Construction Delay from McCommas to Mockingbird

Many of our trail goers have been wondering when the construction from McCommas to Mockingbird is going to be begin. Well, the Friends of the Katy Trail recently received some news as to what is holding up the newest connection. The City of Dallas's plans under went some changes and must now be reapproved by the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDoT). The plans are under review at the local TXDoT district office so everything should be finalized by September 2009. The beginning stages of the construction should start by the end of this year.

Shout Out to Katy

Vanessa over at Examiner.com recently discovered what you probably know - the Katy Trail is a great place to get some exercise and fresh air. Click here to check it out. Thanks!

A Little Katy History Lesson

If you'd like to read a brief history of the MKT (aka Katy) Railroad and Katy Trails throughout the Midwest, check out this blog post from Abandoned Oklahoma.

And if you like that kind of stuff, you'll want to read the incredibly dull but historically rich book The KATY Railroad and the Last Frontier by V.V. Masterson.

Selective Clearing to Begin

Selective clearing has begun in the section of Katy Trail property just off the running path between the bridges over Harry Hines and McKinnon, about half a mile from the Trail’s south end. The intent is to see what’s behind all the scrub brush and overgrown weeds. If there is ample space, the hope is to build a wood deck in this area that could be serviced by a restaurant.

Imagine using the Katy Trail in the morning and stopping in this area for your daily cup of coffee or morning tea. Or imagine grabbing a bottled water and a sandwich here on a lazy afternoon. Who knows, you might be able to return at night for a beer or a glass of wine. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Sandblasting Done at Dedo’s Place

Construction at Dedo’s Place, the plaza near the north end of the Katy Trail, is in high gear. On June 16, sandblasting took place to give the colored concrete a rougher texture, perfect for skates and bikes to be able to hug the surface. All of the stonework was completed last week. Next up – landscaping. Expect to see that work begin by July 4 and conclude by the end of the month.

The entire project, generously funded by Dedo & Barron Kidd along with gifts from several other major donors, should be done by the end of the summer. Check out the slide show of construction on our Construction Page.

Storms Take Toll on Trail

Like the rest of North Texas, the storms that whipped through here Wednesday and Thursday took a toll on the Katy Trail. Check out this photo of one of the many trees that tumbled into the Trail's path. Parks was out early Friday working on removing as many of the downed limbs and possible, but it will take them weeks to get to all the affected areas.

There were also a few locations along the Katy Trail where the soil or decomposed granite were washed onto the Trail. The Friends of the Katy Trail has asked our landscape maintenance firms -- paid for by membership contributions -- to sweep the north and south ends that they maintain. Expect to see the grounds crews from both Moore Lawn & Garden and Valley Crest out there on Tuesday to help get the Trail clear of any and all debris.

Katy Trail Welcomes Summer with New Plants

Summer is almost here so all of our summer colors are planted and we cannot wait for you to see them. But don't feel to bad for the other plants, all of our beds and turf are about to receive their second batch of fertilizer. Speaking of taking care of our plants, unfortunately with summer comes more bugs. So if you are on the trail and you’re taking five or even ten and you happen to see some unwelcome bugs on our plants, let us know. Specific bugs of interest or signs that our plants need help include: bag worms on junipers and Bald Cypress trees; leaf spot on roses, lace bugs on azaleas and Boston ivy and scale on hollies, magnolias and crape myrtles.

Bike Transportation Plan for Dallas?

Check out what our Executive Director thinks Dallas should do regarding bicycle transportation in Dallas by reading his column that ran in The Dallas Morning News on Sunday. And if you want to see what Fort Worth is doing, click here.

New Stone Benches at North End

As we moved around the limestones that make up the seatwall at Dedo's Place, the plaza under construction near the north end of the Katy Trail, we ended up with two extra blocks. They became the new seating area at the far north end of the Trail near Airline Road -- a perfect place for you to take five before you head back south down the Trail, or stop to lace 'em up as you get ready to start your first trip. Check 'em out.

Dedo's Place is still on schedule to be finished this summer. The $200,000 project was generously funded by Dedo & Barron Kidd as well as the Ben E. Keith Foundation, Deedie & Rusty Rose, and numerous donations from the employees of Century 21 Judge Fite in honor of Richard Brown. Click here to go to our construction page to get updates and see the slide show of the project in progress. And check that page often for new info.