Planning for a Bright Future in Paragould, with Bob Barber

What makes a community rise instead of decline? On this episode of the Paragould Podcast, we sit down with Bob Barber, Founding Partner of Orion Planning + Design, whose team guided Paragould city leadership in developing Discover Paragould 2042. Bob has worked with hundreds of cities, and he shares what he’s learned about vision, planning, and the importance of seeing a community as a “rich ecology” where no space is a throwaway. We talk about the five key themes shaping Paragould’s future — from greenways and public venues to building with character — and the processes that help cities move forward. Along the way, Bob reflects on how his own late-in-life journey as a runner has given him a new perspective on the places he serves, including how trails like our own 8 Mile Creek Greenway signal that Paragould is serious about thoughtful, long-term development. If you care about where Paragould is headed — and how communities grow into their best selves — this conversation is for you. Below is an article that Bob recently published on how running through cities changed the way he plans.  https://www.planning.org/planning/2025/jul/planning-on-the-run-how-running-transformed-my-perspective-on-cities-and-towns/