Fayetteville's parks department is holding three free ribbon cuttings this fall under the name "A Tale of Three Parks." Bryce Davis Park reopened on September 24. Walker Park celebrates its renovation on Sunday, October 18, and the newly built Underwood Park follows on Sunday, November 1. The city calls the three "a familiar favorite refreshed, a longtime community destination transformed and a new west-side gathering place."
All three celebrations mark finished first phases. Every park got the practical layer: shade, lighting, courts, restrooms, parking and better playgrounds. The features that drew attention in the master plans are still on paper with no construction date. Those include Walker's treetop canopy walk, Underwood's splashpad and wetland boardwalk, and new dog parks at both. Knowing which parts are finished tells you what you can actually use on a Saturday this fall.
Bryce Davis Got the Comfort Upgrades
About $1 million went into Bryce Davis Park at 1595 N. Dartmouth Ave. in west Fayetteville. Ninety percent came from bond funds and ten percent from Park Land Dedication funds. None of it is flashy. Shade sails now cover the existing play equipment. Two new swing sets, an extra pavilion, picnic tables and new fencing surround the playground. The wetland pavilion was rebuilt, and new lights run along about 1,500 feet of trail between N. Dartmouth Avenue and N. Merion Way at The Links.
The dog park got an accessible plaza, a dog wash station, and better shade, seating and drainage. Some areas are still roped off while the new grass takes hold, and the city has asked visitors to stay out of the marked sections.
According to park planner Zach Foster, the list came out of the city's public meetings:
"The conversations held during the public meeting process helped us understand what the community valued most, and it's exciting to now see those ideas reflected in these improvements that people can experience and enjoy."
Bryce Davis is the smallest of the three projects, and it shows what the series is really about. The bond money went first to making existing parks easier to spend an afternoon in.
Walker Park's New Chapter Covers the South End Only
Walker Park at 10 W. 15th St. joined the city park system in 1949, and youth baseball has been played there since the 1960s. Before this project, the park already had ballfields, soccer, basketball, handball and racquetball, tennis, volleyball, playgrounds, horseshoe pits, pavilions and a skatepark.
In September 2025, the City Council voted 7-0 to approve a contract of nearly $4.7 million with Arkansas-based Kinco Constructors for Phase I. Most of the money comes from the parks bond voters approved in 2019. Another $613,685 comes from the park land dedication fund, and a $150,000 Arkansas Outdoor Recreation matching grant helps pay for the playground.
Phase I is concentrated on the south end of the park and includes:
- Lighted multipurpose fields
- A rebuilt playground
- Rebuilt tennis courts
- Lighted pickleball and sand volleyball courts
- Pavilions, a modern horseshoe facility and a gathering area with yard games
That much lighting changes how the south end works after work. Fields and courts that used to close at dusk can now host evening games.
An earlier city facility page expected Phase I to finish in August 2026. The city has since scheduled the renovation celebration for October 18. It runs from 2 to 5 p.m., with family activities after the ribbon cutting.
The paths around the park didn't need rebuilding. The city lists a 1.2-mile loop, including a half-mile section around the Senior Adult and Wellness Center. The park connects to the Razorback Greenway through the Frisco Trail connection finished in 2014. Town Branch Trail starts at Frisco Trail just south of the park and runs west to Tsa La Gi Trail. That makes the new south end reachable by bike from much of south and central Fayetteville.
The skatepark is staying as it is for now. An expanded skatepark is planned for a later phase, along with dog parks and the treetop adventure area with a canopy walk. The Fayetteville Flyer reported that those will come "as time and money allows."
Underwood Has Been Open Since 2021. November 1 Marks Its First Build-Out.
Underwood Park sits on the old Razorback Golf Course off N. Deane Solomon Road. The public has been able to walk it since May 2021, back when it had leftover golf cart paths, two small ponds, no parking and an entry through a white gate south of Vanike Drive. The November 1 event celebrates the first time the city has built anything there.
The land has an unusual history. Craig and Laura Underwood bought the property in 2017. At first they considered holding it as an investment, then looked at residential development. A development there would have required a 12.04-acre parkland dedication. The Underwoods planned a much larger, phased gift to the city. Craig Underwood said he wanted a substantial park on the west side, partly because of his family's memories of Gulley Park. The city counts 38 donated acres plus 20 more available through a no-cost lease.
The city broke ground in September 2025 and first expected Phase I to finish in summer 2026. Phase I adds a playground, pickleball and basketball courts, walking paths, restrooms, small pavilions, landscaping, utilities, an entry drive and parking north of Clabber Creek. The main entrance is between N. Floral Court and W. Vanike Drive, with extra event parking on Vanike. After five years of parking on nearby streets and walking in, having restrooms and a parking lot is the biggest change.
The east-west Clabber Creek Trail through the park was planned to remain open during construction. It links the park to nearby trails and natural areas, including Wilson Springs Nature Preserve.
What's Built and What's Still Drawn
The approved master plans go well beyond what opens this fall. Here is how they compare to Phase I at the two larger parks:
| Park | Open now or by celebration day | In the master plan, no construction schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Walker Park | Lighted multipurpose fields, rebuilt playground, tennis, lighted pickleball and sand volleyball, horseshoes, pavilions, yard-game area | Dog parks, treetop adventure area with canopy walk, expanded skatepark, creek play access, stream restoration, bouldering, deck overlook, concessions and rentals |
| Underwood Park | Playground, pickleball and basketball courts, walking paths, restrooms, small pavilions, parking north of Clabber Creek | Nature trails, wetland boardwalk, creek access and play, splashpad, dog park, fishing piers, disc golf, kayak and paddle access, gardens |
Some Walker items, like bouldering and the deck overlook, are labeled as possible long-term features on the concept plan. They aren't commitments. The same applies to the longer Underwood list. If someone mentions the Underwood splashpad or the Walker canopy walk this fall, those are planned features without a funding date.
Dates Between Now and Mid-November
The parks department has volunteer and family events around the two remaining celebrations, several of them at the same parks and trails:
- October 10. Tree-Core Sampling at Great House Park, an Urban Forestry class that requires registration.
- October 17. Lake Fayetteville Plant & Pull.
- October 18, 2 to 5 p.m. Walker Park renovation celebration.
- October 19. Lower Ramble Invasive Pull.
- October 30, 4 to 6 p.m. Trick or Treat on the Trail in the Lower Ramble.
- November 1, 2 to 5 p.m. Underwood Park opening celebration.
- November 7. Lake Wilson Invasive Pull.
- November 14. Clabber Creek Invasive Pull, on the same trail corridor that runs through Underwood.
If you're heading north, plan around the Lake Sequoyah Drive bridge. It has been closed to cars, bikes and pedestrians since September 1 for deck and joint repairs. The city's August 19 release estimated about 90 days of work, which would put reopening around the start of December. The city's road-closure listing shows a longer window, from 9/1/26 to 12/31/26. Until the city announces a reopening, plan on the bridge being closed.
If you're wondering how a new court, a lit trail or a planned park nearby might affect what your Fayetteville home is worth, Nancy Orum is happy to look at the specifics of your street with you. Schedule a free consultation or ask for a free home valuation, and she'll share what she's seeing in the parts of town these parks serve.
