Project Connects Trail Between Arlington, GP: Now, Hikers, Skaters and Cyclists Can Say They Exercise in Two Cities
By Kathy A. Goolsby, The Dallas Morning News
Jan. 7–Benedicto Avalos runs the trail alongside Fish Creek Linear Park every day.
Starting near his Arlington home just southwest of State Highway 360 and Interstate 20, he jogs east for about 1.5 miles to Starrett Elementary School, then retraces his steps back along the creek.
Until this week, Mr. Avalos, 53, didn’t realize that as soon as he passes under the highway bridge, he’s in Grand Prairie.
“I run in two cities,” said Mr. Avalos, laughing. “I only came here three months ago. I didn’t know.”
By month’s end, everyone using the Fish Creek Linear Park trail near the bridge will know.
A large metal medallion similar to a manhole cover will be embedded in the trail under a metal archway at the city limit line.
It will feature logos for both cities split by a wavy line representing the creek.
The project — dubbed “A Trail of Two Cities” by officials — marks the first time hike and bike paths in Arlington and Grand Prairie have connected to another city’s trail system.
“We’ve been real excited about a connection from our city into another,” said Gordon Robertson, Arlington’s park planning manager. “We’ve talked about it with Fort Worth at River Legacy and with Grand Prairie at Lynn Creek and the Bowman Branch, but this is our first city-to-city trail connection.”
Arlington finished its nearly four-mile portion of the Fish Creek trail in 1999, running from the city limits on the east end to Silo Road on the west.
There, the path connects to the Cravens Park trail, which ends at the corner of Matlock Road and Cravens Park Drive.
The first phase of Grand Prairie’s trail was completed in the mid-’80s, said Ken Unkart, city park planner. But until recently, the path stopped on the north side of Fish Creek about a quarter-mile east of the Highway 360 service roads. Traversing the highway had to wait until it was extended south and bridges were built. The new path cuts underneath, keeping hikers and bikers away from the roadways.
Grand Prairie also built a 220-foot-long bridge across the creek near Brittany Lane on the south end and Presto Circle to the north. The east end of the trail was extended a few hundred feet further, almost to Matthew Road.
“This one has the potential to eventually go all the way to Dallas,” said Tim Shinogle, Grand Prairie’s park planning manager.
The bridge and trail extensions in Grand Prairie cost $956,000. Both cities split the $34,200 cost for the medallion and archway that mark the city limits.
The intercity connection fits with the regional “veloweb” trail system developed by the North Central Texas Council of Governments, said Alicia Hopkins, a senior transportation planner. The veloweb is a planned system of off-street routes for bike and pedestrian use throughout North Texas.
“The trails are not just for recreation but connectivity between residential and business areas,” Ms. Hopkins said. “If a family wants to go grab dinner, they won’t have to get in their car to drive two miles. They can jump on their bikes and use the trail to get there.”
The Fish Creek trail meanders through several residential areas and alongside shopping centers at the Highway 360 crossing. Although there are a few parking places along the route, the trail is designed more for use by nearby residents, Mr. Robertson said.
Along Grand Prairie’s trail, there are rest stops, basketball courts, four playgrounds, a pavilion, two multi-purpose fields, a practice backstop and picnic tables. Arlington is about to begin a $370,000 construction project next to Bryant Elementary School on Havenwood Drive that will add a pavilion, half-court basketball court and a looped trail that ties into the linear trail.
Mr. Unkart said hike and bike trails are the most-requested park amenity in Grand Prairie, and connecting the two ends of Fish Creek’s trail provides more opportunities for walkers, skaters and cyclists.
The same is true in Arlington, Mr. Robertson said.
“This is our citizens’ favorite recreational activity,” he said. “It helps them get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.”
E-mail kgoolsby@dallasnews.com
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Copyright (c) 2007, The Dallas Morning News
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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