CITY OF BENTONVILLE TO RECONNECT THE RAZORBACK GREENWAY BETWEEN BENTONVILLE AND BELLA VISTA
Grant funds will help restore critical link after more than three years
Bentonville, Ark. (August 26, 2025) -- The Bentonville City Council voted Tuesday, August 26, to accept a grant of up to $3,538,831.00 for the construction of two new bridges and a rerouted section of the Razorback Greenway. The Walton Family Foundation grant, made at the recommendation of Tom Walton and Steuart Walton will restore safe connectivity between Bentonville and Bella Vista for the thousands of cyclists, pedestrians, and other users of the Greenway.
The critical connection has been severed for more than three years after severe flooding in April 2022 damaged the Red Iron Bridge over Little Sugar Creek and eroded sections of the trail, forcing closure of this segment of the 40-mile Razorback Greenway system. During the closure, users were able to utilize a temporary protected shoulder lane on Highway 71 provided by the Arkansas Department of Transportation or were forced to take 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 anticipated to begin in October 2025, 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 incorporate improved flood-resilient design features and will restore full connectivity to the trail system that serves recreational users and daily commuters.
The Razorback Greenway, which spans 40 miles from Fayetteville to Bella Vista, is recognized as one of the premier urban trail systems in the United States and serves as a model for active transportation infrastructure nationwide.
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