Efforts needed to save nature on Markham Hill

The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program is only one of many groups that considers Markham Hill a special historic, nature and wildlife site. Markham Hill is one of Fayetteville’s seven hills. I live in one of the adjacent neighborhoods and grew up enjoying its woods while hiking to Mossy Rock Cave, attending day camp, and riding the old trails on our horses.

We need help to save the historical and beloved Markham Hill and its woods and pastures from the developer who wants to destroy it in order to build a hotel, grocery store, restaurant and other commercial buildings as well as many houses on 150 acres of undeveloped land.

Many neighbors who live on and adjacent to Markham Hill and others who love Fayetteville green space are very concerned that Markham Hill may be rezoned for commercial and high-density development. Please join us in asking the city to not rezone. Save Markham Hill and its woods and wildlife! Please call, write or email the Fayetteville City Council and Planning Commission to share your views. City Clerk Sondra Smith at ssmith@fayetteville-ar.gov can forward your email to them. This is the last large quantity of wooded land before the highway (as you look west from downtown Fayetteville) and the last safe place for wildlife. They can only escape by crossing the large highway. Markham Hill has a wonderful history and is part of Fayetteville’s heritage.

We really need a philanthropist to buy the Markham Hill property from RMD Properties and Specialized Real Estate Group, and put this precious land under the NWA Land Trust (or similar) to truly protect it from development. Even with us preventing the rezoning, almost half of the land can still currently be developed with four houses per acre. We need the entire Markham Hill woods and heritage site protected. The first city rezoning meeting is Aug. 27. LISA ORTON

Fayetteville