Construction is set to begin next month on a $3.53 million project to relocate a 2,500-foot-long segment of the Razorback Greenway in north Bentonville. A Walton Family Foundation grant will pay for the work that includes two new pedestrian bridges.
On Tuesday (Aug. 26), Bentonville City Council accepted a $3.53 million grant from the Walton Family Foundation for the construction of the new bridges and rerouted section of the Razorback Greenway. According to a news release, the grant was made at the recommendation of Steuart Walton and his brother, Tom Walton. They are grandsons of Walmart founders Helen and Sam Walton.
The project will restore a connection between Bella Vista and Bentonville that was severed after April 2022 flooding, which damaged the Red Iron Bridge over Little Sugar Creek and eroded sections of the trail. This led to the closure of this segment of the trail, part of the 1.6-mile Wishing Springs Trail. Over the past three years, pedestrians and cyclists have used a temporary protected shoulder lane on Highway 71 provided by the Arkansas Department of Transportation or taken lengthy detours.
"My family and I use these trails regularly -- we've seen firsthand how this closure has impacted our neighbors and visitors," said Tom Walton, a member of the Walton Family Foundation. "When we learned about the challenges facing this project, we knew we wanted to be part of the solution. Investing in infrastructure that connects our communities and keeps people safe is exactly the kind of impact we want to make in Northwest Arkansas."
The Bentonville Parks and Recreation Department, which oversees the city's portion of the Razorback Greenway system, will manage the bridge construction project. Construction is expected to start in October, with completion expected by October 2026.
"These closures have impacted hundreds of daily users who depend on the Razorback Greenway for commuting, exercise and connecting our communities for over three years," said David Wright, director of Bentonville Parks and Recreation. "This grant will not only restore that vital link but will provide more resilient infrastructure designed to withstand future weather events. We look forward to welcoming cyclists and pedestrians back to a safe, continuous route between Bentonville and Bella Vista."
The new bridges will replace infrastructure repeatedly damaged by flooding and erosion along Little Sugar Creek. The rerouted section will have "improved flood-resilient design features," the release shows.
As part of the 40-mile Razorback Greenway, the Wishing Springs Trail connects Lake Bella Vista to Slaughter Pen and the North Bentonville Trail.