Niokaska Creek Trail at Old Missouri Road / Photo: Todd Gill, Fayetteville Flyer

Over 4,000 residences should have improved access to the city’s trail system by the end of the year.

That’s how many homes are within a half mile of the new Niokaska Creek Trail and Old Wire Cycle Track projects in east Fayetteville.

The work also includes a new multi-use trail through Gulley Park, as well as upgrades to the existing paved loop around the park.

Niokaska Creek Trail

Niokaska Creek Trail along Sweetbriar Drive / Photo: Todd Gill

Niokaska Creek Trail will link the Razorback Greenway to Gulley Park by providing an eastern extension from the current endpoint of Mud Creek Trail at Old Missouri Road (see map below). From there the trail follows the north side of Sweetbriar Drive through Sweetbriar Park before heading south parallel to Crossover Road. A small paved spur will provide access from Warwick Drive. South of that, a 100-foot bridge will cross the creek and a new tunnel will extend under Old Wire Road. From there, the trail will continue south and west along the creek to connect to an existing trail that leads to Gulley Park from Azalea Terrace. The work is scheduled to be completed by late 2019.

Gulley Park

Niokaska Creek Trail at Gulley Park / Photo: Todd Gill

A portion of the Gulley Park walking path will be used for the Niokaska Creek Trail project, and will require replacing two 5-foot bridges with new 12-foot bridges inside the park. The project also includes replacing about a mile of dilapidated asphalt along the park’s existing trail loop. Work inside the park is ahead of schedule and is expected to be completed by March 2019.

Old Wire Cycle Track

Work along Old Wire Road / Photo: Todd Gill, Fayetteville Flyer

The ongoing improvements to Old Wire Road will feature an added bonus once the project is complete, thanks to a grant from the Walton Family Foundation.

A cycle track is currently under construction and once finished, will extend along the east side of Old Wire from Ash Street to just past Stanton Avenue at Gulley Park.

Instead of a building a standard bike path between Ash Street and the park, officials with the Walton Family Foundation requested a protected cycle track that could serve as a model for other improvements across the city and region. The enhanced bikeway will provide a completely protected facility, separated from both cars and pedestrians.

The project also includes a signalized crossing at Stanton Road to connect with Rolling Hills area neighborhoods.

Sweetser Construction is scheduled to complete the cycle track work by June 2019.

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