Inclusive Shared Areas Bind Communities Collectively

What makes a neighborhood an important place to reside? There’s nobody reply to this query – essentially the most vibrant and inclusive locations have a sturdy mixture of elements, from considerable jobs to inexpensive houses to high-quality faculties and entry to nature and the outside.

However nice cities, cities and neighborhoods even have one thing extra – they’re locations the place you are feeling welcome, such as you belong.

That sense of belonging helps bind a various neighborhood collectively.

Within the basis’s Dwelling Area of Northwest Arkansas, we’re working to strengthen these bonds by increasing entry to inclusive shared areas and experiences that each one residents can get pleasure from. Each resident of Northwest Arkansas deserves to really feel that they belong right here, and our public areas and the occasions they host ought to mirror that belonging.

So, what does an inclusive shared area seem like?

These are areas exterior of labor, exterior of residence, the place individuals can work together with each other and construct significant social connections. They’re locations the place residents can construct a way of understanding of the neighbors who reside of their neighborhood.

Ideally, these are locations near residence that individuals can entry simply, attend a competition or a live performance, take their household to loosen up or have enjoyable with out spending cash.

They’re democratic areas, open and welcoming to all, notably these in traditionally underserved neighborhoods.

Creating these areas begins with the neighborhood. By collaborating with a various set of native organizations, regional leaders can guarantee everybody has a voice in creating public areas which might be welcoming for all.

Due to the foresight of neighborhood members all through the area, Northwest Arkansas is already alive with a number of inclusive areas and experiences that function fashions for extra to return sooner or later:

Bentonville, Arkansas

Worldwide Pageant

The Worldwide Pageant, a part of Bentonville’s First Friday lineup of occasions, celebrates the town’s cultural variety. The competition is free, open to the general public and positioned within the metropolis’s downtown core, near neighborhoods, outlets, eating places and parks.

Rogers, Arkansas

Railyard Park

This city park serves as a gateway from downtown Rogers, Arkansas, to key facilities within the space together with residential neighborhoods, eating places, retail and public areas just like the Railyard Bike Park, Rogers Historic Museum and Lake Atalanta. Railyard Park hosts a farmers market, a play yard for kids and is a gathering place for festivals and occasions.

Railyard Dwell

This summer season live performance sequence includes a numerous lineup of entertainers. The occasion is free, open to the general public and positioned within the metropolis’s downtown core.

Lake Atalanta

Lake Atalanta options greater than 200 acres of paved and mushy floor trails, passive recreation area and play area in a pure setting. It is usually a trailhead with entry to Frisco Springs Path and the Railyard Loop that results in different trails, the Railyard Bike Park and a canine park.

Rogers Historic Museum

The Rogers Historic Museum is a public area devoted to telling the area’s tales. It hosts displays reminiscent of “Reflections of the Black Expertise,” an artwork assortment by native and regional artists that includes works consultant of the African diaspora to the modern-day Black expertise in the USA.

Springdale, Arkansas

Walter Turnbow Park/”Dwell at Turnbow”

“Dwell at Turnbow” is a free summer season live performance positioned within the metropolis’s downtown core near neighborhoods, outlets, eating places and different parks.

Walter Turnbow Park/Sq. 2 Sq.

This occasion is held every spring and fall, celebrating Northwest Arkansas’ downtown squares and the area’s distinctive biking facilities. The family-friendly experience encourages participation by everybody, not simply avid cyclists. Sq. 2 Sq. runs the size of the Razorback Greenway from downtown Bentonville to downtown Fayetteville, inviting stops alongside the way in which in Rogers and different communities related by way of the Greenway.

Stroll the Atolls

Strolls the Atolls is a free, regional occasion, held in downtown Springdale, that brings collectively each Marshallese and non-Marshallese residents to have a good time Marshallese tradition and historical past. It creates an area for shared experiences amongst all members whereas elevating consciousness of this Pacific Islander neighborhood and celebrating the area’s variety.

Walter Turnbow Park/INTERFORM EMERGE

This ticketed occasion featured 12 designers from the EMERGE Designer Residency Program, a novel inventive alternative for native designers. These designers labored with mentors from throughout the nation to hone their expertise and develop the collections on show.

Walter Turnbow Park/INTERFORM Freedom Pageant

Interform Meeting was held as a part of a month-long artwork occasion. It included Freedom Pageant, a music and soul meals competition celebrating Juneteenth.

Fayetteville, Arkansas

TheatreSquared

TheatreSquared is a cultural landmark in Northwest Arkansas. The 50,000-square-foot campus unites two intimate theatres, rehearsal area, a three-level commons and café, outside gathering areas, manufacturing workshops, workplaces and artists’ flats. When designing its new area, TheatreSquared selected a downtown location accessible from the regional path system. The foyer and café are open to the general public all through the week. TheatreSquared additionally often hosts free public performances.

Centennial Park/Grit Fest

Grit Mountain Bike Pageant is for all girls (cis and trans) and non-binary riders. The occasion goals to create an atmosphere the place riders really feel protected to study and develop (on and off the bike) and comfy to be one’s entire self with the group.

Siloam Springs, Arkansas

Memorial Park

This downtown park is the most important in Siloam Springs. Situated adjoining to the Siloam Springs Public Library, Memorial Park holds an area for the farmers market, a gorgeous pavilion, an interactive water function, the KIA Veteran’s Memorial, lush inexperienced area and the Chautauqua Amphitheater. When programming was shut down in 2020 as a result of COVID-19, the park turned a protected outlet for residents looking for time open air.

Northwest Arkansas

Gentle Floor Trails

Northwest Arkansas’ soft-surface path system – a community that covers greater than 320 miles – was designed to incorporate one thing for everybody, from newbie mountain bikers to consultants. To encourage use by all within the area, trails are additionally open for climbing. Organizations like All Bikes Welcome and Girls of Oz present tailor-made programming for numerous path customers so that everyone feels welcome.