Section of Trinity Trails undergoing reconstruction
In an effort to alleviate some constraints on trail users, such as those with disabilities and a particularly narrow stretch of the trails near University Drive, the stretch of the trails between Rogers Road and University Drive near the Fort Worth Zoo will be closed until mid-October.
“It will be great when it’s finished and users will certainly see a big difference,” said Laura Mayberry, public information officer for the Trinity River Vision Authority.
The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, defines standards for accessible design, which will be incorporated into the newly renovated stretch of trails, said Rachel Navejar, neighborhood and recreation enhancement coordinator for the water district.
Navejar said the trails will be lowered so they are more accessible for those with disabilities and some upgraded tactile elements such as bike racks and water fountains will be added to the parking area for the trails, just to the west of University Drive.
“Right now, we’re taking out the current tail, then we will lower the trail to meet those ADA standards,” Navejar said. “Then we will begin construction of a trail head, which will include a water fountain, more signage and bike racks. Things like that, upgrades here and there.”
This project is one of the many trail improvements outlined in the 10-year Trinity River Vision’s Neighborhood Recreational Enhancement Plan – a joint effort of TRWD, Trinity River Vision Authority, the city of Fort Worth and Streams and Valleys Inc. – that outlines more than 90 projects along the Trinity River’s trail system.
Navejar said reconstruction projects are being paid for with funds from the Neighborhood Recreational Enhancement Plan. AUI was selected to lead construction for the project and Gideon Toal is serving as project architect.
During construction, trail users will be directed to the south side of Riverfront Drive, which runs parallel to the current trail. Navejar said signs and barricades will be in place to designate the trail’s temporary path, though users will be directed off of the trails entirely.
In addition to the trail work and the trailhead at the corner of Rogers Road and Riverfront Drive, the renovation also will include adding a retaining wall because the trails themselves will be lowered as well as a fishing pier, which will likely be made of wood, Mayberry said.
“A lot of people informally go down on the banks and fish everyday, so we’re making a formal, safe place for them to fish,” Mayberry said. “… This project gets users closer to the water, which is great. We have the levy system down there and it’s a real opportunity to get close to the river.”
The first phase is slated to wrap up in mid-October and work on the second phase of trails construction will begin immediately following phase one. Details on the second phase are not available for release as of yet, but Mayberry said it will include a narrow portion of the trails under the University Drive bridge,
“The major thing we’ve gathered for the second phase is that under the University bridge, it’s steep and hard to see what is under the bridge at the bottom, so there might be a person walking, etc. So we’ll be widening that area and making it more of a gradual slope,” Mayberry said. “Everybody from mommies to bicyclers was excited about that.”
The work on phase two is expected to be complete by the end of November.
Mayberry said while there is certainly no good time of the year to work on sections of the trails, project leaders tried to choose a time when the fewest users would be affected. Some may be training for the White Rock Lake Marathon, which is a well-known annual event in Dallas each winter, performing the re-routing after the summer months was a must.
“It’s hard to pick a good time, but people are really excited to see the finished product, with the fixed area under University,” Mayberry said. “… The main thing is we’re trying to take the river to the next level and this a step in doing that.”
