Parks leaders plan for higher demand amid NWA's population boom

Northwest Arkansas likes to move, but providing enough public spaces to keep up is a feat.

Why it matters: Places like parks and community centers offer low-cost exercise and sports opportunities and meeting space. And the demand for them is something to watch as the region's population is on track to reach 1 million by 2050.

What they're saying: "We do not have the recreation facilities to serve a million people … All cities are going to have to prioritize this type of infrastructure," Bentonville parks director David Wright told Axios.

State of play: Bentonville recently began construction on its adult recreation center downtown that will serve people 50 and older.

• Parks leaders heard from older adults that many of the new amenities in Bentonville are geared toward young professionals and young families, leaving them feeling a little left out, Wright and assistant parks director Josh Stacey said. The center will include fitness equipment and classes, an indoor pickleball court and an activity pool.
• The center is also needed to alleviate some of the use of the Bentonville Community Center.
• The center also over-serves residents from other towns that don't have similar amenities. Wright and Stacey expect Centerton's planned community center , the first recreation facility of its kind in one of the fastest-growing cities in the region , to further help relieve the Bentonville center.

Zoom out: Fayetteville is also adding about 3,800 square feet to the Yvonne Richardson Community Center, adding a test kitchen and meeting rooms, Fayetteville parks director Alison Jumper told Axios.

• The Bella Vista Recreation Center has seen more first-time guests since its remodeling last year that included an expanded fitness center, which is now open 24 hours a day, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported .
• The Jones Center, a Springdale nonprofit that offers low-cost and free recreation and fitness facilities, is also planning an expansion set to start in 2025 or 2026.

The intrigue: It's not just that NWA needs more recreation facilities — it also has to keep up with changing demands.

• As NWA's population gets more diverse, the region should look at offering more amenities geared toward sports that are popular in other parts of the world like cricket, lacrosse and badminton, Stacey and Wright said.
• Bentonville built the state's first cricket field. It stays busy, and the city could easily use three more, Stacey said.
• Public feedback in Fayetteville has shown interest in access to water, Jumper said. Now, the city is designing the Combs paddle park on the West Fork of the White River to include nature trails, green space for events, pavilions and access to kayaking and paddle boarding. The city is looking to start construction in late 2025 or early 2026.
• And of course, people can't get enough pickleball .

What's next: Fayetteville is in the midst of a study to determine what aquatic facilities, if any, the city should build. The city might consider options like an indoor competition pool or water park depending on public feedback, Jumper said.

• The online public survey had more buzz than the city typically receives with more than 1,400 responses, Jumper said a few days before the survey closed.
• The nearly 100-year-old outdoor Wilson Park Pool is the only city-operated pool. It's only open during the summer and has seen its highest use in the past few years.