As one of the major components of the parks, recreation and trails master plan, Katy officials have begun planning a walkable, bikeable trail system that will weave through the entire city.

The details

At a June 26 meeting, City Council members approved Phase 1 of a trail feasibility study to connect neighborhoods with parks and other activity centers within the city, costing $14,930. The trail or series of trails would wind from Leyendecker Landing—a passive park dedicated to the city’s former engineer and located north near Pitts and Morton roads—to Avenue C and Third Street in the downtown area of Katy.

The city will use its 2021 park improvement bonds to pay for the feasibility study, per the June 26 agenda. The goals of this study were outlined in city documents from ARKK Engineers to Public Works Director Elaine Lutringer. These include:

• Selecting the best possible route of a trail connecting the Leyendecker Landing Park site to downtown Katy to be documented with photos
• Identifying site constraints, permits, permissions and easements needed to construct the trail
• Recommending the width and material of the trail
• Providing a cost estimate to design, permit, inspect and construct the trail

What's next?

Though a timeline for the study could not be provided by press time, several deliverables are promised with its conclusion, per city documents—such as larger- and smaller-scale maps of the recommended route along with a cost to construct the citywide trail.