As Round Rock works to close gaps in the trail system along Brushy Creek, the city may also identify new ways to connect people on foot and bike.
The big picture
Round Rock City Council adopted an updated version of its trails master plan Sept. 10, outlining a long-range framework to connect parks, neighborhoods, schools, employment centers and downtown with more trails.
A citywide interconnected trail network could facilitate opportunities for economic development, said Tim Bargainer, senior vice president of public markets at Austin-based RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture. RVi is the firm that helped the city develop the updated trails plan.
The details
City documents show the updated plan includes recommendations for trail-oriented design along Brushy Creek. Also known as TROD, this planning model combines urban planning with greenways to create walkable and bike-friendly communities.
Bargainer said Round Rock is uniquely positioned for this type of planning, as the city already has an established trail system and culture.
"Round Rock has an opportunity to move into the next evolution of what a trail system can be," Bargainer said. "It's a transportation system. It's a recreation system. It's a natural system. It's a gathering system. And, in the right locations, it's an economic development platform."
New corridors for potential trails include the city's northwest, and the Dry Creek and Chandler Creek areas.
What else?
Council also approved a work order for the Heritage Trail East project with Patin Construction Sept. 10, one of the last pieces of the Brushy Creek Regional Trail. The contract is for $6.53 million, paid for with 2023 bond funds and Texas Department of Transportation grants.
The trail extension will connect Mays Street to Georgetown Street along the north bank of Brushy Creek, Parks and Recreation Director Rick Atkins said, with connections underneath existing bridges.
"It's going to create that iconic structure here in our community that gives us another sense of place and guidance into downtown," Atkins said.
Construction is expected to last 18 months.
Did you know?
The city began implementing TROD earlier this year with an update to the zoning for the Stockwell planned unit development near Kalahari.
The future mixed-use development will activate around the Brushy Creek Regional Trail, rather than a "Main Street"-focused design. As previously reported by Community Impact, Planning and Development Services Director Brad Dushkin said this means developers will relocate a portion of the trail farther into the development to connect with commercial, residential and private outdoor recreational opportunities.
