Mill Branch Park in Goshen just grew by 50 acres, expanding the community’s green space by roughly half. This addition comes after a local landowner, Dick Bennett, donated his forested property to the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust (NWALT), ensuring the land will be preserved and open to the public indefinitely.
Bennett’s donation came with one clear intention: to protect the land from development and maintain its natural beauty for current and future visitors. NWALT placed a conservation easement on the property, legally prohibiting any development or alteration, and then partnered with the City of Goshen to fold the acreage into Mill Branch Park.
This expansion brings the park to about 150 acres, making it a larger sanctuary for the community and local wildlife. Visitors who already appreciate the existing trails and quiet woods around Mill Branch will find more space to explore, hike, and enjoy nature without the encroachment of new construction or other commercial projects.
The collaboration between NWALT, the city, and Bennett exemplifies the conservation efforts taking root across Northwest Arkansas, where preserving natural landscapes is increasingly woven into local planning and community identity. Mill Branch Park, already well-loved for its peaceful atmosphere and scenic views, now has an even stronger guarantee to stay that way.
As NWA continues growing quickly, parks like Mill Branch become vital not only for recreation but for maintaining the area’s environmental health. Forests like these support local wildlife, improve air and water quality, and provide a much-needed green break from the fast pace of development around cities like Fayetteville and Bentonville.
Goshen’s investment in expanding Mill Branch Park also reflects a broader understanding of parks as community assets. Beyond providing outdoor space for families and individuals, the park serves as a place where residents can connect with nature, build neighborhood ties, and foster a sense of shared stewardship for the land.
This permanent protection achieved with the help of NWALT secures the vision that Bennett had for his land—keeping it undeveloped and accessible to everyone. The addition is significant enough that local hikers and cyclists are likely to notice new routes and untouched areas ripe for discovery over the next few months.
For those who have witnessed growth and change along Goshen’s roads over the last decade, this development offers reassurance. Not all land will fall to development; some parts will stay green and quiet, anchored by the generosity of donors and the efforts of conservationists.
Mill Branch Park’s new 50-acre expansion stands as a reminder that preserving land and growing public space can go hand in hand. NWALT’s role in securing conservation easements like this one builds long-term protections around Northwest Arkansas’s natural assets—work that matters more as the region keeps evolving.
Explorers who want a break from busy streets will find Mill Branch Park a bit more spacious now, and that feels like a win for everyone who values green space in Goshen and beyond.
For more on local conservation efforts, see how organizations like the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundation support nonprofits in the community, or check out recent philanthropic grants that boost projects protecting NWA’s land and people.
Source: NWA Land Trust
