Map courtesy of Trust for Public Land.
A 1.1 mile stretch of trail between Westmoreland Road and Hampton Road has been “shovel ready” for several months, but now, a $6.6 million grant from TxDOT will help kickstart construction.
The trail is part of the Trust For Public Land’s Five Mile Creek Greenbelt, a planned 17-mile trail that will connect much of Oak Cliff and Southern Dallas.
The state funds will be matched with an additional $1.65 million by other Trust For Public Land partners, bringing the total funds raised to over $8 million.
“This grant is a gamechanger for the Five Mile Creek Greenbelt because the dollars will go directly to construction of the trail, making the transportation benefits of this trail available to the community even sooner than planned,” said TPL State Director Robert Kent.
The grant was given as part of the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program, which provides funding to pedestrian and bike infrastructure plans across the state.
With the funding, Trust For Public Land said construction on the trail could start as early as 2024. So far, $35 million of the estimated $78 million needed for the total trail has been raised, and Community Bond Subcommittees have recommended $7,000,000 be included in the 2024 bond package for the trail.
“The Five Mile Creek Greenbelt is a transformational project for Southern Dallas, and will provide access to the benefits of parks and trails to thousands of residents,” said Dallas Park & Recreation Board President Arun Agarwal. “Our thanks to our partners at TxDOT for their commitment to this shared vision.”
