Construction has begun on a 1.6-mile trail in Jersey Village, as workers are bringing in materials and leveling the area. The six-foot wide, crushed granite trail will run along the 43-acre detention pond near Rio Grande Drive and Jersey Meadow, said Michael Brown, director of the city's parks and recreation department.

The city of Jersey Village is funding the construction of the project through an agreement with the Harris County Flood Control District. As for the Jersey Meadows Stormwater Detention Basin, Harris County Commissioners Court issued the $3.6 million construction contract to Serco Construction Group in May. Seventy-five percent of costs for completing the pond will be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency Hurricane Ike Hazard Mitigation Grant awarded to the Flood Control District.

According to the contractor, weather has impeded progress, and the project is scheduled to take place over the next 300 days. The project also includes the construction of concrete weirs within the pond, however, the detention will remain free flowing, Brown said.

"There will be no barrier, or anything that changes the flow through the immediate channel," Brown said. "The detention pond normally contains approximately three to four feet of water. If we have a drought situation, the water will dry up."

The trail will not be a continuous loop around the pond, and the project does not include the construction of bridges as previously planned. Mayor Russell Hamley said he feels that the lack of a continuous loop may prove problematic, and stated that citizens will likely make their own trail.

"[The trail] stops on either side of the weir. It will loop around the back and around to the other side," said Mike Castro, city manager. "There is going to be at least one island built, but the project does not include bridges to that island. We may come back at some time and purchase these bridges."