Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Dallas Giving Day a Success - Thanks

A big thank you to everyone who gave $25 to $2,500 to the Friends of the Katy Trail last Thursday as part of Dallas Giving Day. The foundations that made it possible reported the following information from that day:

  • 8,400 donations made
  • 353 organizations received gifts
  • 98 percent of participating organizations received something
  • More than $4 million given in total to North Texas nonprofits

The foundations estimate it will take 640 man-hours of gift processing to finish all the calculations. Expect to see what the Friends of the Katy Trail raised by the middle of June.

Thanks again to everyone who made a donation to the Katy Trail. We can't keep the Trail clean, safe and beautiful with your support.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Limestone blocks installed

Last week the limestone blocks were installed that make up the seatwall at Dedo’s Place, the plaza under construction at the north end of the Katy Trail. New colored concrete was also poured, which appears to be darker than the original stained concrete. However, it will lighten in color as it cures and will match the rest of the concrete. Expect to see all the concrete sand blasted later this week or early next. The contractor will also be moving the stones around slightly before he affixes them permanently. That should happen before Memorial Day.

The entire $200,000 project will be done by the end of the summer. Check out the slide show on our construction page for more scenes of this project in progress

Monday, May 18, 2009

Word O' The Day

While we don't actually have a word of the day feature, we happened to read this one and thought it was a good one to share:

Freiker: a frequent biker. Used in a sentence: There are many freikers on the Katy Trail.

Try inserting that word into a conversation the next time you're at a swanky party.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Info You Need to Know about the Michelob Ultra No. 11 Katy 5K:

Online race registration is available through midnight on Tuesday, May 12.

Packet pickup is at Luke's Locker (3607 Oak Lawn) through 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13

Race Day Registration will be available starting at 4:30 p.m. at Reverchon Park (3505 Maple)

Parking is available at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children at Maple and Oak Lawn

Race Day Start Times are:

  • 6:10 p.m. - Katy Trail Kids Point-5K Dash
  • 6:25 p.m. - 5K Skate
  • 6:30 p.m. - Run/Walk Begins
  • 6:45 p.m. - Katy's Picnic Opens

For more information email Office@KatyTrailDallas.org or call 214-303-1180.

One Arts Plaza Loves Katy

Our good friends at One Arts Plaza have made an extensive post on their blog about the upcoming Katy 5k. Thanks One Arts!

If you don't know already, One Arts Plaza is the office/residential high-rise on the east side of the new Arts District in Downtown Dallas. There's been talk that Routh Street, which runs right in front of One Arts, might be redesigned to make it more bicycle and pedestrian friendly. Check out the One Arts Plaza website for more info about this super cool location.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Free Gift Bags for Biking the Trail

DailyCandy and Fleetwood’s Kit Kat are hosting a bike ride down the Katy Trail to the W Hotel for a private patio lunch benefitting Friends of Katy Trail. It gets even better because you'll get a free gift bag and VitaminWater10 (while supplies last).

Check it out on Sat., 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Meet at 5214 E. Mockingbird Ln. Tickets $25 (includes bike and lunch). R.S.V.P. to 214-282-9951 or thefleetster@gmail.com.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

"Runners Wanted" Truck Debuts

Check out the new roving advertising truck that helps promotes the Katy 5K for the Friends of the Katy Trail. It is generously furnished by Rod Collins of Bulldog Mobile Billboards. Thanks Rod! You may see it parked at the lot near the Knox Street entrance, where this picture was taken, or perhaps notice it tooling around the Uptown-Turtle Creek-Oak Lawn-Downtown areas of our fair burg. Hope you like it. We think it rocks. And don't forget to sign up for the Katy 5K, taking place Thursday, May 14 at 6:15 p.m. at Reverchon Park. Click here to register today.

Concrete Fails - Gets Replaced

Unfortunately for all of us, the world is an imperfect place. That became evident last week when cracks formed in the freshly poured concrete that was installed just the week before at Dedo’s Place, the plaza under construction near the north end of the Katy Trail. So the contractor began removing sections of the concrete that cracked and will replace it later this week.

Despite this setback, and the amount of rain that limits construction, the contractor still believes the $200,000 project will be completed by the end of the summer. Thank you for your patience during this time period that the main trail is closed and all Trail traffic is forced to share the running trail.