Upcoming trail projects
Planning entity/ funding source:
Cities have begun development or have completed multiple trail projects, which adds more hiking and biking opportunities for the area.
NEW BRAUNFELS
Live Oak Selma Schertz
CYPRESS POINT
SELMA
LOOKOUT ROAD: Walking and biking lanes along Lookout Road; set to begin in 2023 Cost: $2.9 million
DRY COMAL CREEK TRAIL:
The trail, part of the Great Springs Project, is in the early planning stages. Cost: TBD
1604
SCHERTZ
TOEPPERWEIN TRAIL: A trail from Toepperwein Road to the Live Oak Town Center; set to begin in 2023 Cost: $500,000 WOODCREST TRAIL: A trail from Avery Road to Woodcrest Park; set to begin in 2023 Cost: $400,000
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LIVE OAK
GREAT NORTHERN TRAIL: An 8-mile trail connecting Schertz Parkway to Cypress Point; rst segment is complete and other segments will be worked on over the next decade Cost: $3.7 million
LIVE OAK TOWN CENTER
1518
SHIN OAK DR.
LIVE OAK SWIMMING POOL
MAIN CITY PARK TRAIL: A trail connecting Main City Park to the Live Oak Swimming Pool; set to be complete in the spring Cost: $200,000
CIBOLO
MAIN CITY PARK
WOODCREST PARK
MAP NOT TO SCALE N
SOURCES: CITY OF SCHERTZ, CITY OF SELMA, CITY OF LIVE OAK COMMUNITY IMPACT
the Selma-Live Oak city limits. Agee said these improvements aim to facilitate greater access to Retama Park, Stage Stop Park, City Hall, apartment complexes, nursing homes and surrounding businesses. “This project completes the ‘back- bone’ sidewalk and bike lane net- work that will connect to all other existing and future pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure throughout the city,” Agee said. In Schertz, the City Council on Jan. 24 approved a grant application to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Depart- ment Recreational Trails Grant Pro- gram for the development of the Dry Comal Creek Trail project. According to Shrum, this project will be the connection to the Great Spring Project, and will connect to New Braunfels and other cities as well as having a connection to the Great Northern Trail, which will add to the trail network in Schertz. Shrum said trails throughout the city will provide bene ts to the com- munities that do not have dedicated park land, o ering an outlet for exer- cise and other physical activities,
for the park area. The city of Schertz plans to invest an estimated $3.7 million in the Great Northern Trail project, which will add 8 miles of linear trail from Schertz Parkway to the northern part of the city. The rst part of the project from Schertz Parkway to Wiederstein Road was completed in June, with the goal to nish the entire project over the next 10 years. Lauren Shrum, Schertz Parks and Recreation director, said these investments in trails are a betterment for the community and wildlife in the area that will also drive tourism. “If you notice, a lot of our parks and trails are along drainage,” she said. “Parks are great infrastructure. They allow for drainage as well as recreational amenities.” Upcoming projects Through funds allotted by the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the city of Selma is planning to provide pedestrian and street improvements to the portion of Lookout Road from Evans Road to
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Making trails In areas where parks are not possible, cities can create trails of 24 to 28 feet wide to provide recreation activities. According to details in the Great Springs Project, it takes 25 feet to make a park.
“It is very aligned with the goals of the EDC, City Council and parks and [recreation] to make that connec- tivity for those pedestrians to make it from one side of Live Oak, bike across or walk across, to the other side of Live Oak,” she said. Mark Wagster, Live Oak director of public works, said the city also approved a trail connecting the Live Oak swimming pool recreation area to Main City Park. This trail costs $200,000 and will connect with the trail that goes around the lake. With the opening of a new H E B in Cibolo, the city will create a new parking lot and trailhead with an entrance from the store parking lot. The Town Creek Trailhead will con- nect with other trails in the city and create a walking area for residents. While this project has not yet begun development and design, the Cibolo City Council on Jan. 24 approved $161,000 to begin building out the parking lot, and to work on the shing pond and monument sign
10 feet for a painted cycle track
5 feet for cycling and pedestrian amenities 5 6 feet for a pedestrian walkway with way nding
1 2 feet for a planted barrier 3 5 feet for lighting, shading and planting
SOURCE: GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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