding for Local Projects
Localized efforts also ensure upgrades for public spaces. Fayetteville’s Yvonne Richardson Community Center and Ralph “Buddy” Hayes Park were expanded and upgraded in the past two years. With these expansions, the main goal was to help youth experience the outdoors and have extra educational spaces. The Yvonne Richardson Center provides recreational and educational opportunities to improve social advantages.
The YRCC Expansion was approved through the 2019 Bond Funded Project approved by Fayetteville taxpayers, with $1.3 million earmarked for park upgrades. The center is staffed and maintained by the Natural Resources and Fayetteville Parks and Cultural Affairs department.
The Walton Family Foundation added an additional $1.3 million to be invested in park upgrades and expansion plans.
The master plan for Bryce Davis Park was proposed Oct. 2, 2023. It too uses funds from the bond authorized in 2019 and helped incorporate additional outdoor resources for the park. The construction will add dog park pavilions, a dog washing station and newly renovated sidewalks.
“The biggest thing that changed since I got here in the past eight years is that the city passed a bond in 2019. That had money in it for parks. It had around $26.4 million in it and of course, that’s funded by the sales tax here. So, people were basically funding that, and it was passed in 2019,” Jack said.
In September 2025, construction began on Walker Park to replace an outdated playground at what Jack said was the second-oldest park in Fayetteville. The updated park will include basketball, sand volleyball and tennis courts, playgrounds and an updated pavilion. This work was also funded by the Park Improvement Bond approved by Fayetteville residents in April 2019, along with the additional funds from the city of Fayetteville General Fund.
“Next year, there’s going to be a renewal to repass that again. So, there’s a lot of nuances to this, but the sales tax we have is paying off that bond. It’s now gotten to the point where it’s paid off,” Jack said.
Construction effort in Walker Park began Sept. 17 and is scheduled for overall completion in late summer of 2026.
Funding Mechanisms for Future Projects
Outdoor spaces will continue to be a focus for the state and region moving forward.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation announced 12 new projects in Northwest Arkansas in October 2025, with a combined value of $3.1 million. This money will go towards the 2025 Transportation Alternative and Recreational Trails programs.
Additionally, the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism of Arkansas awarded $3.85 million in Outdoor Recreation Grants in FY2025. This money will go towards projects throughout 20 counties in Arkansas.
“I want Arkansas to be the best state in America to live, to work, and to raise a family. But in order to do that, we have to make big improvements to things like our schools, our state parks, and public safety. We are proud to announce that $3.85 million we’re distributing will stretch across Arkansas and across outdoor activities,” Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at a press conference.
On June 9, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission awarded a $16.6 million federally funded grant towards trails, sidewalks, local roads and safety projects. The funds will be disbursed through Fayetteville, Bentonville, Bella Vista, Springdale, Rogers and many other local cities.
With these cities growing in population — with a prediction of one million Northwest Arkansas residents by 2050 — local grants and donations are particularly useful when coupled with federal dollars.
The Drake Street Trail project in Fayetteville was federally funded a total of $1.21 million through Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning commission, along with the Transportation Alternatives Program. This grant will go towards the construction of the upcoming Drake Street Trail that will connect with the Razorback Greenway and Gordon Long Park.
The city is transforming the street from being a four lane road into a two-way protected trail for citizens within Fayetteville. The final production of the renovated street is estimated for completion in 2026.