Mayor's Welcome

Welcome to Siloam Springs! Whether you reside here, are visiting, attending school, or have been a part of the community your entire life, I am delighted that you are here. I truly cherish Siloam Springs, and I hope you do too!

We are a city with small-town charm and abundant outdoor adventures. You can spend your mornings shopping and dining along Sager Creek in our award-winning historical downtown district, and in the afternoons, you can relish the outdoors with activities like mountain biking, fishing, bird watching, trail running, and kayaking.

An aerial view of a downtown.

The people of Siloam Springs are the most valuable asset to our community. They continue to give back, volunteer, invest in, and believe in this great city. While we are experiencing growth, Siloam Springs retains its inclusive community feel. We genuinely care about our neighbors, and we are deeply involved in each other's lives, offering support and encouragement. Additionally, Siloam Springs boasts a dynamic church community. It's been said that at one point, Siloam Springs held the record for the most churches per capita. I interpret this as meaning there's a place for everyone to belong, a space where anyone can feel welcome and accepted. This inclusivity is also a reflection of John Brown University being a central piece of our community. Siloam Springs is an ideal place to raise a family, deliberately opting out of the rat-race pace of life, and instead, focusing on people and improving their lives. Our strong church community supports these ideals, and volunteering and giving back are a way of life for us. We come together to support each other's needs.

We also have wonderful amenities, including Memorial Park and Chautauqua Amphitheater, the Siloam Springs Public Library, City Lake Park, Sager Creek Mountain Biking Trail, and the Siloam Springs Kayak Park. Throughout the year, there are hundreds of free and low-cost activities for everyone to participate in, from Parks and Recreation summer camps to the library's young adult events, Shakespeare in the Park, concerts in Memorial Park, the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce's Dogwood Festival, the Heritage League's Christmas Parade, and much more.

A man and a woman stroll through a forest along a wooden bridge.

The Siloam Springs Kayak Park is a unique amenity with 800 feet of engineered river featuring Class I rapids. The park is situated on the Illinois River and offers drops suitable for both beginner and skilled kayakers and canoers. The City of Siloam Springs collaborates with the Grand River Dam Authority and Walton Family Foundation in a new, national-caliber whitewater adventure park affectionately referred to as WOKA, positioned on the upper Illinois River. WOKA is a best-in-class whitewater park featuring a 1,200-foot long, 100-foot-wide side channel off the Illinois River with eight drop-features, perfect for whitewater enthusiasts of all levels.

Siloam also boasts a wide variety of food and entertainment options, including authentic Colombian, German, Thai, Vietnamese, Ozark Cuisine, and much more. Karaoke and trivia nights are always popular gatherings, and you can find more events happening in our corner of Northwest Arkansas through Discover Siloam Springs, our tourism website.

A group of people huddle together as a woman ceremoniously cuts a large ribbon, marking the joyous o

Siloam Springs employs a unique approach to recruit and foster businesses, both large and small. The City has its own electric, water, wastewater, trash, recycling, and street crews in-house, allowing business incentives to be customized to meet specific needs. We work closely with the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Siloam Springs to provide training, grant opportunities, and more. The Board of Directors and City staff prioritize fiscal responsibility, maintaining tight budgets while allowing for spending where it's most needed. I wholeheartedly support our strong local government, which follows a City Administrator form of governance. This approach ensures continuity over the years through a city administrator who serves as the CEO, while the Mayor facilitates meetings, leads ribbon cuttings and openings, and serves as the face of the city.

A young girl shakes hands with an elderly woman.

As the first female mayor, I want to encourage women to be involved, aware, and informed within our community. Push to be part of the decision-making process, to be in the room where it happens. You can start small and work your way up, but it's crucial to start. There is always a need for strong leaders in our community, and having more women in positions of authority would better reflect our demographics. I want to inspire girls and young women to set goals and pursue them vigorously. Don't get discouraged; keep pushing.

I am profoundly humbled and grateful for the opportunity you have given me to serve as your Mayor. May God bless our city and our nation in the days to come!

Mayor Judy Nation