The Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program of the National Park Service will open its first regional office in the state on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville.
The program, commonly called “Rivers and Trails,” is the community assistance arm of the National Park Service, supports community-led natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation projects by offering strategic planning, partnership development and other support services.
Previously located in St. Louis, the new Fayetteville office will be located alongside the Fay Jones School of Architecture inside Vol Walker Hall.
“The city of Fayetteville, and all of Northwest Arkansas, is pleased to welcome the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program to the city of Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas,” said Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan. “This signature program is the community service arm of the National Park Service. Projects like the Razorback Greenway, our Fayetteville trails system, and other river-related conservation projects will be greatly enhanced by having a Rivers and Trails office in our town. Conserving natural resources and building a signature trail system for the citizens of Fayetteville is a key priority for our city.”
Richard Davies, executive director of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, praised the move. “To have a Rivers and Trails office co-located within the Fay Jones School of Architecture is a perfect fit. It will give all of us in Arkansas another resource to help keep us The Natural State,” he said.
