Founded in 1991, Peel Compton Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Bentonville, Arkansas with a mission to connect the community through nature, education, recreation, and preservation. Peel Compton Foundation provides four distinct community spaces in Bentonville that are united by a common purpose: free access to places and experiences that celebrate the uniqueness of Northwest Arkansas.

How did they come together? What’s the connection?

Helen Walton, along with a group of community leaders, led the initiative to create The Peel House Foundation in 1991 with the purpose of restoring what came to be known originally as The Peel Mansion and Heritage Gardens. This historic home had been built in 1875 for Congressman Samuel West Peel and Mary Emaline Peel’s family but had fallen into serious disrepair. The Peel House Foundation led efforts to save the property from demolition and restore the home and gardens, and the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. The home currently serves as a museum that captures life in 19th century Arkansas and is surrounded by gardens inspired by that era, which received Botanic Garden Accreditation status in 2021.

The organization next acquired a 1951 mid-century modern home steps away from the Bentonville square built for the Putman-Compton family. The late Dr. Neil Compton founded the Ozark Society in 1962 and successfully led the fight to save the Buffalo River from damming in 1972 when it was designated as the country’s first National River. A passionate conservationist, Dr. Compton filled the acreage surrounding the home with plants and trees native to the Arkansas landscape to support the regional ecosystem.

The building and grounds were transformed from a family home to a community space in 2004, known originally as Compton Gardens and Conference Center. The gardens are now the only Level II Arboretum in the state of Arkansas and feature five Champion Trees (the largest of their variety in the state). The home underwent renovations in 2004 and 2018 and serves as a venue for gatherings and life celebrations.

The Peel House Foundation was renamed Peel Compton Foundation in 2010 to better connect the organization’s goals and scope.

The acreage that became Coler Mountain Bike Preserve had been the former farm of the Coler family. This forested property was used informally by mountain bikers prior to being donated to Peel Compton Foundation in 2020 with the goal of preserving 300 acres of natural Arkansas landscape in Bentonville as a premiere recreation destination. The site officially opened as Coler Mountain Bike Preserve and supports the region’s growing reputation as one of the best places in the country for mountain biking, offering a 20-mile soft surface multi-use trail system, greenway, and campground.

Osage Park, named after the Osage Indigenous peoples and nearby waterway, is the newest PCF property. Opened to the public in 2021, the 70-acre urban park is an example of public-private partnership. The park neighbors Lake Bentonville and features miles of boardwalks and trails, pickleball courts, a dog park, food trucks, and The Quiver Archery Range, as well as 12 acres of ecologically vibrant wetlands that play a vital role in the regional ecosystem.

With the addition of Coler Mountain Bike Preserve and Osage Park, Peel Compton Foundation underwent rebranding in 2021 to better connect with and serve the community utilizing these spaces. Each property’s branding was refreshed, and the two namesake properties’ names were updated to reflect a cohesive vision for Peel Compton Foundation – Peel Mansion and Heritage Gardens became Peel Museum & Botanical Garden, and Compton Gardens and Conference Center became Compton Gardens & Arboretum.

Peel Compton Foundation has evolved to ensure Northwest Arkansas’ growing community has free access, 365 days a year, to outdoor spaces that are beautiful, inclusive, sustainable, and promote wellness. With over 800,000 visitors welcomed across the four properties annually, Peel Compton Foundation oversees the day-to-day operations at each space and continues to expand program offerings, providing opportunities for community members of all ages and abilities to explore cycling, archery, nature, and wellness together.

As a 501(c)(3) private foundation and nonprofit, the future of Peel Compton Foundation’s four properties depends on program fees, facility rentals, and generous donations from those who give to the spaces they love. With a shared vision for the future of a growing Northwest Arkansas, Peel Compton Foundation community spaces are at the heart of the region’s reputation as a destination for nature, education, recreation, and preservation.