ROGERS — City Council members on Tuesday will consider buying land near Bellview Road for a segment of the Razorback Greenway trail system.
The city seeks to buy 10 acres for $201,662 between Bellview Road, near a creek, west to the Manors subdivision, said Steve Glass, Rogers director of planning and transportation. The land is owned by GM LLC.
“We have to buy the property first, then the city will be reimbursed from the Tiger II grant and private foundation money,” Glass said.
Tiger II is a $600 million federal grant program of the Department of Transportation.
The segment of trail will be 1,200 feet long as is passes through the 10 acres, Glass said.
The 36-mile Razorback Greenway will link Frisco Trail in Fayetteville to the Bella Vista trail in Bentonville.
“The idea is to connect Washington and Benton counties with a walking and biking trail, to provide recreation and exercise possibilities for area residents,” said Barney Hayes, Rogers park director.
The trail will also improve the quality of life in Northwest Arkansas, Hayes said.
“People moving from other areas of the country are accustomed to amenities such as trails. The Razorback, along with individual trail systems in other cities along the route, will add to the quality of life for a long time,” Hayes said.
Dennis Blind with Alta/Greenways, the planning and design firm handling design of the greenway, said the 10 acres is needed for a mediation project.
“We plan to plant prairie grass on that section of the trail which will run near a creek in the area,” Blind said. The grass will not only add to the natural landscape, but will keep hold the soil from leaching into the creek.
Construction bids for the new section of trail are expected to be let within the 30 to 45 days, Blind said.