NW Arkansas trail system to expand into SW Missouri? Why not? Public mtg March 6th - The Joplin Globe

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Imagine Northwest Arkansas’ popular Razorback Greenway one day rolling into Southwest Missouri.

That’s the hope of some Missourians,minus perhaps theword “Razorback.”

The Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission have scheduled a meeting for Monday, March 6, to hear from residents of McDonald County as they work on developing a bicycling and pedestrian plan to connect Jane and Pineville to the expanding trail network in Northwest Arkansas.

The 37-mile Razorback Greenway is the backbone of a 100-mile trail network in Benton and Washington counties in Northwest Arkansas, and it connects major destinations such as the University of Arkansas, malls and shopping centers, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, aswell as headquarters for major employers, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Right now, the trail ends at Lake Bella Vista, but future extensions include taking it 8 or so miles north to the state line, said Tim Conklin, who is assistant director of the Northwest Arkansas planning group. That extension is just one of 17 “catalyst” projects the group envisions that would further link trail users to other attractions and destinations in the region, including the kayak park in Siloam Springs, Arkansas; the historic Pea Ridge National Military Park in eastern Benton County; and even taking the trail south from Fayetteville for another 12 miles to West Fork, closer to Devil’s Den State Park.

“It’s an economic boon,” Nikki Hill, transportation planner for the Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council, said of the Razorback Greenway. “People are coming there from all over the country. Now they have all these wonderful amenities. We can really piggyback off of it.”

Gregg Sweeten, mayor of Pineville, said: “We want to go and tie this together. I think this would be a strong economic boost for Pineville and McDonald County."

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NW Arkansas trail system to expand into SW Missouri? Why not? Public mtg March 6th - The Joplin Globe

MoBikeFed comment: More details about the March 6th public meeting in Pineville:

Regional Trail Public Meeting
Where: Pineville, MO Community Center, 602 Jesse James Road, Pineville, MO 64856
When: March 6th 6-7:30 pm

There is a public survey available to take on trail needs in McDonald County. Please use the link to complete the survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RSDLPQF

The existing NWA Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan can be viewed at: http:/www.nwabikepedplan.com/.

The existing NWA trail system can be viewed utilizing an interactive map at https://trails.cast.uark.edu/

Please share this information with anyone in the region who is interested in better bicycling, walking, and trails in the region.

Public meeting poster:

https://scontent.fmkc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/s960x960/16665980_14340...

https://www.facebook.com/Northwest-Arkansas-Regional-Bicycle-and-Pedestr...