What if you could walk or bike to all of the best natural amenities in the metroplex?

Northaven Trail (Photo by Danny Fulgencio)

Northaven Trail (Photo by Danny Fulgencio)

It’s an ambitious dream first birthed in the 1960s when Park Director L.B. Houston pushed for a greenbelt plan that emphasized parks and walkability. “Let’s not be small about this,” he urged in a 1969 Dallas Morning News article, which outlined his plans for a 40-mile loop that would connect up to 70 miles of public parkland.

Houston’s plea has been heeded in recent years as the city puts added attention and resources toward a green space plan. That plan includes 300 miles of trails that loop Dallas and connect into neighboring cities — twice the 149 miles currently on the city’s trail map.

“We want everyone to be able to walk 10 minutes, half a mile, and be able to be on a trail,” says Peter Bratt of the city’s Park and Recreation Department.

Head west from Preston Hollow, and you could eventually bike to Irving’s expansive parks like Bird’s Fort and Sam Houston. Head east, and you can walk right over Interstate 75 to White Rock Lake. Sounds nice, right? Like all things, it comes down to money. But the city’s creative partnerships with other government bodies mixed with an uptick of private donor dollars makes the dream seem more within reach than ever before.

 

Northaven Trail with points of interest

Click to see a larger, more comprehensive map of City of Dallas Trails.