We’re excited to be participating in two back-to-back events in Northwest Arkansas this month: the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU 34) and the Strong Towns National Gathering. Our Bentonville team loves showing off their amazing and rapidly growing neck of the woods, especially by foot and by bike.
See below for opportunities to walk, bike, and connect with Toole Design during — and even in between — the conferences.
CNU 34 | Bentonville and Fayetteville | May 12–16
This walking tour explores three interwoven streetscape projects along a corridor that connects corporate campuses, regional parks, and neighborhoods in Bentonville. JP Shaffer and Nathan Boone will share how quick-build and full street redesign efforts — led by both public and private sponsors — come together to form a cohesive route, and how near-miss analyses are informing safety improvements for people walking and biking.
Jared Draper and co-presenters will explore how regional bikeways catalyze Bicycle-Oriented Development (BOD) and support better urban form across the Transect. They’ll examine how trail investments counter sprawl, activate underutilized land, spur economic vitality, and expand real transportation choices, while also highlighting the importance of storytelling and community engagement.
Razorback Greenway Bike Tour | May 17
On Sunday, Toole Design’s David Criswell will co-lead a bike tour of the Razorback Greenway from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. It’s a chance to experience one of the region’s signature active transportation assets firsthand and witness how it has transformed the heart of the connected communities of Fayetteville and Springdale. The group ride is a fitting bridge between two conferences focused on building better places.
Strong Towns National Gathering | Fayetteville | May 18–20
The Strong Towns National Gathering brings together citizen advocates, professionals, and local officials united around building safe, livable, and resilient places. Toole Design is a proud sponsor of this year’s event. If you’re attending, we’d love to connect.
See you in Arkansas!
Whether you’re attending one event or both, this stretch of days in Northwest Arkansas promises to be a remarkable convergence of people and ideas committed to better, more human-scaled communities. We hope to see you there.
