Cave Springs to Host 3-Day Charrette on Downtown Growth

The city aims to guide future development while protecting natural features.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The City of Cave Springs, Arkansas is partnering with the Congress for the New Urbanism to host a three-day design workshop, or charrette, focused on the downtown area. The goal is to create a plan that will guide future growth while preserving the city's natural assets, such as waterways and green spaces, which are central to Cave Springs' identity.

Why it matters

Cave Springs has experienced rapid population growth of over 200% between 2010 and 2020, which has put pressure on the city to balance development with protecting its unique natural features. The charrette aims to find ways for the city to embrace growth 'within reason' while ensuring the environment and special characteristics of downtown are preserved.

The details

The charrette will take place from March 17-19 and will focus on the Main Street corridor and nearby watershed property. It builds on a downtown master plan created in 2024 and will develop updated land use, housing, and transportation strategies. The workshop will be led by Michael Watkins Architect, a firm that specializes in sustainable development and historic preservation. It will also highlight low-impact development practices to improve water quality.

  • The charrette will take place from March 17-19, 2026.
  • A public listening meeting is scheduled for March 17 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
  • A public meeting on the charrette findings will be held on March 19 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

The players

Randall Noblett

The mayor of Cave Springs, who said the city must 'preserve green space' and 'protect the environment' as it experiences rapid growth.

Leif Kindberg

The executive director of the Illinois River Watershed Partnership, which will participate in the charrette to identify ways the IRWP property can contribute to the future of downtown Cave Springs while demonstrating low-impact development practices.

Rhonda Nelson

The owner of Nelson Hardware & Supplies, a downtown business that has seen the area's exponential growth during her 20 years in operation.

Michael Watkins Architect

The firm that will lead the charrette and has expertise in sustainable development and historic preservation.

Congress for the New Urbanism

The organization partnering with the City of Cave Springs on the three-day design workshop.

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What they’re saying

“With the uniqueness of those things comes a lot of regulations. And so we have to preserve green space. With the growth, we embrace growth within reason, but we do have to ensure that we are protecting the environment and those special features.”

— Randall Noblett, Mayor (nwahomepage.com)

“We look forward to thinking about the IRWP property and identifying how it can best contribute to the future of downtown Cave Springs, all while demonstrating Low Impact Development practices to improve water quality in the built environment.”

— Leif Kindberg, Executive Director, Illinois River Watershed Partnership (nwahomepage.com)

“Well, it's kind of fun because people come down here to hike and fish. It's nice for them to feel comfortable in the town and everything's walking distance. It's kind of the old fashioned way. It brings them back in time.”

— Rhonda Nelson, Owner, Nelson Hardware & Supplies (nwahomepage.com)

What’s next

The public will have opportunities to provide input at a listening meeting on March 17 and a public meeting on the charrette findings on March 19.

The takeaway

As Cave Springs experiences rapid growth, this charrette aims to chart a path forward that allows the city to embrace development while preserving its unique natural assets and small-town character that draw visitors and residents alike.