Copyright Arkansas Online
FAYETTEVILLE -- The Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association aims to buy the land meant for the new Ramay Junior High School building from the School District through a community fundraising initiative. The Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association is a nonprofit that works to preserve Fayetteville's Enduring Green Network -- "a mapping tool created to understand areas of the city that have identifiable ecological value and would provide human and biological greenway linkages between major open space anchors," according to the city's 2040 Plan. The association was established in 2003 when it contributed to the purchase of Mount Sequoyah Woods. "Our mission has always been to preserve the natural beauty and ecological integrity of Fayetteville," said Dot Neely, president of the association, in a press release Friday. "The Heartland Hillside is one of the last remaining undeveloped Urban Forests in this part of the city. With community support, we can ensure it remains green space for generations to come." The Fayetteville School Board in May 2024 approved the $2.8 million purchase of 16.7 acres at 2200 N. Marks Mill Lane, located on the east side of College Avenue and across from Poplar Street, to serve as the site of a new Ramay Junior High; the board also approved a $1.25 million easement purchase for 3 acres to allow a direct connection with College Avenue. The association has been speaking with the School District since June about different locations for the school and the possibility of purchasing the land, Neely said Monday. The association began raising money in October and already has an amount they would like to present to the School Board for consideration, according to Neely. Neely described the amount as "not competitive, but at least impressive in the amount of time that we've had to try to reach out and raise funds and check public interest." She would not specify what the specific amount was, stating that funds were continuing to come in. "We've had several people who are leaders in business in the Northwest Arkansas region that have offered considerable amounts, and then there are others that are sending in donations of $50 to $100,000," she said. Association members spoke with John Mulford, the district's superintendent, as recently as Friday, according to Neely. Those who spoke with Mulford left the conversation with the impression he was open to a proposal to buy the property as long as a different location for the school was found, Neely said. The association has already identified four parcels as potential alternatives, according to Neely. Alan Wilbourn, executive director of communications and public relations for the School District, stated in an email Monday that the land is not currently for sale. PUBLIC INTEREST There has been considerable public interest on both sides of the project as it has progressed. Most recently, 30 people provided public comment during the Planning Commission meeting Oct. 27 where the commission considered the rezoning of the property from RSF-4 and Urban Corridor to P-1, Institutional. Those in favor praised the School District's commitment to building an environmentally friendly facility and working to balance demographics with its feeder pattern overhaul. Those opposed to the project shared concerns over disrupting the wooded hillside the property occupies and possible negative traffic impacts. Mulford explained at the meeting the new Ramay Junior High project is part of an effort to overhaul feeder patterns to cut down on travel time and balance school demographics. He said the district wrote letters to property owners in the central portion of the district that would best complement feeder pattern goals, but no other property owners expressed interest in selling their property. The rezoning passed in a 7-1 vote. Commissioner Brad Payne was the lone dissenting vote; Commissioner Matthew Cabe recused. The City Council will consider the rezoning next. "The general public is just really beginning to become aware of this project and, as public awareness grows, there's more and more questioning about the wisdom of the School District building on the hillside," Neely said. A Facebook page by the name of "Reject Ramay Rezoning" was also created with a link to a petition that had been signed by 1,245 people as of Monday afternoon. The petition states multiple reasons for dissent: a lack of safety with the steep hillside and narrow road; limited walkability for students; additional traffic on College Avenue, Township Road, Sycamore Street, Ash Street and in surrounding neighborhoods; creating a "traffic overload"; hazards caused by an "unstable" hillside; the loss of urban forest; and a taxpayer burden with the additional costs that come with building on steep land. PLANS If the district accepts an offer from the Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association, the land would instead be used for a public, low-impact recreational area, according to Neely. A public fund would be used to maintain the property and all Fayetteville schools would be able to use the area as an outdoor classroom and lab to learn about a recovering ecosystem, Neely said. Money raised to buy the property would be used to purchase other properties if the offer is not accepted, according to Neely. Properties like the Ramay hillside property are irreplaceable, Neely said. "These natural spaces are at risk," she said. "They provide valuable services to us in our community with regard to stormwater runoff mitigation and a cooling effect. Trees and plants are like air conditioners and not only do they help cool the microclimate around them, but they also help improve air quality, and buffer sound, and they are a place to rest one's eyes on the green expanses and are urban forest. This hillside is one of our last remaining urban forests in the city of Fayetteville, and it's one of the most valuable features of our city."
