A restored urban woodland unfolds as a civic commons where ecology and culture converge, reknitting downtown Fayetteville to its watershed, arts community, and regional trail network. Through stream and woodland restoration and a sequence of accessible paths descending from canopy to water, the landscape operates as environmental infrastructure and public realm, embodying long-term stewardship and SITES Silver–aligned performance.
The Landscape Architect was commissioned to create The Ramble by stitching together 20 hectares of cultural, entertainment, and commercial assets with the 58-kilometer Razorback Greenway, adjacent neighborhoods, and the Beaver Lake Watershed in the heart of Fayetteville. The ambitious project envisions a vibrant civic space that celebrates art, creates greater community connectivity, provides immersive experiences in the natural environment, enhances the City’s appeal as an outdoor destination, and showcases the unique character of Fayetteville.
The Lower Ramble is the first significant milestone in the completion of The Ramble’s overall design and the first SITES certified project in the state of Arkansas. Situated between the University of Arkansas campus and College Avenue, and between Dickson Street Entertainment District and the Square, the Lower Ramble sits at the center of its community and, thus, its community was paramount within the design process. The design and visioning process involved the engagement of stakeholders and community representatives to ensure the expectations and needs of the public were manifested in the Lower Ramble design. The newly completed project offers opportunities for visual and performing art throughout and serves as a hub for activity, gathering, recreation, and community.
The design for the Lower Ramble hinges on the restoration of the existing woodland landscape. The Landscape Architect and design team undertook extensive invasive removals and conducted an in-depth survey of over 1,400 trees within the Fay Jones Woods to identify location, health, and species. The design incorporates accessible trails and boardwalks that weave through this restored woodland, minimizing the impact on the environment, reducing the need for tree removal, and providing immersive woodland experiences for the community.
As one of the most urbanized watersheds in the city, the acreage of the Lower Ramble takes on water from much of Downtown Fayetteville’s paved spaces. The Lower Ramble design features bioswales along West Avenue, while restored forest wetlands and natural stream channels process and slow stormwater runoff and improve overall water quality. The restoration of the Tanglewood Branch — a stream that runs the length of The Ramble — revitalizes aquatic habitat, while improving stormwater quality and overall site resiliency, while offering visitors direct access to the water.
The Lower Ramble has already become part of the vital fabric of Fayetteville. The landscape has quickly become home to numerous festivals, art installations, and live performances, illustrating its capacity to facilitate the ebb and flow of everyday life from individual, contemplative moments in nature to large, vibrant Friday night events. The design’s robust public engagement, paired with the Lower Ramble’s evident success in hosting meaningful experiences and events, has advanced broader recognition of landscape architecture’s capacity to address fundamental civic challenges and collective aspirations.
City of Fayetteville
Nabholtz
Entegrity Energy Partners
Flintlock
Watershed Conservation Resource Center
Nitsch Engineering
Olsson Associates
HSA Engineering
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