F
AYETTEVILLE -- Specialized Real Estate Group has partnered with the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust to conserve 39 acres southwest of its Markham Hill mixed-use project through a conservation easement. The wooded area will remain undeveloped, joining existing park land and trails in the area.

    In addition to the conserved acreage, 13 adjacent acres will become city park land, connecting with an existing 62-acre park to the west. This expansion of public green space was part of Specialized's original rezoning proposal approved by the City Council in 2018.

    The company has dedicated a total of 52 acres at Markham Hill to conservation, with the remaining 92 acres zoned for homes and development. Jeremy Hudson, CEO of Specialized, stated that the conservation easement is a step towards fulfilling their promise to preserve parts of the hill.

    Grady Spann, executive director of the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust, expressed satisfaction with the partnership and commitment to collaborating with developers like Specialized to protect areas of high conservation value.

    While some residents who opposed the Markham Hill project in 2018 are pleased with the conservation easement, others have raised concerns about tree removal and its impact on local flooding issues.