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NWACC awarded ANCRC grant for bike trail loop, sports courts
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NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) has been awarded a $680,000 grant from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC) to support the development of a bike loop on campus and new recreational amenities for trail users, NWACC students and employees and residents of the surrounding communities.
The loop will connect to the Arkansas-Missouri Trail, which runs through the NWACC campus, and be 0.3-0.5 miles in length. The project will include lighted courts, including pickleball courts and a multipurpose sports court, bike racks and other supporting infrastructure.
As part of the college’s Campus Master Plan, the project is designed to expand recreation opportunities along the Arkansas-Missouri Trail and strengthen NWACC’s connection to the regional trail system, as well as create a destination along the trail where users can engage with the NWACC campus through recreation and wellness.
President Dennis C. Rittle said, “We view our campus as a hub of education and connectivity for our students, as well as the Bentonville and Rogers communities and the greater region. Outdoor recreation is part of our vision for a campus where students not only come to learn, but also to experience life together.
“I’m especially thankful for our community leaders, Jessica Pearson and Allyson de la Houssaye. They selflessly offered their guidance and support to make this project a reality.”
The grant funding was approved Friday, Sept. 18, by the Arkansas Legislative Council after being approved by the NWACC Board of Trustees on Monday, Sept. 14, following a recommendation by the Land Use Committee. The ANCRC funding represents 85% of the total project cost. The remaining 15% of funds will come from NWACC’s Athletics Department budget.
NWACC Athletics is built on the three pillars of recreation and wellness, club and intramural sports and competitive NJCAA Sports. This project directly advances the first two pillars by creating on-campus recreational and team opportunities for all NWACC students and new outdoor health and wellness options for college employees and the Northwest Arkansas community.
ANCRC Chair Allyson de la Houssaye said, “Through my work with ANCRC, I’m excited to see projects like this move forward. Investments in outdoor recreation infrastructure speak directly to the larger purpose behind ANCRC – supporting advancements that strengthen outdoor recreation, preservation and heritage across Arkansas and create lasting value for our state and its people.”
During the grant-seeking process, Arkansas Moves served as an advocacy and support group for the project, helping demonstrate the broader community value of the investment. Its founder, Jessica Pearson, said, “I’m incredibly grateful to NWACC for continuing to invest not just in trails, but in the places and experiences that make people want to use them.
“A trail by itself is a corridor. But when we add destinations and amenities like pickleball courts, gathering spaces and places to stop and connect, that corridor becomes part of the community. That’s how we increase use, create connection and ultimately build a culture where active transportation and recreation are simply part of everyday life.
“Arkansas Moves is proud to have played a small role in helping make that possible.”
With an anticipated opening in spring 2027, this will be the second construction project completed from NWACC’s Campus Master Plan. Athletics brought the first project to completion, NWACC’s Outdoor Fitness Court, through a National Fitness Campaign grant, The Outdoor Fitness Court opened in October 2025, and the new courts will be located nearby.