The Rogers Greenway and Trails Master Plan consists of five discrete trail systems, primarily utilizing floodways, drainage systems, and utility corridors to connect the community via a pedestrian and bicycle network. Initially, the Master Plan will include approximately fifty miles of paved trails and will link schools, parks, commercial centers, and neighborhoods to each other and to the larger Northwest Arkansas region. As a public facility, the Greenway will serve the entire population of the City of Rogers (45,280) and potentially the entire population of Northwest Arkansas through connections with neighboring cities.

The Rogers Greenway is a project that has been in the hearts and minds of the community for a number of years. The Rogers Greenways and Trails Committee was formed in 2002, and has been working actively since that time to bring this vision to reality. As a result of the committee's work the route of the Greenway has been established and accepted by the Rogers City Council, trail sections have been named and prioritized and community leaders in both the public and private sector have become Greenway supporters.
 

Gaining easement or right-of-way is often one of the biggest challenges in trail construction. The Rogers Greenway has made tremendous strides toward conquering this challenge; much of the Greenway route is already secured. Since the route was officially approved by the City in 2002, a number of easements and rights-of-way have been donated by developers and land owners.

In some cases the developers are building the trail as their project is constructed. Other easements are already in place because the City has deemed that all utility easements shall also serve as recreational easements. In addition, the Rogers School District, as well as many industry leaders, has indicated that they will be cooperative as the trail crosses their properties.

The Rogers High School portion of the Blossom Way Trail, a i-mile section extending from Dixieland Road to 26th Street, will be completed Spring 2005. This section of trail was partially funded through an EPA319 Grant. Much of the labor accomplished in-house by the Rogers Parks and Recreation Department and by creative utilization of county resources (inmates).

Funding and labor sources for future trail construction projects include a variety of federal and state grant programs Job Corps projects. 

Section 9 of the Blossom Way Trail is also complete. This 1/2 mile section extends from I-540 to Bellview Road through an apartment and golf course: the Greens of Blossom Way Creek.
This portion of trail was constructed entirely with private funds in a cooperative effort between the developer and the City, and it is only one of several such efforts.

This progress demonstrates the wide-spread support of the overall project, as well as the spirit of partnership that has been established between the City of Rogers and the community
as a whole.
 

A Greenway is defined as a linear open space along a natural corridor, where recreation and conservation are the primary values. 

The main purposes of a greenway are to preserve or restore open space and native vegetation and to provide recreational opportunities and wildlife habitat. A greenway is good for both the environment and the people. Due to its linear and encompassing nature the Rogers Greenway will have a positive impact on a wide range of resources and bring recreational opportunities closer to a greater number of homes.

In addition to recreation and conservation, this project will deliver many other tangible and intangible benefits to the citizens of Rogers and the entire region through its ability to connect communities. Those benefits include the following:

Health and Wellness
• Obesity in children and adults is an increasing problem in the United States. In 1975, nearly 65% of all children walked or biked to school everyday; in 2000 only 10% did so. There was a 63% increase in childhood obesity during the same time period. (Rails to Trails Conservancy)

• According to the Surgeon's Report on Physical Activity and Health, 60% of Americans are not regularly active and 25% are not active at all.

• When Arkansans choose to engage in exercise, their overwhelming choice of activity is walking: 52%. All other activities ranked only in the single digits. (Arkansas Department of Health)

• Nearly 40% of families with access to community trails will utilize them for exercise. Women and persons in lower socioeconomic groups are more than twice as likely to increase their exercise by using community trails. (State of Missouri Community Trails Program)

Alternate Transportation and Connectivity
• The Rogers Greenway will connect nearly every school and park with
many of the existing and new neighborhoods. Several major commercial
centers and industrial workplaces will also link to the trail system.
These connections will give people opportunities to safely incorporate
exercise into their daily transportation routines.

• The Rogers Greenway will potentially connect to the Bentonville trail system in at least two locations: the Northwest Arkansas Community College and near the intersection of Horsebarn Road and Walton Blvd.

• The Rogers Greenway will connect to Lowell by way of the Northwest Arkansas Heritage Trail. The Heritage Trail, a regional trail initiative led by the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, will share a 5-mile stretch of the Rogers Greenway along the Old Wire Road through
Rogers.

Economic
• An increase in property values associated with trail development is a well-documented fact across the United States.

• Less tangible is the "Quality of Life" factor associated with a comprehensive trail system. This is an increasingly important factor in a city's ability to attract industry.

• Regional connectivity dramatically increases community economic benefits in the form of tourism and in all recreation-related retail, such as bicycle and shoe sales. (Rails to Trails Conservancy)

Community Pride
• The public/private partnership nature of the Rogers Greenway and Trail
System, along with its birth as a grass-roots community movement, makes this project particularly likely to inspire great community pride.

• The Rogers Greenway and Trail System will serve the entire community
equally regardless of location, socioeconomic or cultural issues, age, or
physical ability. Because it encircles the entire city and reaches into outlying areas the Greenway and Trail System will have positive impact on nearly every neighborhood.

• Nearly 40% of families with access to community trails will utilize them for exercise. Women and persons in lower socioeconomic groups are more than twice as likely to increase their exercise by using community trails. (State of Missouri Community Trails Program)

Enhancement of Existing Parks, Facilities, and Programs

• By providing greater access to more people, the Greenway and Trail System will inject new life into many of Roger's existing public facilities.
Greenway and trail development offers opportunities to enhance existing older parks by developing them into Trail Head facilities and to offer new pocket parks along the Greenway itself.

• The Greenway and Trail System will offer new programming opportunities for multiple agencies. For example, the healthcare
professionals can use it to promote fitness, the schools can use it for physical education classes or wetland educational studies, and the Parks & Recreation Department can use it for road races or children's activities
such as sidewalk chalk art events.