Summary
On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell spends time with Pea Ridge Mayor Nathan See. Nestled beside Bentonville in Northwest Arkansas, Pea Ridge balances its rapid development with its rich history. In addition to being the gateway to Pea Ridge National Military Park, the city is located in close proximity to world-class businesses such as Walmart, J.B. Hunt and Tyson Foods. It is just 40 minutes from the University of Arkansas and is surrounded by outdoor recreation and cultural amenities just a few minutes away, including the picturesque Beaver Lake and the globally acclaimed Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Join James and Mayor See as they explore the trajectory of Pea Ridge’s expansion, both current and future, under the mayor’s visionary leadership.

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‍Show Notes
Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.
(0:59) Introduction to Mayor Nathan See
(6:49) The Story of Pea Ridge’s Growth
(10:06) Who Is Moving to Pea Ridge, Arkansas
(15:24) How Living in Pea Ridge Helps People Live Their Best Lives
(19:58) #LiveWorksHere Story
(23:29) About the Community Development Institute
(30:02) Collaborations between Pea Ridge and Bentonville
(34:09) Closing Questions
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‍Links‍‍‍‍‍‍
JAMES BELL
BENTONVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT‍‍‍
‍MAYOR NATHAN SEE
CITY OF PEA RIDGE
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Quotes
“Pea Ridge is a thriving community that has great opportunities for growth, family values and community involvement. That’s what we piece together as our scope of what we’re trying to go after as far as vision. That’s who we are, and that’s who we strive to be.” – Mayor Nathan See, (1:31)

“We want everybody to come in and be a part and be accepted into our city no matter their culture or their background or anything else. We want them to have a place to play at our parks and we want them to have a place to enjoy their families and friends and come together as a community at our community events.” – Mayor Nathan See, (11:03)
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“Bentonville has great things going on from the murals to the mountain bike trails to sculptures, and that’s stuff we’re trying to bring to Pea Ridge.” – Mayor Nathan See, (30:35)‍

Sculpting the Future: Mayor Nathan See’s Vision for Pea Ridge
On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell spends time with Pea Ridge Mayor Nathan See. Nestled beside Bentonville in Northwest Arkansas, Pea Ridge balances its rapid development with its rich history. In addition to being the gateway to Pea Ridge National Military Park, the city is located in close proximity to world-class businesses such as Walmart, J.B. Hunt and Tyson Foods. It is just 40 minutes from the University of Arkansas and is surrounded by outdoor recreation and cultural amenities just a few minutes away, including the picturesque Beaver Lake and the globally acclaimed Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Join James and Mayor See as they explore the trajectory of Pea Ridge’s expansion, both current and future, under the mayor’s visionary leadership.

Pea Ridge’s Culture
Although Mayor See is in his first term as the city’s top leader, he has been serving the City of Pea Ridge for twenty years, starting as a contract laborer who mowed the city’s green spaces. Mayor See is only the second full-time mayor of Pea Ridge after serving under previous Mayor Jackie See as Street Superintendent. Now as an elected official, Mayor See is leading Pea Ridge through an exciting period of both rapid and thoughtful growth.
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Mayor See recognizes that the heartbeat of the Pea Ridge community is its people. New people moving to Pea Ridge want a hometown feel while still having access to the larger surrounding cities. Therefore it’s a balancing act for Mayor See to manage how much the city can grow and create a better quality of life while still remaining true to its heritage.

“Pea Ridge is a thriving community that has great opportunities for growth, family values and community involvement. That’s what we piece together as our scope of what we’re trying to go after as far as vision. That’s who we are, and that’s who we strive to be.” – Mayor Nathan See, (1:31)

Pea Ridge’s Future Growth
Currently, Pea Ridge’s rapid growth is attributed to several factors, including the new Walmart home office being built just a few minutes away in Bentonville. Mayor See is advocating to widen Arkansas Highway 72 to make commuting even better for Pea Ridge’s residents and to support current and future growth. He is also focusing on multimodal transportation with increased sidewalk connectivity for walking and trails for bikes.
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With Pea Ridge’s timely development of 1,500 new single family homes and 347 new multifamily units, Mayor See is working diligently to expand the number of family entertainment opportunities, retail stores, parks and recreation spaces and quick-service restaurants. Further, Mayor See is increasing the close connection between Bentonville and Pea Ridge by capitalizing on current and future collaborations with partners such as the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce.

“Bentonville has great things going on from the murals to the mountain bike trials to sculptures, and that’s stuff we’re trying to bring to Pea Ridge.” – Mayor Nathan See, (30:35)
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Get Connected!
‍Thank you for tuning into this episode of The Bentonville Beacon! Join us weekly for more stories and advice from the entrepreneurs, business executives and community leaders who are sparking the rise of Bentonville. If you are interested in discussing whether your business should have a presence in Bentonville or would like to discuss this podcast, please contact James Bell. You may reach James at jbell@greaterbentonville.com or (479) 273-2841.