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A hundred years ago, Bella Vista Arkansas was gaining a reputation as a summer vacation getaway resort. Folks travelled here in the summer to cool off in Bella Vista's waterfalls and swimming holes. en, starting in the 1960s, Bella Vista became what is known as a "graduated retirement" community, where people would first vacation and then retire. e community was planned to take advantage of the area's breathtaking natural beauty, and offered golf courses, stocked private lakes and many recreational opportunities. Bella Vista continues to evolve, 100 years aer the roaring 1920's resort life. But this is no longer a town of quiet retirees who are content to play golf and bingo. For one thing, the town is not longer mostly retirees. According to the 2020 census, people aged 65 and older make up just 31.7 percent of Bella Vista's population. Young families represent a growing percentage of the 30,202 residents. In fact, Bella Vista was recently voted the #1 Best Place to Raise Kids in Arkansas by Business Week.com. Other honors include Top 25 Best Places for Affordable Homes by Money Magazine and it's still one of America's Top 10 Best Places to Retire according to U.S. News & World Report. e lakes, the golf courses, the waterfalls and breathtaking vistas still continue to attract visitors. Great property values, a safe community, 150+ miles of biking and hiking trails, scores of other recreation opportunities and easy access to everything Northwest Arkansas has to offer make Bella Vista a great place to call home. e community is diverse in its interests. Its active residents do everything from mountain biking to yoga on stand up paddleboards. ey sculpt, they paint, they perform in the community orchestra. ey sing in choruses, acapella groups and barbershop quartets. ey dance and play, pursue hobbies and explore second careers. ey are politically active. ey are invested in their community, their neighborhoods, (with over 30 neighborhood watch groups) and their environment. ere is an active cadre of volunteers that keep things like the library, the recycling center, the historical society, the television station and more running strong. e Bella Vista community is both tight knit and diverse. Neighbors know each other and are quick to help one another out. Since many have come from other areas, including big cities, they are dedicated to preserving the natural beauty and quality of life that originally drew people here in the first place. Whether you call Bella Vista home, or simply want to explore this uniquely beautiful place, we hope this guide provides a glimpse of an exceptional community in which to live, work and enjoy the good life. Bella Vista's beautiful evolution | By Karen Rice If you live in Bella Vista, you should know about some entities that work hard to ensure Bella Vista is a fantastic place to call home: the City, the POA and the ACC. Here's an overview of each, and information about who does what. e City of Bella Vista e City incorporated in 2007 and is led by an elected Mayor and an elected City Council. e City provides primary services, including: police, fire/EMS, library, city planning, code enforcement, trash removal and road repairs & maintenance. City operations are funded primarily by taxpayer dollars. Primary phone number: 479-876-1255. Website: www.bellavistaar.gov e POA (Property Owners Association) e POA was established in 1965 and is led by a Chief Operating Officer who is appointed by a Board of Directors. Members of the Board of Directors are elected by both resident and non-resident members of the POA (non-residents include people who own lots in Bella Vista.) A few of the services the POA provides includes: parks, pools, fitness facilities, community meeting rooms, tennis courts, lakes, golf courses and water service. POA operations are funded primarily by assessments from property owners and amenity usage fees. Primary phone number: 479-855-8000. Website: www.bellasvistapoa.com e ACC (Architecture Control Committee) e members of the ACC are appointed by the Board of Directors of Cooper Communities, the developer of the original Bella Vista POA. e primary purpose of the ACC is to assure compliance with the protective covenants and the policies and procedures of the ACC as they pertain to residential and commercial construction, remodeling, and landscaping. e ACC policies and procedures ensure continuity within the community with regards to building/home size, location, color, aesthetics, and materials. e ACC is a private organization that operates under the Cooper Communities umbrella. Primary phone number: 479-855-8080. Website: www.bvacc.com Who does what? Bella Vista's unique organizational structure Photo courtesy of Quin Warsaw 8 | 2023 Bella Vista City Guide