The Loop Dallas Secures $10.9M TxDOT Award

A Major Step Forward for Southern Dallas Connectivity

The Loop Dallas is proud to announce a transformational milestone: the Texas Transportation Commission has approved $10.9 million to fund a critical new segment of the Trinity Forest Spine Trail, unlocking long-awaited access to the 110-acre Parkdale Lake greenspace for families, cyclists, and trail users across Southern Dallas.

This highly competitive TxDOT award—one of only 12 selected statewide—propels The Loop Dallas closer to completing its ambitious 50-mile urban trail circuit, a once-in-a-generation investment in safety, mobility, and community connection. With this new funding, Dallas is one step closer to a future where every resident can move safely and seamlessly throughout our city.

As we celebrate Dallas Art Fair this week, we’re excited to show off our partnership with Nasher Public to bring public art and culture to Dallas’ expanding trail system.

Beverly Pepper’s Dallas Pyramid on the Hi Line Connector

Marking the first installation of this collaboration, Dallas Pyramid (1971), an angular steel sculpture by renowned artist Beverly Pepper, can now be seen on the Hi Line Connector through the spring of 2026. Learn more about this exciting installation of Dallas Pyramid in The Dallas Morning News by clicking the image below to view the full article!

It’s incredible to see The Loop Dallas come to life with art in public spaces, especially along the Hi Line Connector with the addition of this stunning sculpture by such a distinguished artist as Beverly Pepper. When our Board first envisioned The Loop Dallas 10 years ago, the goal was to create an active transportation system that connected Dallas’ fragmented trail network and also provided beautiful public spaces with art, architecture, and design that resonated with the culture of our city. This artwork truly brings that vision to life, enhancing the trail and enriching the community in ways that will inspire and engage trail users.

Great cities are defined by their public spaces, and we’re thrilled to be in partnership with Nasher Public and to see the first of these trails take shape as The Loop Dallas becomes the legacy asset we always envisioned. The Hi Line Connector is the perfect place for this sculpture, creating an inviting, walkable, and bikeable corridor that not only enhances the trail experience but also supports our larger vision of connecting nature, recreation, and culture in a way that will inspire future generations.

The installation is made possible by the generous support of private donors, including Jeff Ellerman’s family and long-time friend and Loop Co-Founder Larry Dale. The sculpture is generously loaned by James Barron Art.

We’re also excited to announce the opening of Ellerman Plaza, located on the Hi Line Connector as well. This beautifully inviting seating area for trail users is dedicated to the work and commitment of The Loop Dallas Co-Founder and Board Chairman, Jeff Ellerman. Stop by the plaza after viewing Dallas Pyramid to enjoy the shade of the beautiful live oaks along the median.

Join us as we celebrate these milestones and continue to transform Dallas into a city known for its public spaces.

As always, we sincerely appreciate your support.

Philip Haigh
Executive Director
The Loop Dallas

Exciting news fresh off the trail: lots of updates on The Loop Dallas in this past Sunday’s The Dallas Morning News!

City Columnist Sharon Grigsby’s latest article is all about the game-changing Hi Line Connector, the Trinity Forest Spine Trail, how these two pieces are bridging gaps between communities… and our mission connecting Dallas to Dallas.

“Not just gaps on trail maps but in Dallas transportation priorities. In a city where pedestrians and bicyclists and scooter users are at the mercy of automobiles, The Loop is the backbone of a city with safer trails for all of us.”

The Hi Line Connector, our newest trail segment, links the Katy and Trinity Strand trails, weaving through Victory Park and the Design District. It’s not just about getting from A to B—it’s a vibrant space with expansive medians, murals by local artists, and the first dedicated, safe crossings under I-35E.

Speaking of murals, six talented artists are currently transforming the area with colorful depictions celebrating Dallas culture. From landmarks to local flair, these incredible murals are set to be a highlight of your next trail adventure.

With 16 miles recently connected, including the East Dallas phase of the Trinity Forest Spine Trail, we’re making steady progress towards our 50-mile goal. Our vision started a decade ago, driven by community leaders and backed by a mix of public and private funding totaling $135 million.

“I was among the reporters who covered Ellerman’s initial dream of The Loop’s 50-mile circuit. Ten years ago, it seemed like a fine idea; today I have a far deeper appreciation for the gaps The Loop seeks to fill.”

Looking forward, we’re gearing up for even more milestones. The Loop Plaza at Victory Avenue and Houston Street is set to enhance trail access, while plans for the Sylvan Avenue bridge promise easier connections to the Trinity River.

And let’s not forget the ongoing steps to complete the Trinity Forest Spine Trail, tackling challenges from infrastructure to floodplains. It’s all part of our commitment to a safer, more connected Dallas.

As we push forward, we are thrilled to have you with us. Whether you’re jogging, biking, or taking a stroll, we’re honored to be steering a pathway to a more unified, greener city.

Click here to read The Dallas Morning News article, and stay tuned for more updates and exciting developments along The Loop Dallas!

Warm regards,

Jeffrey S. Ellerman
Chairman, The Loop Dallas
The Loop Dallas

D CEO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AWARDS FINALIST

The Loop Dallas was honored to be recognized as a finalist for the Community Impact Award in the D CEO 2024 Commercial Real Estate Awards, which reviews the top projects, transactions and industry executives in Dallas.

We are incredibly grateful to be recognized alongside The Kessler School, 1632 MLK Boulevard Retail, Harwood Park, The Place at Honey Springs and South Dallas Cloud Kitchen as leading bold improvements to our region for good.

Read more about the awards here.

CONNECTING DALLAS TO DALLAS: HI LINE CONNECTOR

Speaking of real estate, we kicked off spring with a small celebration on the soon-to-be-open Hi Line Connector. The one-mile urban trail expands the iconic placemaking of the Katy Trail through Victory Park and the Design District and on to the Trinity Strand Trail. We are so excited about this project and wanted to share some photos taken of the event and the new trail.

When the date of the City of Dallas ribbon cutting for the Hi Line Connector is set we will be sure to share it with you.

Our next construction project is the Discovery Gateway. A project forging the connection between the Trinity Strand and Skyline Trails, it will set a precedent for safer streets. The design will replace a car lane in each direction of the Sylvan Avenue bridge with a protected trail for pedestrians and bike riders to travel between West Dallas, the Design District, and the Trinity River. The safety of people, both on the trails and in cars, is our top priority and we are excited about once again expanding best design practices in Dallas.

This project is currently in the city’s open bid procurement process and is scheduled to go to the Dallas Parks and Recreation department, and then City Council, for approval in early summer.

We look forward to celebrating the opening of the Hi Line Connector and four groundbreakings with you as we connect Dallas to Dallas in 2024!

See you on the trails!

Philip Haigh
Executive Director
The Loop Dallas

We’re excited to share that The Loop Dallas has expanded its efforts to make Dallas’ trail system safer, more accessible and more enjoyable for everyone. Last month, we kicked off a new collaboration with Greenspace Dallas and the Dallas Park and Recreation Department to actively clear trail corridors across the city—ensuring a cleaner and more vibrant trail experience for all Dallas residents and visitors. You can already check out the awesome progress on the SoPac Trail and in the photos below.

More Users, More Trails, Less Maintenance

In addition to expanding the city’s trail network with the ongoing development of a 50-mile trail system around the city’s core, The Loop Dallas is taking it one step further—committing to making capital improvements to reduce the City’s and Friends’ groups maintenance burden across the entire Dallas trail network.

The focus will be on ensuring that the trails are visible and free of invasive species that can block sight lines and cause safety hazards. One of the key goals is to clear invasive plants like privet, which have long been a problem on many trails in Dallas.

Why Clearing Privet Matters

Privet, an aggressive and invasive plant, has been choking Dallas trails for years. Its dense growth creates dangerous blind spots that compromise trail safety and user experience, outcompeting native plants and diminishing the overall health of our green spaces and local ecosystems.

In teaming up with Greenspace Dallas, we’ll be tackling this problem head-on, which will help to restore these areas to a more sustainable state. This work means clearer, safer and more scenic trails—giving families, runners, bike riders and nature lovers alike a more enjoyable experience on the trails.

A Safer, More Connected Dallas

Active trails are safer trails. When more people are using the trails—whether walking, biking or enjoying nature—there’s a stronger sense of community and a greater sense of safety. By improving the visibility of the trails and reducing hazardous blind spots, we hope to encourage even more people to get outside and engage with the green spaces around them.

It is also an essential step toward reducing environmental hazards in areas where invasive species have created dense underbrush, often leading to piles of trash or encampments. These encampments can pose significant health and safety risks and are often found in areas where natural spaces have been overtaken by non-native plants, making them difficult to navigate and prone to improper waste disposal.

By enhancing the safety, aesthetics and overall health of our trails, we’re excited to be creating a more connected and sustainable community for all.

Safer Rides Ahead: Stress-Free Routes Without the Worry of Traffic

In other news—if you haven’t seen it yet on our social media, check out our latest MyDallas Trail Story from attorney and avid trail user, Nathan Cox. Nathan lives in Little Forest Hills and talks about how much safer it is for him to get from his house to the trail system now that the Trinity Forest Spine Trail is open.

He also shares the heartwarming way his sister inspired him to use the trails. Click the photo below to read the full story—and if you’re a trail user yourself, we would love to feature you. If you’re interested in contributing, feel free to email [email protected] or direct message us on Instagram at @theloopdallas.

As always, we sincerely appreciate your support. Let’s keep making Dallas a better, more connected place—one trail at a time.

See you on the trails,
Philip Haigh
Executive Director
The Loop Dallas

We’re excited to announce the beginning of construction on The Loop Plaza, a groundbreaking project that will transform the way people move between Victory Park and the Design District. What is currently a retaining wall along Houston Street will be turned into an open, vibrant space for walking, biking and gathering. A “front porch” for our 50-mile trail system, The Loop Plaza will be a game-changer for our city’s dynamic landscape and how complex trail interactions are created.

The Loop Plaza is a first-of-its-kind development along the Katy Trail, turning the retaining wall at Victory Avenue and Houston Street into a seamless and welcoming open space that connects the surrounding neighborhoods. It will be a key connector allowing the Katy Trail, Victory Park and the Design District to connect to West Dallas and the Trinity Strand Trail.

This will connect seamlessly into our recently completed Hi Line Connector, the innovative underpass beneath I-35 allowing pedestrians and bike riders to travel between these vibrant areas with ease – creating a more connected, accessible community.

A Collaborative Effort & Temporarily Rerouted Stretch of the Katy Trail

This exciting development wouldn’t be possible without the partnership between The Loop Dallas, the City of Dallas and generous private donors. The Loop Dallas is working closely with Friends of the Katy Trail, the organization that operates and maintains the Katy Trail.

Construction begins this week, and the rerouted stretch of the Katy Trail is being offered to ensure safety and convenience while the work is underway. The reroute will add only two minutes to your travel time when walking this portion of the Katy Trail, with signage being installed to direct trail users and provide more information.

Key Features of The Loop Plaza

Designed by TBG Partners, The Loop Plaza will feature several exciting elements, including:

• The Katy Trail will run on an elevated pedestrian and bike bridge, creating a unique gathering space beneath the bridge for socializing, relaxing and enjoying the surroundings
• Stunning architectural metalwork as the bridge railing, calling reference to the exposed escarpment along the Katy Trail and the exterior of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science
• An ADA-compliant ramp that will connect the top trail to the plaza below, ensuring full accessibility

This multi-use space will enhance connectivity and create a special destination for Dallas trail users, Victory Park residents and visitors.

Connecting Communities

As there are now four million trail visits to the Katy Trail annually, The Loop Plaza will offer additional connectivity to some of Dallas’ most exciting areas, including shops, restaurants, businesses and residences along the Trail. This project is a key piece in the ongoing revitalization of North Victory Avenue and a crucial addition to Dallas’ growing infrastructure.

The Loop Plaza is also part of the broader improvements being made to the areas surrounding the American Airlines Center and South Victory. This is the first major project to extend improvements to North Victory Avenue, connecting it under I-35 and the DART bridges to the Design District.

Stay Connected

We’re excited to bring this vision to life and look forward to updating you as construction progresses. The Loop Plaza is set to become a key part of Dallas’ infrastructure, offering new opportunities for connection, recreation and exploration.

Thank you for your continued support as we work to create a more vibrant, accessible Dallas for all.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to follow us on social media for the latest news!

See you on the trails,
Philip Haigh
Executive Director
The Loop Dallas

As we move further into the holiday season, I’m looking at our accomplishments across Dallas and feeling a sense of gratitude. It’s a great honor that The Loop Dallas was provided an opportunity to bring something truly incredible to our city.

This year The Dallas Morning News wrote, “It’s hard to get big things done in Dallas lately. But it’s not impossible. If anyone is proving that now, it’s the folks behind The Loop trail project.”

Connecting Dallas with a trail system has not been fast or easy. Thinking about what it takes to have a truly successful public-private partnership, I’ve come up with the term “inspirational persistence.” The three projects below highlight instances where The Loop Dallas and our partners have persevered through challenges, in order to realize the incredible finished product.

I’m grateful to my Board, our supporters, and public partners for their persistence, bringing us to a place of inspiration for our city.

Prioritizing the Safety of Trail Users: The Hi Line Connector’s Mid-Intersection Crossing

The most complicated component of this one mile connection between the Katy Trail and Trinity Strand Trail was the design and construction of the city’s first mid-intersection crossing at Oak Lawn Avenue and Hi Line Drive.

The crossing is one of our standout achievements and a pioneering feature in urban design. This innovative crossing enhances pedestrian safety and accessibility, allowing for seamless transitions across busy intersections. By prioritizing the safety of walkers and bike riders, The Loop Dallas sets a new standard for urban mobility and encourages a more vibrant, active community.

Passing Under the Railroad Bridge: The Trinity Forest Spine Trail

Right next to our bridge over White Rock Creek, the Trinity Forest Spine Trail passes under a Kansas City Southern railroad trestle. This part of the trail allows users to pass under an active rail line, a first in North Texas and a major milestone for Dallas Park and Recreation Department and the region. Both Kansas City Southern and The Loop Dallas put trail user safety first and invested considerable time and resources to ensure a safe, sustainable passage under this trestle.

A Beautiful Mural Welcoming Trail Users Under an Overpass: Setting a Creative Precedent

Art plays a vital role in community identity, and in August, we were thrilled to work with a talented group of diverse local artists to create a one of a kind mural on the DART overpass next to I-35. This vibrant artwork beautifies the landscape and sets a precedent for future public art in Dallas.

The mural reflects our collective creativity and serves as a canvas for storytelling, activating this space and inviting residents and visitors to engage with the cultural richness of our city. This is the first DART bridge facade to be painted (the portion above the roadway). We hope you’ve been able to check it out and see how the space has transformed.

Looking Ahead

We are grateful to celebrate these accomplishments that embody tenacity, vision and partnership. Together, we are setting the stage for a brighter future in our city, one that prioritizes community engagement, inclusivity and Connecting Dallas to Dallas.

Thank you for being a part of The Loop Dallas journey. As always, we sincerely appreciate your support.

See you on the trails,
Philip Haigh
Executive Director
The Loop Dallas

Last week we hosted a wonderful event to celebrate The Addy Foundation for its extraordinary $5 million gift to make The Loop Plaza possible, to highlight their incredible generosity and express our gratitude to our major donors. Ten years into this adventure, The Loop Dallas is changing the way our city moves.

The night showcased how The Loop Dallas started as a passion project—and thanks to $10 million in private donations and $80 million in public funding, it has transformed into a legacy asset for our growing city. What started as an idea in 2014 was propelled forward by key leadership gifts, including a 2015 initial investment from The Addy Foundation.

Bill Addy of The Addy Foundation said it well, “We live in a community that’s got certain advantages. The trail goes through a lot of communities that don’t have the same advantages that we have. But we’re connected. We get a chance to ride through them. My guess, our guess, is that restaurants will pop up… apartments will pop up… and that soon we’ll be riding through communities that look better than prior to the trail being established.”

Our city is a better place because of philanthropic organizations like The Addy Foundation. We thank them, and appreciate the support from all of our donors for helping us Connect Dallas to Dallas.

Our newest project, The Loop Plaza, will be the front porch of The Loop Dallas, creating a natural transition between two elevations and forming a new green space that takes you from the Katy Trail to the new Hi Line Connector— a one-mile urban trail that expands the iconic placemaking of the Katy Trail through Victory Park and the Design District, on to the Trinity Strand Trail.

The current retaining wall at Victory Avenue on Houston Street will transform into an open space that serves as a walk and bike trail, and a gathering place for visitors and those who live and work in the area. This year, the Katy Trail is set to host three million people—now, these trail users will be able to continue their adventures past I-35 and into the Design District, Trinity River system and beyond. This direct access will allow people to safely connect to restaurants, shops, businesses and residences in one of the busiest areas of Dallas. This project is made possible by the partnership between The Loop Dallas, the City of Dallas and private donors.

You will begin to see construction and signage on the Katy Trail in the next few months as we begin work on The Loop Plaza.

As always, we sincerely appreciate your support.

See you on the trails,
Jeff Ellerman
Board Chairman
The Loop Dallas

There were lots of exciting milestones last month!

To start, dirt is moving on the next phase of Trinity Forest Spine Trail. Below is drone footage of the new piers for the one-mile bridge parallel to US-175 with Downtown in the distance.

With TxDOT leading construction, this portion of the trail is a one-mile elevated bridge, ensuring a safer and flood-proof trail experience for Pleasant Grove residents. Combined with a new Lake June Road bridge featuring bike lanes and wide sidewalks, neighbors can look forward to heightened connectivity and safety within the community.

This phase of the Trinity Forest Spine Trail is projected to be completed by Spring of 2026!

Look forward to a walk — or ride — along the treetops of Dallas.

The southern phase of the Trinity Forest Spine Trail is under construction! This transformative project will provide access to green space and make it possible to travel between neighborhoods by trail for Pleasant Grove residents. Here’s what you need to know.

Serving Dallas’ Pleasant Grove Community

Identified as a high-need area for park land by Trust for Public Land, Pleasant Grove is now on the cusp of a huge new amenity. The Trinity Forest Spine Trail spans nine miles, linking two of Dallas’ natural gems, the Great Trinity Forest and White Rock Lake, providing a vital recreational corridor for the neighborhoods along White Rock Creek with the section of the trail in Pleasant Grove being realized now.

Connecting Communities and Providing Equitable Access to Green Space

In collaboration with the Dallas Park and Recreation Department and Dallas County, we completed the first phase of the Trinity Forest Spine Trail north of I-30 in 2023. Now with TxDOT leading construction, we are building the next phase: a safer, resilient parkland corridor for residents on both sides of US-175. This marks two of five phases for this project; the third phase will go to construction at the end of 2024.

The trail’s standout feature is a one-mile elevated pathway alongside US-175, ensuring safer and resilient trail experience for Pleasant Grove residents. Combined with a new Lake June Road bridge featuring bike lanes and wide sidewalks, these enhancements promise heightened connectivity and safety within our community.

During construction, the existing Lake June bridge will remain operational, ensuring minimal disruption to residents. When the new bridge is completed, the old bridge will be removed, providing continuous access for residents during this project. Once completed, the bridge will provide essential pedestrian and bicycle access to the Lake June DART station, enhancing mobility for everyone west of US-175.

The realization of the Trinity Forest Spine Trail has been made possible through collaborative efforts and funding from stakeholders including Dallas County, TxDOT, the City of Dallas Transportation Department, and the North Central Texas Council of Governments. The Loop Dallas brought together these partners to create a larger connection that included the replacement of the Lake June bridge to have a greater impact on residents.

The Trinity Forest Spine Trail stands as a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives in shaping a brighter future for Dallas.

Stay tuned for more updates!

See you on the trails,
Philip Haigh
Executive Director
The Loop Dallas