A key gap in a recreational trail running through Plano's Legacy business area may soon be filled after the city reached an agreement with a once-reluctant property owner.
Plano City Council on Monday approved a $2.9 million expenditure to fund the land purchase and construction of the Legacy Trail extension, which would connect two long but currently unconnected stretches of trail southwest of where Preston Road meets Legacy Drive.
The cost of the project was driven by the unique conditions of the trail path, which would run under Legacy Drive and require the construction of a small bridge for another portion of the trail, Plano Parks and Recreation Director Robin Reeves told the council.
Alternatives, Reeves said, would require rerouting the trail path around an office campus or building a much larger bridge across the adjacent White Rock Creek.
"We believe this is our best option," Reeves told council members. "We don't believe there are any other options that would significantly reduce our costs."
The city had for years negotiated with the property owner, JBL Properties, which had been reluctant to allow the trail's construction, according to a memo prepared by city staff. The memo says the two parties are moving forward after the city agreed to let the property owner oversee its design and construction.
The council also approved a separate $7.1 million expenditure for the expansion and renovation of the Plano Senior Recreation Center, located at 401 W. 16th St. The project will include a 13,000-square-foot expansion as well as a renovation of the existing 22,000-square-foot building, according to city documents.