ROGERS — Residents differ on whether to close the road around Lake Atalanta, and they will have an opportunity to address the issue at two public meetings this month, city officials said.

The first public session is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers at City Hall, 301 W. Chestnut St. A second meeting on the road issue is scheduled for Feb. 25.

Renovation of Lake Atalanta has spurred discussion since the plans were unveiled last year. Some residents oppose proposed additions to the park area, including the number of trails and the bike park. Concern has also been expressed about the possible impact the change could have on birds, wildlife and plants in the park.

John Tarr, a Rogers resident, has his mind made up about the road. “It needs to be closed,” he said.

“I would much rather see a trail around the lake instead of a road. Every time you drive by the trail by the lake in Bella Vista there are people, running, walking or pushing strollers. They seem to enjoy walking around the lake,” Tarr said. He said a trail would enhance the park.

Tarr said he would also like to have a nature center at the park featuring photos of animals that live in the park. The different species of trees could also be identified in the center.

“It could be a place where school children could go. They could go to the nature center, then walk one of the trails to identify the birds or trees they see. It would be a learning experience,” Tarr said.

Susan Miller grew up in Rogers and lives in Austin, Texas. She still owns a home in Rogers and wants the road to be kept open, she said.

“People have been using that road for more than 40 years. It allows the elderly who can’t walk around the lake the ability to drive around the lake. It also allows fishermen to drive to their favorite fishing spots and not have to carry their equipment from the parking lot,” she said.

The fate of the lake road has garnered comments on both sides of the the issue, which is one reason for the meetings, said Steve Glass, city planning and transportation director.

Three public meetings have been held on the park improvement master plan. Additionally, Glass said he and David Hook, city facilities manager, have met with several residents who oppose parts of the plan.

“There seems to be no general consensus on closing the road. We wanted to give area residents two more public meetings as a way to sort out the issue,” Glass said.

Hook said the road is a big part of the park plan.

“Until we know whether the road will be open or closed, we won’t know where to locate some trails,” Hook said.

Planning officials won’t make the final decision on the road.

“We will compile the comments and turn it over to aldermen, probably at the first council meeting in March. They are the ones who will make the decision on the road,” Hook said.

Change is often met with concern by residents, said Sheila Grant, an editor with Downtown Research and Development Center in Boonton, N.J. The center provides a forum for the exchange of news, information and ideas for Main Street organizations and municipalities through articles, books and newsletters, according to its website.

“Every downtown development has some people who don’t like the entire project, or parts of the project, because they don’t see the necessity for the project or don’t feel the project will succeed as designed,” Grant said.

Public meetings on proposed projects and one-on-one meetings with concerned residents are the best way to change the dialogue, she said.

“Although, no matter how many public meetings or private sessions with residents are held, it won’t change the minds of some people who are passionately for or against a project,” she said.

Breaking out one part of a project for additional discussion in not unusual either, Grant said.

“That, too, happens in most downtown projects. Whether to close a road or not sounds like it might need additional discussion,” she said.

Strad Will, who has lived near Lake Atalanta all his life, would like to see the road remain open.

“All I want is for the aldermen to use reason when they make the decision and not go on emotion,” Will said.