Northwest Arkansas residents can provide feedback that’s expected to help shape recommendations on the region’s housing, infrastructure, transportation and open space during an eight-day event starting Wednesday (Sept. 17).
The Growing Home NWA[1] Roadshow includes 17 meetings and focus groups across Benton and Washington counties from Sept. 17-24. It’s part of a regional growth strategy in development to help the area prepare for population growth, “while protecting the qualities that make Northwest Arkansas special,” according to a news release.
The event was organized by the Northwest Arkansas Council[2] and Groundwork[3], the council’s workforce housing division. Planning and design firm DPZ CoDesign[4] was hired to lead the work.
The strategy, which will complement existing city and county plans, is expected to be completed with recommendations in early 2026.
“Regional challenges require regional solutions,” said Nelson Peacock, president and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council. “Through the Growing Home Roadshow, we’re bringing people together to chart a path of mutual benefit, ensuring communities of all sizes have the tools they need to manage growth while preserving what makes Northwest Arkansas unique.”
Over the past five months, the project team has completed 28 stakeholder interviews, leading to conversations about the following concerns tied to rapid growth: Housing that’s increasingly unaffordable for working families; traffic congestion and limited transportation options; uneven infrastructure, especially in rural and fast-growing areas; and the need for more inclusive gathering spaces and trail access.
“While Northwest Arkansas’ growth has brought tremendous opportunity, it has also created challenges that no single city can solve alone,” said Matthew Lambert, partner at DPZ CoDesign. “Our goal with the Growing Home Roadshow is to listen directly to residents and leaders, then translate their priorities into a regional strategy that supports local decision-making while strengthening the region as a whole.”
Residents can provide feedback through a survey or by attending a public meeting. Link here[5] for the survey.
The first meeting is set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (Sept. 17) at Centerton City Hall, 200 Municipal Drive in Centerton. The meeting will include displays, presentation and Q&A with project leaders.
A virtual meeting will take place at 9 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 18) to provide early insights from research and community feedback on how public input is helping set priorities, define a vision and chart strategies for the region’s future. Link here[6] to register for the meeting.
A pop-up meeting will take place from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 20) at Fayetteville Farmers Market on the Fayetteville Square. There people can ask questions and share feedback with the project team.
A public meeting that includes a joint meeting of the quorum courts for Benton and Washington counties will take place at 6 p.m. Monday (Sept. 22) at Springdale City Hall, 201 Spring St. in Springdale. Link here[7] for a livestream that’s available on the city’s YouTube channel.
A public meeting is set from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (Sept. 24) at The Medium, 214 S. Main St. in Springdale. The closing session will include displays, a presentation, and Q&A.
Related
References
- ^ Growing Home NWA (www.growinghomenwa.com)
- ^ Northwest Arkansas Council (nwacouncil.org)
- ^ Groundwork (groundworknwa.org)
- ^ DPZ CoDesign (dpz.com)
- ^ Link here (www.research.net)
- ^ Link here (www.eventbrite.com)
- ^ Link here (www.youtube.com)