Bathroom Update

When KT answered a question through the Ask KT feature on our homepage – and in the newsletter you’ll be getting in the mail any day now – the suggestion was that Trail users in the Knox area needing a restroom should go to the nearby 7-Eleven.

Since then, however, the property was sold, and the 7-Eleven that we all used is now gone. We just spoke with KT, and KT’s suggestion is now to use the Highland Park Pharmacy or the Starbucks. Just like the now gone 7-Eleven, please be a good patron and buy something on your way out.

Press Conference on Katy this Friday

Council member Angela Hunt is having a press conference Friday at 9:30 a.m. on the Katy Trail to promote and demonstrate the new 911 markers that have been installed on the Trail, and how Dallas emergency services has linked the markers with the City’s GPS. The press conference will take place where Harvard crosses the Trail.

All the Way to State!

Ok, so the Katy Trail didn't make it out of the "Sweet 16," but in D Magazine's Best Things in Dallas Tournament we made a completely respectable showing before being beaten by High School Football.

In the first round, we were up against the 6th Floor Museum (a very cool museum and Dallas landmark that everyone should visit). The round of 32 proved pretty challenging when we were up against West Village, but you made sure we came out on top. Unfortunately, we were up against High School Football in the Sweet 16 and, this being Texas, we understand why High School Football won.

After the Katy Trail executive director heard about our defeat and wallowed in sorrow, he said, "High School Football is going all the way!" Click here to help High School Football go all the way or to root for Snuffer's Cheddar Fries because we know you'll need to run on the Katy Trail after eating them.

911 Location Signs on the Trail

Remember the story about how the idea for Southwest Airlines started on a cocktail napkin? This is similar, but different. It's not a plan for an airline and it's not a cocktail napkin, but if you click here you can see a map of where the 911 location signs are on the Trail (they go all the way to Airline Road, thus the airline humor).

Dignitaries Confirm for Lighting Ceremony

The list of dignitaries attending Monday’s lighting ceremony at 8:15 p.m. on the Katy Trail is growing. So far, attendees include:

Mayor Tom Leppert
Commissioner John Wiley Price
Councilmember Pauline Medrano
Councilmember Angela Hunt
Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle
Deputy Chief Vince Golbeck

The event will take place at the Victory Overlook near the south end of the Trail. Be there, be there, be there.

VIP Training on Saturday, June 21

While the lighting will make using the Trail safer after dark, you can do your part to increase safety by becoming a Katy Trail Voluteer in Patrol (VIP). The next VIP Training will be on Saturday, June 21 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Training will be at the City Hall Auditorium at 1500 Marilla St. Click here to download the VIP application and submit it to Sgt. Dennis Craig at dennis.craig@dpd.ci.dallas.tx.us

• VIPs observe while using the Katy Trail. They carry mobile phones to dial 911 when there is an incident needing reporting.
• VIPs wear a cool vest featuring VIP, DPD and FKT logos while on the Trail.
• VIPs should walk in pairs, so grab a friend and sign up today.

For those of you who have already completed VIP Training, we have ordered your vests and will provide one to you as soon as the shipment arrives.

What Was Your Favorite Katy 5K Treat?

There was so much great food at the 5K and we want to know what you can't wait to have again next year. Click here to tell us what your favorite drinks, snacks and desserts were at the Michelob Ultra No. 10 Katy 5K.

How to Keep Cool and Stay Fit When It's So HOT

In case you hadn't noticed, it's hot on the Trail. Not just a little hot, but a lot hot. Fortunately, our Friends over at The Dallas Morning News did a great article on how to keep cool and stay fit as the temperature continues to flirt with triple digits. Click here to check it out.

Be a Star!

The Friends of the Katy Trail is seeking 30 extras for the upcoming production of a television public service announcement. The TV commercial "Happy Trail" will promote the trail and the friends organization.

We need you to show up and be in the PSA. We need bikers, joggers and rollerbladers as extras. We want the trail to be full of folks when we film.

We will be shooting on Wednesday, June 25 beginning at 8 a.m. We will have a tent set up on the north side of the Knox Plaza across the street from David's Way for check in and organization. For your participation we'll provide lunch and free t-shirt.

Please RSVP by emailing office@katytraildallas.org

Thanks!

Lighting Testing Begins

The contractor installing the lights on the Katy Trail informed us that testing of the system at the south end would begin today, uh, tonight. So if you’re on the Katy Trail around 9 p.m. in the area from Reverchon Park to the AAC, check out the lights and let us know if they’re working.

Lost at the Katy 5K?

It's ok. We understand that things happened in the midst of all the fantastic food, entertainment and Michelob Ultra that you were enjoying with your 4,500 closest friends.

We have some keys and few other odds and ends of value that we picked up at the post-race picnic, so if you lost something along those lines, just shoot us an email at office@KatyTrailDallas.org and we'll make sure you get them back.

Emergency 911 Signs Installed

Parks installed their 911 location signs on the Katy Trail at the end of last week. They look like this.

Should you ever be in trouble on the Katy Trail, just call 911 and tell them the number on the location marker that is nearest to you. All of the numbers are coded into the City’s emergency response GPS, so they should be able to find you.

Entry Plans Almost Done

Met with the architects from SWA Group last Thursday to review the (almost) complete designs for the public entries to the Katy Trail. These privately funded entries will be at the following streets – Fairmount, Routh, Cedar Springs, Hall, Lemmon, Cambrick, Fitzhugh (both sides), and Armstrong.

To date, we have funds toward Hall, Cambrick, one of the Fitzhughs, and Armstrong. If we’re lucky, and they’re all funded in the next few months, construction could start by the end of the year.