This spring, the city of Keller will unveil an addition to the Mt. Gilead Road hike-and-bike trail.
Meanwhile, the city of Roanoke staff is in the process of improving the trail system with concrete repairs at Community Park, and Fort Worth officials are working on a bond package that would include more than $185 million for renovating city parks.
What's happening?
The nine-month construction project on Mt. Gilead Road's trail started in August. The city has 31.5 miles of trails, said Rachel Reynolds, Keller's communication and public engagement manager. During the past five years, council has approved adding 4.5 miles of trails.
“Council is very aware that parks and trails are always No. 1 on citizen surveys,” Director of Community Services Cody Maberry said.
City officials approved adding 500 feet of trail on Roanoke Road, north of Mt. Gilead Road, in 2015, but it was not extended due to right-of-way ownership.
Council approved an amended contract with Tejas Cutters LLC to add 750 feet of sidewalk that will connect with Overton Ridge Park.
According to previous reporting, the new total cost is $703,045.07. The first contract was $567,000 to add more than 1,850 feet of trails on Mt. Gilead Road and Roanoke Road.
The addition will be funded through the Parks Capital Improvement Project fund, with funding provided by the Keller Development Corp. fund.
The proposed segments on Mt. Gilead and Roanoke Road have been on the Hike and Bike Master Trail Plan for more than two decades, according to city documents.
The city retains 2% of the 8.25% sales tax remitted by retailers within the city limits. Of that portion, 0.5% goes to KDC for recreational facilities, such as parks and trails, the city website states.
Keller has 17 parks or open spaces covering 336 acres, and four of those are dedicated spaces that are undeveloped, according to the city website.
Current situation
Roanoke staff started the modifications on Community Park the week of Jan. 5. Cannon Park and Fair Play Park repairs will follow with work planned through the fall, Public Engagement Manager Sandra Pettigrew said.
Another project is at Corner Park, located at 1804 Collington Drive in Roanoke, which closed in early December for renovations and should reopen in March, according to the city’s website. According to previous reporting, the combined cost is $381,900.
Ray McDonald, director of Roanoke Parks and Recreation, said the park is being refurbished to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Paved pathways, new playground equipment, new benches, irrigation modifications and installation of solar lights are part of the project, he said.
Roanoke Sports Complex, a privately operated sports facility, will have five of its eight fields done by September, said Dave Dickson, Play It Forward co-founder.
Also of note
Kingsridge West Park and Kingsridge Park in Fort Worth are in the construction phase and design phase, respectively, in Fort Worth Council District 4, according to the city website.
Alliance Park, located at 3800 Litsey Road in District 10, could see $10 million in renovations under the city’s proposed bond package that could go to voters in the May election.
The $10 million from the bond would be for completing the park’s master plan, which would include adding 11 “long” fields. These fields can be used for multiple sports, such as soccer, football and lacrosse. The funds from the bond would be for lighting and restrooms, as well, according to a work session presentation by Parks and Recreation Director Dave Lewis.
“These upgrades will establish Alliance Park as a central hub for community recreation and tournament play in north Fort Worth,” he said.
Park and open space improvements will be one of the six propositions and account for $185.1 million of the $845 million bond.
