Dallas' Circuit Trail Conservancy has raised $23 million dollars to fund the construction of connectors that would link 50 miles of trails, now they're looking for an additional $20 million in bond money to get the project fully funded.
In Dallas, there are plans to link 50 miles of hiking and biking trails that wind through the city. The Circuit Trail Conservancy has raised $23 million dollars in private funds for the project, and now they're seeking $20 million more from the city in order to fully fund the project, according to a story in the Dallas Morning News by Robert Wilonsky.
The plan has the support of the city's mayor, Mike Rawlings, who, Wilonsky reports, emphasized that, "Trails serve as economic generators. Look no further than the Katy Trail, which turned formerly fallow Uptown land into property worth billions." Still, some may be more difficult to convince to fund the project. Wolinsky notes that bond funds are not likely to exceed $800 million and that many of those funds will need to go to other initiatives supporting street maintenance, park and zoo projects. Trying to stretch these funds to meet the many competing priorities is likely to cause some conflict in the city council. Still Mayor Rawlings said that the project was "headed in the right direction" and he thanked the Trail Conservancy for doing their part.
FULL STORY: $23 million raised to link 50 miles of Dallas' disconnected trail system
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