Katy could see first citywide trail system to downtown
15 Sep 2024
Bu: Aubrey Vogel - Community Impact
A highly requested citywide trail system could take residents from northern Katy to downtown as early as 2026, officials said.
In a nutshell
Katy’s first citywide trail system would begin at the future Leyendecker Landing park and continue south to downtown, City Engineer David Kasper said at a trail system open house Sept. 10.
“The task given to me was to plan a trail from Point A at Leyendecker Landing park and then safely get pedestrians to historic town square,” he said. “A big part of the project is to connect [existing neighborhood] trail systems.”
The main pathway will vary in width from 6 to 12 feet, with several 5-foot-wide paths connecting neighborhoods to the main walking path.
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Additionally, the trails will have rest areas approximately every mile or so with benches and trash cans, City Administrator Bryon Hebert said.
The cost
The trails will be funded primarily by the city’s voter-approved May 2021 parks bond, which allocated $4 million to hiking and bike trails, Community Impact reported.
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Additional funds will be provided by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Kasper said.
Community Impact reached out for more information about the funding breakdown and will update the article when it is received.
Why it matters
The trails are a vital component to the city’s Parks, Trails and Recreation Master Plan, which was approved in 2022, Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Browne said. Additionally, it was the most requested item determined through community surveys for the master plan, he said.
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“I’m sure we’re all aware of the growing traffic issues we have on some of our roads in the northern part of town,” he said. “So, when you think about a trails system, it’s not only a recreational amenity for people to go and enjoy some passive time in nature ... but also think of it as an alternative mode of transportation to get people from one area to another without clogging up the road.”
Looking ahead
Project design is expected to begin in 2025, with construction commencing in different segments in 2026 and 2027, Kasper said.
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