Rogers Parks Department Highlights Major Progress on Trails, Recreation Facilities, and Spring Events
The Rogers Parks and Recreation Department is kicking off spring 2025 with a flurry of activity, from trail construction and field upgrades to major community events and conservation efforts. Updates were shared at the March 19 Parks Commission meeting, painting a picture of continued investment in connectivity, green space, and public engagement.
Construction & Facility Upgrades:
Work is progressing steadily at Northwest Park (NWP), where two-thirds of the Musco lighting system has already been installed and over half of the turf fields have been removed for replacement. Bids for remaining improvements at the park are expected to go out by mid-April.
Elsewhere, concrete trail and fencing repairs are being scheduled across town, including retaining wall updates. Drainage issues beneath tennis and pickleball courts at Mt. Hebron are also under evaluation, with pricing currently being gathered.
The long-awaited 8th Street tunnel remains on track to open by early May, while additional trail connections—such as from JB Hunt to the Greenway and from Olive Street to the Walmart Supercenter and city library—are moving into planning and budgeting phases.
Trail Network Enhancements:
Contractors are completing concrete work on Poplar Street between 1st and 2nd, while bike lane striping is being added east of 8th Street to connect with those improvements. Most items on the 13th Street trail punch list have been addressed. Short-term closures near Blossom Way are also planned as sound walls are installed along the Railyard Loop.
Recreation Programming:
Spring soccer launches this weekend, while basketball wraps up after an impressive season with more than 750 participants, nearly 300 games, and just under 1,400 practices.
Community Events & Initiatives:
March 20: Tree planting at Cambridge, Tower Park, and the Library in partnership with the Garden Club of Rogers.
April 12: Tree Giveaway (sign-ups begin March 31).
April 26: Earth Day Celebration at Lake Atalanta from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
May 2: Ten-year anniversary of the Greenway grand opening.
May 3: Spring Square to Square ride.
Conservation & Arts:
The Parks Department has issued a call for local artists to contribute to the 8th Street tunnel art project. Conservation projects are also underway across the city, including native plantings along the Horsebarn corridor, prairie restoration at Mt. Hebron, and habitat assessments at Pinnacle and Cambridge.
Finally, Railyard Live announced an exciting lineup of 44 shows for the upcoming season, and the Banff Film Festival will return to Prairie View Center on March 28–29.
As Rogers grows, its parks system continues to play a central role in shaping a vibrant and connected community.
