Northwest Arkansas Looks to Manage Growth Together

Regional strategy study calls for more coordinated approach to housing, infrastructure, and community development

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:49pm

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An impressionistic, out-of-focus scene of warm, glowing lights and colors representing the cozy, community-oriented atmosphere of a town center in Northwest Arkansas.The regional strategy study calls for creating more vibrant town centers across Northwest Arkansas to foster a greater sense of community and diffuse traffic congestion.Fayetteville Today

A new regional strategy study commissioned by the Northwest Arkansas Council concludes that the area can no longer manage growth on a city-by-city or county-by-county basis. The study recommends creating more town centers throughout the region to diffuse traffic and build a greater sense of community, as well as addressing issues like rising housing costs and infrastructure needs through a more coordinated, regional approach.

Why it matters

As the population of Northwest Arkansas is projected to reach 1 million by 2050, the region is already straining its infrastructure and facing challenges like traffic congestion and affordable housing. The study argues that a more unified, regional strategy is needed to manage this growth in a sustainable way and preserve the area's rural, outdoor character.

The details

The regional strategy study, conducted by DPZ CoDesign and PlaceMakers, recommends creating more town centers throughout Northwest Arkansas to diffuse traffic and build community. It also calls for addressing issues like rising housing costs and infrastructure needs through a more coordinated, regional approach. The study found that the region has a history of excellent cooperation, but even closer coordination is needed to effectively manage growth.

  • The Northwest Arkansas Council commissioned the study in January 2025.
  • The study's findings were presented at the Council's spring meeting on April 15, 2026.

The players

Northwest Arkansas Council

A group of the region's business and community leaders that commissioned the growth strategy study.

DPZ CoDesign

A Miami-based design firm that conducted the regional strategy study along with PlaceMakers.

PlaceMakers

An Albuquerque, N.M.-based firm that co-authored the regional strategy study with DPZ CoDesign.

Walton Family Foundation

Provided a grant to the Northwest Arkansas Council to fund the regional strategy study.

Meredith Bergstrom

Senior program officer for the Home Region Program of the Walton Family Foundation, who spoke at the Council's meeting.

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What they’re saying

“I was looking at pictures of my 3-year-old and my 6-month-old, and I want this to be a place they can afford to live.”

— Meredith Bergstrom, Senior program officer, Walton Family Foundation

“The biggest factor is fear of multifamily housing. Residents fear such development will lower property values, but there is plenty of data to show this is nothing to fear if development is planned well.”

— Chris Keeney, Mayor of Johnson

“Either we manage growth or growth will manage us.”

— Chris Keeney, Mayor of Johnson

What’s next

The Northwest Arkansas Council will give local leaders, residents and developers a month to six weeks to review the regional strategy study before working to build consensus on specific provisions to move forward.

The takeaway

As Northwest Arkansas faces rapid population growth, this study underscores the need for a more coordinated, regional approach to managing development, preserving the area's character, and ensuring housing affordability and infrastructure can keep pace. The recommendations around creating more town centers and diffusing growth could help address challenges like traffic congestion and build a stronger sense of community.