The vision for Cato Springs is to seamlessly integrate a welcoming residential neighborhood, lively commercial spaces, and outdoor recreation areas with the surrounding landscape, which includes wooded areas, Goat Hill, and other mountain ridges. Inclusivity and sustainability are at the forefront of this project, as it will include workforce housing and support for SLS Community, a Fayetteville not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting neurodivergent adults.
The Cato Springs project will feature an extensive network of hiking and bike trails, micro-mobility options, and various modes of transportation, ensuring accessibility to the University of Arkansas campus, Mount Kessler and the Arkansas Research and Technology Park (ARTP).
The goal of Cato Springs is to enhance the quality of life of the NWA region, as well as the neurodivergent community. SLS Community will be fully integrated within the Cato Springs development as its future home, bringing together housing options, services, employment opportunities, and community for neurodivergent adults through partnership.
Additionally, a project goal for Cato Springs is to create a home for The Center of Excellence for Neurodiverse Adults through collaboration with healthcare providers. This center aims to attract world-class talent to Northwest Arkansas, focusing on the health and well-being of neurodiverse adults. UAMS was an early partner on this concept.
Smart Development
- Inspired by the Ozarkian landscape, creeks, woodlands, and hills shape streets, buildings, and gathering spaces, linking to regional bike paths. More than a development, Cato Springs proposes a new blueprint for a healthier future.
- Rejecting the generic sprawl of typical development, the Cato Springs masterplan instead creates an ‘Ecosystem of Health’—a community built around people, nature, and human connection.
- These features align with the region’s vision for smart development, promoting density and mobility while preserving the natural resources that contribute to the region’s distinctive character.
We are confident that Cato Springs will become a sought-after destination for residents across the region, offering a positive and fulfilling quality of life experience. It represents an environment of acceptance and understanding. We are thrilled to bring this vision to life and remain highly optimistic about our goal of ensuring a brighter future for our community.
“My guess is that one day, a generation from now, we will be looking at this project in much the same way. That there were some visionary people, driven by a personal connection, that…lit a flame, ignited that spark, and ignited a movement that created a campus that’s going to be built where I stand that’s going to serve this neurodiverse community.”
Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3), June 27th, 2023 groundbreaking ceremony for Cato Springs Community Project Funding award
