Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (NBW) was commissioned to create The Ramble by stitching together 50 acres of cultural, entertainment, and commercial assets with the 36-mile Razorback Greenway, adjacent neighborhoods, and the Beaver Lake Watershed in the heart of Fayetteville. The ambitious project envisions a vibrant civic space that celebrates art, supports events, creates greater community connectivity, provides immersive experiences in the natural environment, enhances the City’s appeal as an outdoor destination, and showcases the unique character of Fayetteville.
The Lower Ramble is the first significant milestone in the completion of The Ramble’s overall design and the first SITES certified project in the state of Arkansas. Situated between the University of Arkansas campus and College Avenue, and between the Dickson Street Entertainment District and the Square, the Lower Ramble sits at the centre of its community, and thus, its community was paramount in the design process. The design and visioning process involved engaging stakeholders and community representatives to ensure the public’s expectations and needs were integrated into the Lower Ramble design. The newly completed Lower Ramble offers opportunities for visual and performing arts and serves as a hub for activity, gathering, recreation, and community.
The design for the Lower Ramble hinges on restoring the existing woodland landscape. The design team undertook an in-depth survey of over 1,400 trees within the Fay Jones Woods to identify location, health, and species. Accessible trails and boardwalks weave through the woodland to minimize impact on the environment, reduce the need for tree removal, and provide immersive woodland experiences for the community.
As one of the most urbanized watersheds in the City, the acreage of the Lower Ramble takes on water from much of Downtown Fayetteville’s paved spaces. The Lower Ramble design features bioswales along West Avenue and restored forest wetlands and natural stream channels that process and slow stormwater runoff, thereby improving overall water quality. NBW worked with the client and community to identify and remove invasive plants and restore native understory vegetation. The restoration of the Tanglewood Branch — a stream that runs the length of The Ramble — improves the efficiency of stormwater processing and overall resiliency of the site and offers visitors direct access to the water.
The Lower Ramble has already become part of the vital fabric of Fayetteville. The landscape has quickly become home to numerous festivals, art installations, and live performances, illustrating its capacity to facilitate the ebb and flow of everyday life from individual, contemplative moments in nature to large, vibrant Friday night events. The fact that the design process involved robust engagement, coupled with the Lower Ramble’s manifest success in the experiences and events it supports, has helped raise awareness of how Landscape Architecture addresses the most profound civic challenges and aspirations.
Shortlisted (Finalist) – 2025 WLA Awards in the Built – Large Public Space category
The Lower Ramble
Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
Client: City of Fayetteville
Landscape Architect: Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects
Collaborators:
Contractor: Nabholtz
Sustainability: Entegrity
Local Landscape Architect: Flintlock
Civil Engineer: Nitsch Engineering
Civil Engineer: Olsson Associates
MEP Engineer: HSA Engineering
Lighting Design: Tillett Lighting Design Associates
Specifications Writer: Rico Associates
Irrigation: Landtech Design
Community Engagement: InVeritas
Creek Riparian Restoration: WCRC
Photography: Nick Hubbard