Richardson has completed their part of a nearly two-decade-old agreement to provide a key trail corridor within a regional system.
In 2001, six area cities collaborated to create the Six Cities Trail Plan. The master plan included key connection points to ensure the trail system was fluid throughout the area. There are two key connection points in Richardson that were included in the Six Cities Plan including one point in Breckinridge Park and one in Duck Creek Park.
There are 87 miles of hard surface trails and 6 miles of soft surface (mostly in Breckinridge Park) in the City of Richardson.
There were three open trail projects in Richardson:
- The Duck Creek Trail Extension Project, which was scheduled to be complete in early December:
- 1.5 miles of 10’ wide concrete hike and bike trails
- Provides a connection to Huffhines Park
- The budget for the project is $3.1 million with 80% of that funding coming from the Texas Department of Public Safety, 10% from Dallas County, and 10% from the City of Richardson
- The location of the trail benefits the long-range plans for the Richardson IQ District
- Provides a connection to the Central Trail which allows access to the north to the CityLine area. In the future, the Central Trail connection will connect to Dallas traveling south. Dallas is currently working on a feasibility study to determine the future of the Central Trail connection
- Provides the potential for a future planned connection with Garland at Duck Creek. Garland is currently updating their trails master plan and has identified the connection to Duck Creek as a key connection. They are currently working on a feasibility study which would bring the trail under Jupiter Road to connect to Garland
- The Breckinridge Park Trail Connections Project, which was scheduled to be complete at the beginning of December:
- Includes 3,150’ of 10-foot wide, and 3,200’ of 8-foot wide concrete hike & bike trail for a total of 1.2 miles total new trail
- Includes a new trailhead with a drinking fountain with a water bottle filling station, picnic table, and bench
- The budget for the project is $780,000 with $250,000 coming from a Collin County grant and the remaining funds coming from Richardson’s 2015 Bond Program
- The project includes a trail connection which was identified in the 2001 Six Cities study as a key connection. The area connects Richardson to Plano and Murphy trails
- The Spring Creek Nature Area Phase II Trails Project, which was scheduled to be complete at the end of November:
- Includes a 1,300’ long concrete section along the east side of the area and an 800’ concrete section on the west side trail section which both connect trails on the south side of the property to Renner Road
- There are plans to create additional soft surface trails in the area
- There is a boardwalk on the west side of the property created to protect identified wetlands
- The budget for the project is $614,000 and is being funded by the City
In addition, there is a Spring Creek Nature Area Wayfinding Signage Project which includes:
- Four large signs at key entry points of the area
- Five smaller signs at secondary entry points and internal trail connections
Renovations to the Lookout Park trail entrance were completed in mid-December. City Staff will begin working on a wayfinding sign to be sited near the entrance to Lookout Park. This sign will identify area trails and how they are connected to Lookout Park and the general region around that Park.