Trinity Strand Trail - Organization Information and History

Organization Information and History

In 2002, a group of dedicated individuals formed the Friends of the Trinity Strand Trail, a nonprofit corporation to spearhead the planning, construction and enhancement of a 7.8 mile non-motorized hike and bike trail along the original Trinity River watercourse. This commuter and recreational trail will connect the Katy Trail to the Trinity River and also provide Dallas citizens access to the Southwestern Medical District, Dallas Market Center, Stemmons Corridor businesses and the Dallas Design District. The trail will consist of 5.6 miles of paved concrete trail and 2.2 miles of soft surface trail, 10 bridges and 16 trailheads. The trail will connect 4.7 miles of existing and 7.9 miles of future sidewalks for a total of 20.4 total miles of non-motorized interconnected trails, bridges and sidewalks with a build-out cost of $30 million.

The trail will not only reduce traffic congestion by providing an alternate method to commute to and from work, but it will also improve air quality, provide recreation and transportation opportunities for Dallas citizens and visitors to the city, promote ecotourism, and restore the natural wildlife habitat along the original meanders of the Trinity River. Additionally, the trail will present an opportunity for education and instruction by providing a nature preserve consisting of native wildflowers and grasses. It will also attract new business and residential projects to the neighborhood, which has been predominantly industrial and mostly forgotten until now. The Trinity Strand Trail will greatly enhance the range and benefits of the Katy Trail and Trinity River Levee Trails by providing a non-motorized route for Dallas residents and visitors to travel easily from either the Katy Trail (through Stemmons Park) or from Victory Plaza (along Hi Line Drive) to the many miles of levee trails.