My Trinity River News Page 2

News from the River (Cont.)

It will be a central meeting place for citizens of Dallas to enjoy the wondrous natural preserve existing right in the heart of a vibrant and elegant urban setting. What do you know about the 6,000 acre Great Trinity Forest? In the months ahead, we'll tell you more about all the resources and beauty right outside your door from the electronic pages of My Trinity River News. Ask us a question by writing to mytrinityriver@dallascityhall.com. It's your river!

Texas Buckeye Trail and the Great Trinity Forest
In May 2008, the Dallas City Council approved the authorization of funding to enhance the Texas Buckeye Trail and make it an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible trail within the 6,000 acre Great Trinity Forest proposed trails system. The construction of a concrete and granite nature trail, a pedestrian bridge and landscaping elements at its entrance site, Rochester Park, will be a perfect complement for the scenic overlook at trail's end. It's wild and work begins in July! Located at 7000 Bexar Street, Dallas 75215.

Moore Park Gateway Groundbreaking
In May 2008, the City of Dallas, the Trinity Trust Foundation and the Hoblitzelle Foundation joined with residents near the park to celebrate the groundbreaking. Officials of the organizations attending to commemorate this important event included City of Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, City of Dallas City Manager Mary Suhm, City of Dallas Councilmembers Carolyn Davis, Jerry R. Allen, Dwaine R. Caraway, Sheffie Kadane, Pauline Medrano, and Steve Salazar; Hoblitzelle Foundation Chairman George Shafer and Hoblitzelle Foundation President Paul Harris, Trinity Trust Foundation President and CEO Dr. Gail Thomas, and Trinity Trust Foundation Chairman Mary McDermott Cook. View photo>

The City first bought this land in 1938 from the Crockett Estate - so it has been designated as a park for 70 years. Now, it's getting a much needed renovation and expansion! To assist with the second phase of this expansion, the Hoblitzelle Foundation gave a $2 million gift to help the City make this the first gateway location from the Southern Sector of Dallas to the Trinity River. When complete early next spring, it will mark the starting point for bike rides, hiking, walking to festivals, or simply viewing the beautiful downtown skyline and the river front vistas.

The park improvements include:

> A shade pavilion and scenic overlook
> Pedestrian plaza
> A new grove of trees and amphitheater on the sloping lawn
> Connections to the Santa Fe Trestle Trail
> Canoe and kayak river access facilities
> An additional picnic area
> Environmental restoration and clean up of Cedar Creek

Fast Track Overlook Is Approved
On June 11, 2008, the Dallas City Council approved the funding for the Fast Track Overlook (Observation Deck) located at the intersection of Beckley Avenue and Commerce Street. Construction starts in July.

nterestingly enough, the construction contract was won by a company named Fast Trak Construction, Inc. - so this project is definitely slated to move fast and be completed by late fall; just in time for the holiday season. The MetLife Foundation via the Trust for Public Land (TPL) made a $100,000 donation making this project possible for Dallas. The removable fabric shade structure will be a focal point for citizens of Dallas to view the construction projects taking place in the immediate vicinity of its installation site. It will give Dallasites the opportunity to stop by the Overlook and enjoy a different view of the Trinity River and the work that is taking place along the corridor. Visitors to the Overlook will be able to enjoy lunch while taking a break from the everyday and experiencing a new urban view of Dallas. As construction begins over the next few years, the best and most interesting vantage point for viewing the work will be from the Fast Track Overlook.

Community View (Cont.)

The Trinity River Corridor Project is based on the Balanced Vision Plan that was approved by the Dallas City Council in 2003. This plan brings together all the elements of this complex urban effort and separates the project into five key components: floodway improvements, transportation, recreation, environment, and economic development.

In addition, it is a comprehensive plan to help all the various departments within the City of Dallas and the outside agencies such as the Texas Department of Transportation, North Texas Tollway Authority, United States Army Corps of Engineers, and the Environmental Protection Agency coordinate their efforts to make the dream of a new future for Dallas become reality.

For almost 100 years, citizens of Dallas and its leadership planned for better stewardship and use of the Trinity River. In 1998, the bond proposition for the Trinity River Corridor Project was passed.

When the current list of major projects is complete in 2014, the open spaces of today will belong even more closely to all of us as the project brings new hike, bike and nature trails to the river corridor, it will feature 10,000 acres within the floodway system and 40,000 acres outside of the levees.

There will be parks and gateway areas for outdoor enjoyment, athletic fields for a growing youth population, desirable places to live along the river, to shop or work, important transportation elements, and much needed flood protection for thousands of households and businesses. It will bring us all the simple beauty of a well loved river.

To learn more about the Trinity River Corridor Project, please visit us at www.trinityrivercorridor.org.

 
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Got questions for us? E-mail us at mytrinityriver@dallascityhall.com
Trinity River Corridor Project, 1500 Marilla, Room 6B South, Dallas, Texas 75201