Street closures for cycling festival approved in Rogers

The Natural State Criterium bicycle race could cause some streets in downtown Rogers to close Aug. 6. such as South First Street, seen here Tuesday.
The Natural State Criterium bicycle race could cause some streets in downtown Rogers to close Aug. 6. such as South First Street, seen here Tuesday.

ROGERS -- The Rogers Transportation Committee approved closing about 15 blocks downtown for a cycling festival Aug. 6

The Bentonville Planning Commission earlier this month approved downtown street closings for the Natural State Criterium Series on Aug. 5.

Gary Townzen, committee member, said Tuesday previous worries he had about the event had been resolved. He said this included parking concerns mentioned by business owners.

Jason Evans, an architect with Hight Jackson, said event organizers have identified multiple parking locations near the event, including Tillery Elementary School. The parking locations will be identified as options for spectators and racers. Parking in front of businesses will be identified for business users only, he said.

The event will be a trial run, said Andrew Hatfield, committee member.

"We will see how it evolves and materializes to determine the future of the event in downtown," Hatfield said.

Paxton Roberts, Bicycle Coalition of the Ozarks executive director, said the event could pull in more than 300 cyclists and 1,000 spectators depending on the weather.

A $75,000 grant from the Walton Family Foundation will help fund the event, Roberts said. A $35,000 prize purse is expected to bring people into the state for the USA Cycling sanctioned race, he said.

Mayor Greg Hines said the event is an example of community members working together.

"There was a lot of conversation between businesses, property owners and the organizers of the event," Hines said. "Main Street Rogers officials also spent a lot of time going around to each business."

The conversations helped officials identify concerns and then address them, Hines said.

Jessica Rush, Main Street Rogers director, said Rogers is growing as a biking destination in the region. She said the event will expand on this idea.

"I'm excited to see a new cycling event," Rush said. "We have trails already being utilized for events. This will bring a different type of rider to downtown."

A bike park and multiple bike trails near downtown have been opened by the city in recent years.

NW News on 04/27/2016

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