CPRG – U of A Tech Park

In 2025 the Watershed Conservation Resource Center (WCRC) partnered with Metroplan and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission (NWARPC) and the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas to receive funding for restoration of the University of Arkansas Research and Tech Park (ARTP) through a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The restoration will take place along the tributaries, streams, and trails in the natural spaces at ARTP. The 120+ acre campus of the ARTP features three multi-tenant facilities and three multi-disciplinary research facilities comprising approximately 285,000 square feet of R&D capacity. Over 400 faculty, students and industry work at the park each day at and the natural setting is part of the draw for employees and visitors alike.

The Watershed Conservation Resource Center (WCRC) will coordinate the land restoration, which consists of 17 acres of riparian/floodplain, 6 acres of forest, and 12 acres of prairie restoration in the project area. This will formalize a green network within ARTP, which can complement and influence future development patterns within the park. The restored land and waterways will not only increase the ecosystem services provided by the park but will create an inspiring backdrop for ARTP’s innovative tenants.