It’s a sprawling 30 acres of more than three miles in the heart of our city. Roughly 300,000 Dallasites live or work within a mile of it. And an estimated 780,000 people use it every year.

Those are just some basic stats about the Katy Trail. But what those numbers don’t reflect is the picturesque beauty of the park. You have to travel the path to fully appreciate the lush foliage surrounding it or the neatly manicured flowerbeds lining it.

“The landscaping is a lot nicer than most city parks, and that’s due, in large part, to the Friends of the Katy Trail,” says Betsy Edmond, the group’s associate director. “We’re a nonprofit dedicated to improving the Katy Trail. We’re trying to create a great American park here in Dallas.”

So what goes into creating such a park? Well, about $17.5 million for starters. That’s how much private and government money the nonprofit has secured toward completing its $23 million master plan since its 1997 founding. So far, that has paid for things such as the 12-foot-wide concrete trail, benches, drinking fountains and entry plazas at Victory, Reverchon Park and Knox Street. And membership dues from the Friends of the Katy Trail pay for things such as landscaping, maintenance and additional safety patrols.

The goal is to raise the remaining $5.5 million of that $23 million plan by December 2008 to fund improvements such as stair entrances, additional plazas and trail lighting.

All of that is ambitious, but what’s even more impressive is that just two staffers run the 800-plus member organization. Granted, volunteer boards help on occasion, but day in and day out, it’s just Edmond and executive director Eric Van Steenburg who run the show.

“When you’re a staffer for a neighborhood nonprofit like this, you do everything from answering phones, to writing grant requests, to managing multi-million dollar construction,” he says. “But we have an intern, so technically, we’re two and a half staffers.”

And so, with just two and a half staffers, the nonprofit has managed to raise millions of dollars, creating a premiere park in just 10 years. Now they’re commemorating that decade of accomplishment with a series of celebrations.

“Nobody offered to throw us a birthday party, so we’re throwing ourselves one,” Edmond teases.

The fun kicks off with an uptown pub-crawl Thursday, Nov. 1. At press time, Cretia’s, Knox Street Pub, II Sole, Trece, Little Katana, Café Madrid and Grand Tastings were confirmed. And everyone gets a goody bag full of discounts and samples from local businesses.

On Saturday, Nov. 3, cyclists, skaters and spectators are invited to Katy Trail for a day of races. First up is a time trial where three-person teams race from the Knox Street to Victory Park. Then the American Airlines Center will become a speedway of sorts, where cyclists can race in a competitive criterion, a mountain bike race, a kid’s race, and a social fun ride.

The festivities end Sunday, Nov. 4, at Reverchon Park with an all-day picnic. There will be free pizza from Campisi’s and free ice cream sandwiches from Pokey O’s, along with lots of other goodies. And because it’s the official birthday party for The Friends of the Katy Trail, there will be free birthday cake – yes, free – as well as live music and games. And for $20, you can enjoy some frosty brew in the beer garden.

“It’s going to be a bit like Venice Beach here in Dallas,” Van Steenburg jokes. “It’ll be a fun time, so we hope neighbors come celebrate with us.”