Category Archives: Uncategorized

In The Field with Public Works

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On Aug. 26, the city’s Communications staff had the pleasure of going behind the scenes with Public Works to learn more about the department’s schedules & processes for maintaining the city’s alleys, sidewalks, and residential streets.

Newly Certified Arborist applies knowledge to city’s trails

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The City of The Colony boasts one of the highest ratios of per-capita park acreage in the state of Texas. Much of that green space includes Corps of Engineers property along Lewisville Lake, but there’s a sizable amount of parkland and trails that must be maintained by the city’s Parks Crews.

All those trails and parkland means there’s lots of trees in The Colony. Not to mention more and more new trees are planted each year as part of the city’s annual Tree City USA re-certification.

Playground Inspector and Trails Specialist Marlisa Jemison has been with the city almost five years. She is one of many Parks & Recreation staffers charged with maintaining the city’s green spaces.

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Playground Inspector and Trails Specialist Marlisa Jemison.

“We do a lot of tree-work on the Parks Crew. You can see how many trees we have,” she said while standing amid the forest of Bill Allen Memorial Park, one of the more densely wooded areas in the community.

Jemison, whose educational background is in biology and natural sciences, took it upon herself earlier this year to earn certification as an arborist so she could do an even better job, particularly along the trails where pushing back the overgrowth is important.

“We can’t constantly monitor every tree, of course, but I wanted to make sure I’m doing what I can to keep the trees I encounter in the best shape possible,” she said.Marlisa1

Arborists, for example, learn about the Compartmentalization of Decay in Trees (CODIT), which explains how wounded trees protect themselves by forming walls around the wound to slow the spread of disease or decay. Jemison applies this knowledge when trimming back the foliage along the trails.

“Trees are living creatures, and it makes a big difference in the health of the tree depending on where and how you cut a branch,” Jemison said. “You don’t want to cut it too far out and you don’t want to cut it flush to the trunk. You want to cut it so it grows properly.”

Jemison said trimming trees the right way at the right time (especially new ones) prevents development of weakened structures and things like “co-dominant leaders,” where a tree seemingly has two trunks.

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An example of “co-dominant leaders.” This tree has grown naturally but Jemison would try to prevent such growth in new trees along the trails.

Beyond trimming, proper tree maintenance also includes things like planting them at the right depth and not staking them too tight.

Other, bigger cities around the state often have one or more devoted staff members maintaining the city’s urban forestry. For her part, Jemison is simply trying to fill in the gap in her community.

“This certification doesn’t mean I know everything there is to know about trees but every bit helps and I love to learn new things,” she said. “I also love hiking trails, so it feels good knowing I’m contributing to the experience of other people getting out on our trails.

“We have lots of beautiful trees we want to keep healthy. Learning how to do that better simply provides a better trail experience for our residents.”

In the Field with Water Meter Technicians

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On July 19, our Communications staff rode out with the city’s water meter technicians to share info about meter reading as well as everything else they do to maintain & repair the city’s meters. Providing quality customer service is their No. 1 goal.

 

City Council funds vital infrastructure upgrades

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Improvements include remote water-quality monitoring, increased safety

At its regular meeting on April 16, The Colony City Council approved $1.5 million in funding for improvements to the electrical instrumentation and controls for two of the city’s four pump stations. Pump stations are located near each of the city’s water towers and perform a simple function implied by the name: They pump water through the water distribution system.

It may sound simple but those stations are critical components of the city’s infrastructure. Combined, the four stations help pump almost 6 million gallons of water through the system each day. The price tag isn’t cheap and it’s the kind of project that may not get much fanfare but it couldn’t be more important to the city’s overall mission in service to its residents.

“These are the types of large-ticket items that are absolutely necessary. Cities all over Texas have to do these projects in order to keep up with the services the cities are responsible to providing their residents,” Council member Richard Boyer said at the meeting. “[Projects like this are] needed items but they’re not necessarily the things people see as amenities. They’re basic responsibilities.”

Clover Valley water tower

The Colony City Council recently approved important safety and security upgrades to the pump station at the Clover Valley water tower.

Much of the equipment at the stations pegged for improvements (Nos. 1 and 3) has been in use since the city’s formation in the late 1970s and early 1980s, meaning their electrical infrastructure is antiquated, in particular. Aging equipment not only increases the odds of something breaking down, it creates a potentially unsafe environment for employees. Public Services Director Evan Groeschel said the upgrades will give city staff better access to the stations and provide more safety, reliability, operability, and efficiency.

Improvements to Pump Station No. 1, located near the water tower on Clover Valley, total $70K and primarily include installation of an online water quality monitoring station that will enable operators to observe and respond to water-quality changes in real time from the control center at Office Creek Pump Station. An operator at Office Creek, which is staffed 24/7, could then adjust the chlorine levels at Station No. 1, for example, should that chemical’s concentration peak or dip.

Improvements to Pump Station No. 3, located near Fire Station No. 2 on North Colony, are more extensive. In addition to the same water-quality monitoring station as Pump Station No. 1, significant upgrades to the station’s actual structure, power supply, and security features are scheduled. The total cost for work at Pump Station No. 3 is $1.45 million.

These improvements are just a few among many currently underway within the city’s overall water and wastewater services, including a $2.8 million project to replace a mile of sewer lines; cleaning and repainting the Office Creek storage tanks; and other ongoing maintenance to the city’s wells and water towers.

Office Creek control station

Operators at the Office Creek Pump Station can monitor water quality throughout the city’s water system. Soon, they’ll be able to make remote adjustments to the water at multiple off-site pump stations.

Phase 1 of an $18 million expansion at the Stewart Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) began in 2016 and was wrapped up earlier this year, bringing the plant’s treatment capacity up to 4.5 million gallons per day. The plant will eventually need additional expansion in order to reach build-out capacity of 6.1 million gallons per day in concert with continued growth and economic development in the community.

Back in March, the City Council approved $2.5 million in funding for design services and engineering of WWTP improvements Phase 2A, which will upgrade the plant’s “dewatering” facility to build-out level. Dewatering helps to facilitate separation of the solids and liquids, and enables disposal of the plant’s byproducts. Currently, the dewatering facility operates 8 to 10 hours per day, 7 days a week. Normal operation is approximately 4 to 5 days a week, 5 to 6 hours a day. Engineering should take about a year, with 15-18 months of actual construction.

“Without the ability to dewater the solids and dispose of the byproduct, the plant would, in effect, lose the ability to treat wastewater,” Groeschel said. “Those reasons, combined with increased flow of solids due to Phase 1 expansion, make improving the dewatering facility a critical next step.”

Recycling Revisited

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Customers encouraged to help cut down contamination

For decades, Americans have been steadily embracing the concept of recycling as a means to help keep the environment clean, preserve resources, and beautify their communities. From cardboard and glass to plastics and aluminum, we have become accustomed to throwing many things in the recycling bin rather than the trash can.

bottles-57139_1280No more so than right here in The Colony, where our customers continue to be active participants in the city’s recycling program. Through its partnership with Republic Services, The Colony residents recycled almost 4,000 tons of materials this past year.

Times, however, are changing. Searching the latest news stories online about recycling reveals an industry in flux as international markets for raw materials shrink, driving up the costs of collecting, transporting, and storing recyclables. As a result, it has become more important than ever for customers to adhere to recycling best practices such as keeping contaminated items out of the recycling stream.

Those best practices for reducing recycling contamination include:

  • all paper and cardboard items (such as pizza boxes) must be free of food particles;
  • all food and beverage cans must be empty and rinsed clean; and,
  • lids from plastic containers must be removed and discarded.

In addition, the following items should NOT be put in the recycling bin:

  • plastic bags;
  • grass clippings, brush, or limbs;
  • household trash;
  • tires;
  • batteries;
  • paints or hazardous waste;
  • automotive/window glass, ceramics, or china;
  • light bulbs;
  • Styrofoam;
  • plastic toys;
  • wax paper/food containers; or,
  • aluminum foil.

Efficient collection of trash and recyclables also helps keep costs down for everyone. Residents are reminded to put their carts out on the curb by 7 a.m. on their regular trash/recycling collection days. They may also put them out the night before. Collection occurs anytime between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Also, modern collection trucks are equipped with cameras and GPS tracking devices, facilitating effective oversight of the drivers’ route, performance, and any issues they encounter during the day.

For more information about recycling or related programs, please contact the city’s Environmental Services Department at 972-624-3131.

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Annual budget: Road map to the city’s future

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When September rolls around each year, many folks are eagerly anticipating “cooler” weather as fall arrives or absorbing themselves in the start of a new football season. But for city governments throughout the state, September is crunch-time for arguably the most important component of municipal management: the annual budget.

The fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. While September marks the end of the process when the City Council approves the final budget as prepared by City Administration, the process begins in the spring when the Council meets for its annual retreat. That’s when priorities for the coming year are established.

Often times those priorities carry over year to year. Two things are consistently atop the list: public safety and roadway maintenance. On the former, it’s primarily a question of working to ensure that response times for emergencies trend downward. That means providing The Colony Police and Fire departments with the necessary personnel, equipment, and facilities to perform their duties.

The Colony Police Department patrol vehicle

Providing public safety and emergency services personnel with the tools they need, such as fully equipped and reliable patrol vehicles, is always a budget priority.

The 2018-19 budget, which the City Council approved on Sept. 18, includes funding for six new paramedics, an assistant fire marshal, and four new patrol officers. Six new vehicles are being added to The Colony Police Department fleet as well – four new Chevy Tahoes for patrol officers that will replace the last of the department’s aging Crown Victorias; and two Ford Tauruses for detectives.

The budget also includes funding for construction of Fire Station No. 4, which will start taking shape this year at the corner of Plano Parkway and Destination Drive. Station No. 4 will serve as the new operations center for The Colony Fire Department. It will be about 22,000 square feet in size, include five bays for TCFD apparatus, and be equipped with the latest fire services and EMS technology and equipment. It is estimated to be completed by the end of 2019. Plans are also in the works for Fire Station No. 5, to be located in The Tribute area.

The Colony Fire Station No. 4, front elevation

The Colony Fire Station No. 4 is being built this coming year at the corner of Plano Parkway and Destination Drive.

As for roadway maintenance, the city typically budgets about $5 million per year for significant repairs to residential streets and alleys. In 2018-19, $4.5 million will go toward fully reconstructing the following roadways: Thompson Drive from Blair Oaks to John Yates; Darby Lane from Strickland to Hetherington; Baker Drive from Petit to Morning Star; Blue Glen from Amhurst to Clover Valley; and the Melroy alley.

Street reconstruction is funded as capital improvement projects (CIP). The city hires contractors to oversee major projects of that nature, which are different than routine repairs to sidewalks and potholes. Those repairs are handled mostly by the Public Services Department’s “hot shot crew,” which goes into action based upon documented requests from residents and day-to-day observations of city staff on patrol through the community.

Public Works sidewalk repairs

Outside of major reconstruction projects, the Public Works crews handle much of the street, sidewalk, and alley repairs in the city.

Beyond emergency services and roadways, another consistent budget priority is improving the city’s water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. Each year, the City Council specifically directs city management to keep up with infrastructure maintenance. The longer a project is delayed, the more it will cost to undertake when it finally begins.

In 2018-19, important maintenance and upgrades to the city’s stormwater infrastructure take center stage. As the city continues to develop and grow, there is an increase in the city’s total amount of impervious surface area, which increases stormwater runoff. More flow means more wear and tear on the system and more erosion along streams that funnel runoff into the lake. Development in adjacent communities that feed The Colony’s creeks and streams as well as extremes in weather conditions also contributes to the volume.

Taylor Street stream bank

This past year, the Engineering Department has been overseeing a project to stabilize the banks of the stream along Taylor Street, north of the Aquatic Park.

For example, many residents may be familiar with the repairs currently underway to the stream bank along Taylor Street behind the Aquatic Park. There’s about $2 million worth of similar stormwater CIP projects included in the 2018-19 budget.

As for wastewater infrastructure, Phase I of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) expansion is expected to be completed by January 2019. The new budget includes funding for the engineering and design work for Phase II of the expansion. Reconstruction of the North Trunk Sewer Line, one of the city’s primary conveyors of wastewater to the WWTP on East Lake Highlands, will get underway this year, too, at a cost of about $2.9 million.

Whatever the project, City Administration often hears concerns from residents regarding the costs and pace of infrastructure improvements. Yes, there has been significant economic development within the community in recent years that has grown the city’s budget but that was not always the case. Many important CIP projects (which are collectively funded with revenue leftover after accounting for basic operating expenses) have been delayed in the past for lack of funding prior to economic development.

The City Council has also voted to lower or hold steady the property tax rate for 18 straight years as development has begun to shift some of the tax burden from homeowners to commercial properties. Still, the city boasts healthy balances in all its “rainy day funds” as well as excellent credit ratings from Moody’s and S&P, indicating the city is doing a good job managing its finances.

Throughout the budgeting process, the city is required by state law to adhere to truth-in-taxation practices, which include posting notice when revenue in the new budget exceeds the “effective tax rate.” The effective tax rate is the rate necessary to generate the same amount of revenue as the previous fiscal year on the same properties (excluding new construction and new properties).

Budgets that exceed the effective tax rate are not uncommon, especially in growing communities such as those throughout the North Texas area. The City of The Colony’s 2018-19 budget is the first under the current City Administration in which the effective tax rate was not exceeded, indicating the city’s revenue and expenses are lining up as best they can.

With Scheels All Sports, Galaxy Theaters, and Andretti’s Indoor Karting expected to open in 2019, among other big-name developments, the city’s revenue is anticipated to continue increasing alongside increasing demands for maintenance and infrastructure improvements throughout the community. The city’s leadership also hopes to continue putting downward pressure on the tax rate and explore the possibility of homestead exemptions in future budget years.

In the field with Community Image

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Officers hit the streets to patrol residential, commercial zones

On July 23, staff from the city’s Communications Department spent the day with Neighborhood Enhancement Officer Danny Dill from the Community Image Department to live-tweet a “day in the life” of a Community Image officer. In case you missed it, here’s a rundown of the day’s activities:

Windows into The Colony

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Main Street art panels represent iconic images from community

While the Main Street reconstruction project resulted in a brand new roadway that paves the way for the city’s future, it also left behind poignant symbols of the city’s past in the form of 20 carefully crafted public art panels.

The 6-foot by 6-foot panels are built-in to the sounds walls so most motorists have surely noticed them by now. Much is lost, however, when seen passing by in a moving vehicle. Community Services Director Pam Nelson, who oversaw the selection, crafting, and installation of the panels along with other city staff and contractors, said everything about the artwork turned out fantastic, especially the depth, dimension, and detail you see up close.

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This panel, titled, “Migration of the Monarchs,” is the northern-most panel on the street, located on the west side of Main near the intersection with Lake Highlands.

“There are small touches in the panels that make them unique to The Colony,” she said. “You wouldn’t know it driving by but if you’re walking along the trail and study them, you’ll see lots of little details.”

Nelson, along with the late Keith Helms, former park development manager for the city, began the project nearly a decade ago by selecting an array of specific images that represented elements of life in the community. Many of the images in the panels you see today are derived from actual photographs of scenes taken in The Colony.

“Our intent all along was that the panels be windows looking into The Colony,” Nelson said. For example, the panel titled, “At Play in the Park” in the eastern sound wall between North Colony Boulevard and Nash Drive, depicts the real tree canopy and sidewalk from a photo of Bill Allen Park.

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This panel is titled, “At Play in the Park,” and was sculpted based on an actual photograph of the sidewalk and tree canopy at Bill Allen Memorial Park. It is located on the eastern sound wall between North Colony and Nash.

“The original photo had a couple walking with their backs to the camera but we decided to go with something that had a little more activity to it,” Nelson said, referring to the children playing catch with a ball. “But the walkway, trees and the whole look is from an actual photograph of Bill Allen.”

Other panels have obvious connections. The panels in the western sound walls are heavy with lakeside scenes such as “Catching the Big One,” “The Wake,” “Taking Flight,” and “Sailing Away,” all of which depict common wildlife or recreation on the lake.

Some panels are in pairs and span places where the sound walls cross the side streets. “We wanted something that would carry across the intersections. Not just a boat or a fish, but what people do when they’re here – like catching fish and wakeboarding,” Nelson said.

Within the eastern sound walls are panels such as “The General,” which depicts Central Fire Station, the General fire truck, and a vintage The Colony Police car – again, all taken from actual photographs. There’s also panels depicting youth sports as a nod to all the activities that take place at the Five Star Complex as well as the city being named a “Sportstown USA” by Sports Illustrated magazine several years ago.

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Perhaps more than any other panel, residents will recognize symbols of the city’s emergency services history in this panel, titled simply, “The General.” It is located on the eastern sound wall south of Hetherington.

Where the walls cross over Hetherington on the east side, two panels titled, “Working the Rector Homestead,” tell a connected story of early life in the community. “We wanted something that showed what life was like here in the early years and what was at the core of our community,” added Nelson.

On the western side of road at the intersection with Ridgepointe is a two-panel spread titled, “Afternoon at the Shoreline Trail,” which includes an image of a family walking near the pedestrian bridge that spans a drainage way along the Shoreline Trail.

Most of the panels are along the western side of the street as determined by the fact there’s more sound walls along that side. Sound walls were only built where the roadway runs adjacent to residences.

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The first of two panels titled, “The Wake,” which spans the intersection of Main Street and Larner.

The panels were sketched and crafted by well-known D-FW artist Janice Hart Melito.
“Janice was recommended by Jacobs Engineering, who we were working with to come up with ideas for the design of the entire Main Street corridor,” Nelson said. “Jacobs had worked with Janice on another project and we knew we wanted multi-dimensional relief panels. So, we interviewed her and looked at her portfolio. She was super excited and did some initial sketches pretty quickly. We liked the direction she was going and those sketches were used for the final plans.”

The crafting process involves creating a mold for each panel in clay then filling the mold with a kind of silicon. Once it hardens, the silicon mold is pulled out and used to pour the cast-stone (a concrete mix), which retains all the detail of the original sketch.

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The second of two panels titled, “The Wake,” which spans the intersection of Main Street and Larner.

While the beauty and artistry of the finished panels speaks for itself, the Texas Department of Transportation, which managed the overall reconstruction project, had not done anything like this before, Nelson said.

“They’d done artwork before but much larger panels and usually just a single design, nothing detailed or dimensional like these,” Nelson said. “There were a lot of things about this that no one had ever done on a TxDOT wall before. We had a lot of challenges.”

Among the challenges was ensuring they would be lit well enough to stand out at night.
“The original specs for the lights were too high so they were not casting down on the panel properly,” Nelson said. “City staff members had to go out with the electrical contractor, at night, to perform a physical test with a fixture rigged on a small crane that we would move up and down to get the exact right cast of light shining down. We were very particular about how they turned out.”

Nelson said she sometimes meets residents wondering why the detail in the panels is not painted in color.

“We could do that but the way it is now blends into the corridor in a way that doesn’t detract. It’s not in your face,” she said. “But it’s there, you notice it. It turned out the way we wanted, for sure. It’s completely the way we envisioned.”

Please see our photo album on the city website for pictures of all 20 panels.

‘Tell us what you need and we’ll make it happen’

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Community prepares to bask in global golf spotlight

The single biggest event in the city’s history tees off in just a couple weeks. Starting Monday, April 30, and running through Sunday, May 6, the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic is bringing 144 of the world’s best golfers to the Old American Golf Club.

As of this posting, 17 of the circuit’s top 20 players have committed to the event, in which players will be competing for a $1.3 million purse in a four-round, stroke-play tournament. This is the only LPGA event held in Texas and it will be broadcast live on the Golf Channel, meaning the eyes of the world will be on The Colony!

Old American Golf Club

The City of The Colony and the Old American Golf Club will be hosting the Volunteers of America LPGA Texas Classic April 30 to May 6.

The first few days of the event will include various pro-am tournaments, practice rounds, and some private functions. The golfers hit the links in competition starting Thursday morning, May 3. The full schedule of events is available on the tournament website. Tickets are available online at a cost of $15 each per day or $25 each for the whole week. Children under 17 are admitted free with a ticketed adult. Active or retired service members also are free with a valid ID.

Ever since the tournament’s relocation to The Colony was announced in October 2017, city staff members have been working furiously (and in concert with event organizers from Octagon) in preparation. Diane Baxter, Director of Communications & Tourism for the city, said hosting the VOA-LPGA Texas Classic will further put The Colony “on the map.”

“This is huge! It’s the biggest event we’ve ever held in The Colony,” she said. “We have great events that our residents always enjoy, but this will bring in visitors from around the world. That alone is immensely significant and gives people the chance to recognize what a great golf community we are.”

The Colony Convention & Visitors Bureau has been the heavily involved since Day One.

“After the initial excitement of hosting an international event set in, the reality of the exposure and economic impact of this event was realized.” Baxter said.

“Upon meeting with the organizational staff from Octagon, who has tremendous experience hosting successful tournaments, we quickly discovered that together we make a great team. Their guidance and communication has been well received. The event has definitely taken over our focus but it’s been a tremendous learning experience as well.”

Staff at Founders Cup

From left, Mike McCabe, Diane Baxter, Troy Powell, Brant Shallenburger, Joe Perez, and Scott Thompson.

As part of the overall preparation, City Manager Troy Powell, Fire Chief Scott Thompson, Mike McCabe from the Old American, and Baxter visited Phoenix in March to observe the LPGA Founders Cup and see how things work behind the scenes at an LPGA event. “That was quite a privilege to witness the operational side of the tournament, and meeting with city staff members in Phoenix was extremely beneficial,” Baxter said.

City staff members here in The Colony have been equally cooperative. When called to action, the response from every department has been the same: “Tell us what you need and we’ll make it happen,” Baxter said. “That’s been the approach of city staff. Every one of us is behind this. The mindset is to be successful and showcase what a great ‘destination city’ The Colony has become.”

Public Safety officials have been very involved. The Colony Fire and Police departments will both have a presence at the event and have been working closely with the LPGA to prepare for all the emergency contingencies that come with hosting an event of this size and scope.

Customer Service has been processing the many permits required while the Finance Department is monitoring expenses. Public Works is providing barricades and cones for traffic, as well as installing asphalt ramps in the parking areas. The Health Department is coordinating with food vendors and the Information Technology Department is helping provide internet service to the event.

Founders Cup

The views were mountainous in Arizona but they’ll be lakeside in The Colony when the LPGA arrives later this month.

It’s been a true team effort.

“As the event approaches, we continue working hard to prepare so that everyone has a great time here in The Colony,” Baxter said.

Beyond city staff, the entire community has been eager to get involved. Out of 600 volunteers sought by Octagon, 550 have signed up. Information about volunteer opportunities is on the tournament website.

“The response from the community has been overwhelming,” Baxter said. “Everyone is excited and exploring ways to be involved. Local businesses, The Colony Chamber of Commerce, our hotels and restaurants – all are excited about the influx of visitors and the opportunity to show them the hospitality The Colony has to offer.”

With the tournament taking place in their backyard, The Tribute community also has been particularly supportive, added Baxter, in terms of both providing volunteers and coordinating logistics with Octagon. Some residents have opened up their homes for players to stay during the event.

CVB Scavenger Hunt

Participate in the CVB’s Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win tickets to the VOA-LPGA Texas Classic!

For its part, the CVB has been actively promoting the tournament. Thankfully, the department’s staff had recently grown to include a new position and an intern. Banners will soon line the light poles along Main Street; a Scavenger Hunt for ticket prizes is underway; social media posts are keeping followers up to date; blogs are providing more details; print ads are going out; media coverage sought; and more.

The CVB’s Mobile Visitor Center was on hand at the recent Spring Eggstravaganza at Five Star to give away three sets of tickets and will have a prominent presence during the tournament. The CVB is providing the backpacks and lanyards for all the volunteers along with swag, information and recommendations for those new to The Colony.

“We want our residents to encourage their friends and family to come experience this together. Help us promote The Colony. It’s going to be a great time,” Baxter said.

Blazing new trails through The Colony

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City’s hike & bike system continues to take shape

As The Colony grows, so do its hike and bike trails. Some brand new sections have already been designed, funded, and are under construction as you read this. Other sections are in various phases of development. But all are incorporated into the city’s Trails & Bikeways Master Plan and should be moving forward this year and beyond.

Most residents are familiar with the Shoreline Trails along Lewisville Lake at Stewart Creek Park and in The Tribute. The city’s network of bicycle paths helped earn the community an honorable mention recognition as a Bicycle Friendly Community from the League of American Cyclists in 2017.

But The Colony’s internal, off-street trail system for bicycle and pedestrian traffic, which has been fragmentary over the years, is starting to come together, too. Eve Morgan, the city’s Park Development Manager, is particularly excited about what’s coming with the Park Loop Trail.

Trail & Bike Master Plan

The city’s existing hike & bike system is extensive, with many opportunities for growth.

When completed, the Park Loop Trail will, in fact, form a loop starting in the northeast corner at B.B. Owen Elementary School, going south through Taylor Street Park and the Legends subdivision (where portions of the trail already exist) all the way to South Colony Boulevard, where it’ll go west to Greenway Park near Blair Oaks and then turn north all the way through the utility easement to Squires Drive and back over to B.B. Owen.

One day soon, the Park Loop Trail will connect 11 parks and three schools! For now, each piece must be carefully planned and constructed as time and funding allow. This year will see significant portions take root. Two particular sections are already awaiting construction.

The first starts at the corner of B.B. Owen and Taylor Street and comes south to Taylor ballfields, where it’ll go around the side and back of the parking lot then stop at the greenbelt – for now. At that point, the city’s Engineering Department takes over with a drainage project that’ll be underway soon. Part of that work is going to be putting in a pedestrian bridge that spans the drainage corridor.

The second section awaiting construction (albeit a short one) will start at the alley behind Rearn Drive, run parallel to Squires and connect to the existing sidewalk nearby. So why is Morgan so excited?

MasterPlanInput

The Colony’s Trails & Bikeways Master Plan was compiled with significant input from residents.

“The whole purpose of this part of the project is to get the kids in the neighborhoods south of the greenbelt up to B.B. Owen Elementary safely,” she said. “Now, they have to go through that drainage area or walk all the way around. We need a safe way for them to get across and up to the school. It’s a big part of our overall plan and why we’re prioritizing these sections.”

While full funding and construction have not yet been approved, the design work for an additional phase (Phase IV) of the Park Loop Trail was OK’d by the City Council in January. When Engineering completes the drainage/bridge project, the trail will pick up across the bridge and connect to North Colony Boulevard.

Phase IV also includes the section that starts at Greenway Park and goes north through the electric easement all the way to North Colony. Future plans will fully complete the loop and possibly connect to Frisco’s trail system one day.

Another trail section that has been under construction this year and nearing completion is at Stewart Creek Park. The trail leading into the park is being extended across and along the adjacent roadway to reach the new playground and basketball court. New trees have been planted as well, which will provide a canopy for the trail once they’ve grown in, Morgan said.

Stewart Creek Park trail extension

Work has been underway this year on an extension to the trail leading into Stewart Creek Park. Soon, it’ll go across and along the roadway, connecting to the new playground.

Also funded (but not yet under construction) are linkages where the Park Loop Trail connects with North and South Colony boulevards. The project consists of making openings for bicycles to ride to the slip roads along South Colony and widening the sidewalk to trail-width (10 feet) at the parks where there aren’t slip roads. This is so there will be an east-west corridor for bicycles. On North Colony, there will be an opening made at the slip road to meet at the end of Morningstar.

Lastly, one very important piece to the city’s overall trails plan is the design phase. Schematic designs are in the works for a trail segment that will connect The Cascades development to the Grandscape development utilizing the railway underpass corridor. This phase of design will determine the alignment of the trail.

“There’s lots of pieces to put together to get the alignment worked out, and the design will be in multiple phases,” Morgan said. “But we love the direction we’re headed with this project. The future of hike and bike trails in The Colony is now.”