16 • Best of Siloam Springs Wednesday , January 29 , 2025 Siloam Springs Herald-Leader
Preserving Siloam ’ s Natural Beauty
Sager Creek Mountain Bike Trail www . discoversiloam . com
By Rachel Bevill-Cottrell Special to Best of Siloam Springs
Siloam Springs takes being a part of The Natural State to heart . As yet another way to serve the community , Siloam Springs participates in the Northwest Arkansas Open Space Plan . According to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission ( NWARPC ), this plan is intended to “ develop a coordinated , voluntary program to protect and promote the region ’ s most valued natural landscapes and open spaces .” Much like the revitalization and preservation efforts that the City of Siloam Springs is seeking with its Kayak Park , being a part of the Open Space Plan includes preserving the natural assets of the community and maintaining a high quality of life throughout unprecedented economic growth .
According to data from the Northwest Arkansas Council , Northwest Arkansas is rising rapidly in terms of population . Now marked to become the nation ’ s 100th largest metropolitan area with an estimated population growth of 36 individuals per day , it is more crucial than ever to take a deeper look into the area ’ s groundwork and understand how this rapidly expanding core infrastructure affects the natural , historic sites that make Northwest Arkansas a beautiful place to live . Developed in 2016 , the Open Space Plan is the basis of the environmental component of the NWARPC Metropolitan Transportation Plan .
While the NWARPC Metropolitan Transportation Plan seeks to accommodate an estimated 58 % population growth by 2030 by implementing innovations for transportation , real estate , businesses and more , the Open Space Plan is pivotal in preserving the places that “ support outdoor activities for the community , protect the water supply from pollution , conserve habitat for native plants and animals , and ensure the quality of life for all residents .” Without conservation , The Natural State is no longer natural , and infrastructure will fail to keep up with the influx of new residents .
Open Space Mapping
The Open Space Steering Committee strategically mapped areas in Northwest Arkansas that would function as priorities in conversation and management by creating five main input maps :
• Natural resources
• Outdoor recreation
• Working lands
• Heritage and cultural resources
• Cores and corridors
Working with the NWARPC , Siloam Spring ’ s natural beauty is identified on these maps , which can be found online at www . nwarpc . org .
Siloam Springs and Open Spaces
Siloam Springs hosts many natural sites that are part of the mapped out open spaces prioritization areas , and holds a spot with the representatives on the Open Space Steering Committee . One of the steps taken by Siloam Springs for this project
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