Ms. Mary Madden

Prairie Grove is at an exciting moment of growth. With an engaged community, strong ties to local businesses, and a vibrant small-town culture, the city recognizes the need to plan intentionally for the future of its parks and recreation system. Leaders see parks not only as amenities but as vital infrastructure that brings people together, strengthens civic identity, and supports long-term growth.

The city now seeks to create its first comprehensive master plan for parks and recreation. This vision includes aligning park placement with future growth patterns, expanding facilities through strategic land acquisition, exploring the potential for regional connections such as linking to the Fayetteville Greenway, and providing multi-generational spaces that serve as hubs for community life.

This interactive design workshop will invite Place Summit attendees to roll up their sleeves and help shape that vision. Participants will brainstorm opportunities for park system expansion, share examples of innovative recreational design, identify policy and funding tools, and consider short-term wins alongside long-term strategies. Together we will explore how Prairie Grove can create a parks network that fosters connection, boosts local vitality, and ensures that future growth strengthens the community’s unique character.