Let us read it for you. Listen now.
Your browser does not support the audio element.
Across the country, there is a growing desire to spend less time with screens and more time engaged with the people and places around us. What many people now describe as “living in real life” or spending time “IRL” reflects a broader shift toward experiences that feel more personal, more local, and more connected to community.
We see it in the choices people are making every day. Families are looking for places where children can play outside. Neighbors want opportunities to connect. People are seeking communities where everyday interactions happen naturally, whether that’s a conversation on a trail, a visit to a local coffee shop, or a walk through a downtown square.
But there is another part of this conversation that often gets overlooked. Living in real life isn’t simply an individual choice. It is influenced by the places we build and the environments we create. As communities grow, creating opportunities for connection becomes more important, not less.
That raises an important question for city leaders: What role does a city play in making real-life connection possible? More than many people realize. The strongest communities understand that infrastructure is about more than moving people from one place to another. It’s also about creating places where people can gather, connect, and experience community. Parks, trails, public spaces, and walkable destinations help shape how people experience daily life and whether it feels easier to stay isolated or engage with the world around them.
What does living in real life look like, and how does infrastructure play a role? We know it when we see it. Safe, continuous bike lanes. Walkable pathways that connect people to activities. Green spaces that feel like shared backyards. It looks like Bentonville.
But Bentonville didn’t always look like this. What has allowed it to break away from the pack and really become a leader in this space is intentional investment in community-centric and community-driven infrastructure projects. Bentonville most recently completed 30 miles of bike lanes with the support of the Bentonville Moves Coalition, with more on the way. It is a city that can serve as a national model for how thoughtful planning can encourage people out of their cars, off their screens, and into shared spaces.
Momentum from a decade (or more) of investing in trails had more people walking and biking around Bentonville, demonstrating the need for a complete mobility network. The city wanted to move faster to complete its Connecting Bentonville Plan, approved in 2022, and a diverse coalition of organizations, residents, churches, and small businesses wanted to help the city achieve rapid implementation. Hence, the birth of the Bentonville Moves Coalition.
Bentonville’s extensive network of mobility infrastructure connects neighborhoods, schools, parks, and businesses in a way that encourages daily, human-scale interaction. It allows kids to safely ride their bikes to school, thanks to safety barriers and marked paths. Protected trails, well-maintained paths, and thoughtful urban design make it possible for residents of all ages to move through the city with confidence.
A few examples: The A Street Promenade, a pedestrian-only corridor, replaced vehicle traffic with inviting spaces for connection and recreation, featuring garden nooks, café seating, play areas, and food trucks. The result is a continuous, accessible link between Bentonville’s downtown parks, making travel by foot or bike not only safer but also more enjoyable and visually engaging. The SW Bentonville Trail Connection now links the Bentonville Community Center to local schools. The trail improves safety for biking students and connects to key trails like the Wolf and Cub Trails. The SW 28th Street Sidepath Trail project delivered approximately 1.3 miles of transportation improvements between I Street and Featherstone Road. This east-west corridor became a critical connection, improving safety and helping relieve traffic congestion on nearby Regional Airport Boulevard and SW 14th Street.
When people feel safe, they show up. And when people show up, community forms naturally. Local businesses benefit from steady foot and bike traffic. Longtime Bentonville businessman Mark Bray, owner of Airship Coffee, says he wants his city to be safe and connected without losing its unique culture.
“One of the greatest challenges we face is protecting and preserving our vibe as we grow,” he said. “One of the ways we do that is with appropriate infrastructure designed to keep folks moving around town quickly and safely without compromising convenience.”
Bentonville’s approach demonstrates that “living in real life” is not about rejecting technology or cars. It’s about creating environments where connection is easy and natural. And it’s about recognizing that infrastructure shapes behavior. A person on foot or on a bike is not sealed off in their own bubble; they are visible, approachable, part of the street’s social fabric. Eye contact, hellos, even quick conversations at stoplights become the norm. That’s what intentional infrastructure makes possible and Bentonville is proving it.
Stephanie Orman is mayor of Bentonville. Sara Studdard is a co-founder and partner of City Thread.
