The source of this creek is near the intersection of Applebury Drive and Tanglebriar Lane. It flows north past Root Elementary, through Clarence Craft Park, paralleling Old Wire Road to Gulley Park and then sweeping in an arc to near the intersection of Old Wire Road and Crossover Road before flowing through Sassafras Park and joining Mud Creek at the Paradise Valley Golf Course.
The Niokaska Creek Trail, a paved, multiuse trail follows the creek from Gulley Park southeast to Sweetbriar Park.
Its name was researched and proposed by a team students from Root Elementary School as part of a competition to choose a name for the then-unnamed tributary.
The word “Niokaska” is an ancient word by which the Osage people referred to themselves. It means: “Little Ones (or children) of the Middle Waters.”
The Osage Nation was the primary Indigenous group hunting and living in present-day Northwest Arkansas.
The City Council approved the naming in 2009 and hinted that it would also support renaming the portion of Mud Creek downstream of the Mud Creek-Niokaska Creek confluence to Niokaska Creek, too, if the U.S. Board on Geographic Names were to approve such a change.
Naming Ordinance
Resolution No. 17-09
A Resolution to Name the Creek That Begins on Mt. Sequoyah Near Root School “Niokaska Creek”
WHEREAS, in the fall of 2008, the Root Elementary School Green Team Committee notified the Fayetteville City Government that it “would like the opportunity to officially name the
creek that begins in their backyard and eventually becomes part of the Illinois River;” and
WHEREAS, after in-depth research and discussion by Root Elementary students and teachers, the winning essay and proposal was to name the creek “Niokaska” which is the ancient
name used by the Osage when they referred to themselves; and
WHEREAS, it is proper to use this Osage term because the Osage lived in our beautiful area long before Fayetteville was established; and
WHEREAS, “Niokaska” means “Little Ones (or children) of the Middle Waters” so that it is very appropriate to name this creek originating near Root Elementary School. “Niokaska Creek”; and
WHEREAS, currently this creek is an unnamed tributary that flows into the fairly recently named “Mud” Creek, which flows a couple of miles further into Clear Creek; and
WHEREAS, if the United States Board on Geographic Names would approve changing “Mud” to “Niokaska” Creek below the confluence of the Niokaska and Mud Creeks, “Niokaska Creek” could flow all the way to its confluence with Clear Creek in the City of Johnson.
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas:
Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby names the unnamed tributary that begins near Root Elementary School and flows into the current Mud Creek as “Niokaska Creek” and thanks the Root Elementary School Green Team, the Root students, teachers and staff for their work and excellent idea to name Niokaska Creek.
PASSED and APPROVED this 3rd day of February, 2009.