BENTONVILLE — Clouds gave way to clear blue skies Friday morning as more than 100 cyclists celebrated the opening of a section of the Razorback Greenway with a group ride from the Bentonville square to the “Bridge to the Future” in south Rogers.
With the completion of the Wishing Springs Trail in Bentonville and the opening of the bridge in Rogers, pedestrians and cyclists can now walk, bike or run from Lake Bella Vista to the Pinnacle Hills Promenade on the greenway. When complete, the 36-mile greenway will stretch from Bentonville to Fayetteville.
At A Glance
Wishing Springs Trail Opening Celebration
When: Today from 9 a.m. to noon
Where: Trailhead behind AMP Sign and Banner on Wishing Spring Road in north Bentonville
What: Fun Run/Walk, followed by a ribbon cutting and a family bike ride
Source: Staff Report
Long hailed “the bridge to nowhere,” the bridge near Exit 82 on Interstate 540 in Rogers was lined with 40 Lincoln Junior High School students in blaze orange shirts Friday as they turned around at the end of the paved trail. All 106 cyclists took a ceremonial trip over the bridge before heading back to a clearing to hear comments from officials associated with the greenway.
“Aren’t you excited?” a chipper Dick Trammel asked cyclists while they rested and drank water after the ride to the bridge. Trammel is the region’s representative on the Arkansas State Highway Commission.
He cited public-private partnerships in the region as key to bringing the greenway to fruition. The Walton Family Foundation provided matching money so the region could qualify for a federal Tiger II grant of $15 million. The 16-mile, federally funded portion of the Greenway will extend from Rogers through Lowell and Springdale, ending at Lake Fayetteville.
Scott Bennett, director of the state Highway and Transportation Department, said the greenway is one way partners are broadening the view of transportation from just cars and trucks on highways. He said pedestrian and cycling trails help stimulate the economy while keeping residents healthy.
Lindsay Custer of Bentonville rode with a group from Friends at Slaughter Pen Trails, a local trail support organization, during Friday’s celebration. She said she sometimes rides her bike from Bentonville to Pinnacle Hills Promenade on nice days.
“I’m excited I can do that now without having to worry about cars,” Custer said.
Bentonville Mayor Bob McCaslin led the riders as they set out from the square. Five officers from the Bentonville Police Department’s bike squad rode alongside the group, while additional officers and Parks Department staff made sure road crossings were safe for riders.
Most of the trail connecting the two cities is a wide, striped concrete path that meanders alongside parks or creeks. In Rogers, the trail merges onto the sidewalk on New Hope Road before doubling back under Interstate 540.
The event kicked off EnergizeNWA, the Endeavor Foundation’s new healthy living initiative.
“We’re connecting community leaders and coordinating efforts dedicated to making the healthy choice the easy choice, and the greenway makes it easy to be active,” said Anita Scism, president of the foundation.
“Today’s greenway celebration certainly energized Northwest Arkansas and we look forward to celebrating with the community as the rest of the trails open,” she said.