In a significant move to enhance public access to green spaces, the Dallas City Council has approved a $16-million construction project to extend the Trinity Forest Spine Trail. This development will unlock the secluded Parkdale Lake, a 110-acre site that has remained largely inaccessible to the public for over 70 years.
Connecting Communities
The new phase of the trail will bridge a critical gap between the Lawnview DART Station and the existing Trinity Forest Spine Trail near Samuell Boulevard. This extension is part of The Loop Dallas’ broader initiative to create a continuous nine-mile corridor connecting White Rock Lake to the Trinity River Audubon Center.
Philip Haigh, executive director of The Loop Dallas, emphasized the project’s importance beyond recreation. “This type of infrastructure isn’t just about recreation,” Haigh explained. “It’s about mobility, transportation, and equity.” The project aims to improve mobility and access for neighborhoods in southern Dallas, which have historically lacked pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
Investment in Southern Dallas
The Trinity Forest Spine Trail is a $90 million project, with over $80 million invested south of I-30. This investment underscores a commitment to enhancing public safety and access to public transportation in the area. The second phase of the trail, which opened in April, included widened sidewalks and improved pedestrian access near U.S. 175 and the Lake June DART Station.
The Loop Dallas has been instrumental in facilitating the donation of the Parkdale Lake property from Oncor to the city of Dallas, a crucial step in completing the trail alignment and opening the lake to the public for the first time.
Future Prospects
Construction on phase III of the trail is expected to begin soon, with completion anticipated in a few years. The project is funded through a combination of public and private partnerships, involving the City of Dallas, Dallas County, TxDOT, and federal transportation funding sources. Haigh expressed optimism about the project’s impact, stating, “We know for a fact that the Trinity Forest Spine Trail will be finished and open to the public in just a few years.”
This initiative is part of the larger Loop Dallas effort to connect trails across the city into a unified network, making Dallas’ green spaces more accessible to residents citywide.
Original reporting: Richardson, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
