Fayetteville, AR
United States
The Lower Ramble is a dynamic outdoor park located along the Razorback Greenway in Downtown Fayetteville. It is free to the public and helps connect the community to the Fay Jones Woodland and Tanglewood Branch stream. The park is linear in shape and includes hard and soft surface trails, overview lookout points, gathering spaces, bike parking, restored stream access, and lighting. It is a woodland ecosystem and is home to native trees, shrubs, perennials, a waterway, and rock outcroppings. The design plans for this transformative project were made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Foundation’s Design Excellence Program.
Water is a key feature in The Ramble and significant efforts were made to improve the health of the Tanglewood Branch stream corridor. These efforts helped the project achieve SITES credit 3.6 – Restore Aquatic Ecosystems. The stream restoration team created micropools, riffles, and structures that help aeration within the stream to increase dissolved oxygen, and therefore enabling overall habitat restoration.
Where materials are sources impacts the sustainability of new construction. To meet the sustainability criteria of SITES credit 5.6 – Use Regional Materials, 36% of the materials used on this project came from regional sources, which decreased transportation costs, supported the local economy, and decreased carbon emissions.
The Ramble is a safe and sustainably designed space for guests to observe and interact with nature, enjoy free public performances, walk, ride, sit, or commute to restaurants, school, work, and play. The Ramble is the first SITES Certified Project in the State of Arkansas.
"Achieving SITES certification has helped the City of Fayetteville affirm our commitment to sustainable, beautiful and functional public landscapes for our residents and visitors to enjoy," said Peter Nierengarten, Environmental Director for the City of Fayetteville.
Learn more about Lower Ramble from Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects and from the City of Fayetteville.