A portion of the Arroyo Hike and Bike Trail leading toward Dixieland Park is pictured Thursday in Harlingen. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
HARLINGEN — After more than 20 years, the Arroyo Hike and Bike Trail is getting ready to branch out across the city, connecting neighborhoods and schools to shopping areas.
In 2000, the city opened the trial’s first stretch, running 2.1 miles across winding banks, crossing three bridges, from McKelvey Park to Arroyo Park.
After more than three years of planning, officials are getting ready to complete the six-foot-wide asphalt trail’s second phase — a $1.5 million, 1.5-mile stretch from Arroyo Park to Dixieland Park.
Now, officials are launching the trail’s third phase, a 1.1-mile span from McKelvey Park to Hugh Ramsey Nature Park.
With the third phase’s completion, the trail will run a total of 5.7 miles along the arroyo’s banks, crossing much of the city, Javier Mendez, the city’s parks director, said.
“We’re excited,” he said. “It’s going to offer opportunities for people who want to hike and run. You can get on the trail and get off anywhere.”
Launching third phase
As part of the project to build the trail’s third stretch, the state’s Department of Transportation gave the city a $141,568 grant to design the span, with the city funding $37,632 of the total cost.
The stretch will lead to the trail’s most remote areas, running along the arroyo’s narrower, woodier banks to Hugh Ramsey Nature Park, a site of the World Birding Center, which draws hundreds of eco-tourists every year.
The project’s design phase will help determine construction costs, Mendez said.
“It depends on how many bridges we install,” he said. “Because of the geographics of that area, there are a lot of narrow areas, so we have to cross that. It looks like we’ve got to cross three times. It all depends on what type of vegetation we have to deal with.”
Next, officials plan to apply for grant funding, he said, projecting construction to be completed in about three years.
“When we get this third phase done, you can ride clear across the city,” Mendez said. “There are no road crossings so it offers safety for people cycling and walking.”
Second phase nears completion
By the end of the year, officials plan to open the trail’s second stretch running 1.5 miles from Arroyo Park at Boggus Ford, straddling the Tony Butler Golf Course before tying into Dixieland Park, Mendez said.
Last month, crews completed construction of the three bridges spanning the trail, he said.
The project took years of planning.
Four years ago, the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation awarded the city a $1.2 million grant to help fund the construction phase.
Then in 2019, the Harlingen Community Improvement Board set aside $500,000 to help fund the project.
As part of the project, Boggus Ford donated land on which the city is building the trail’s $157,000 parking lot.
Future plans
For years, officials have planned a possible fourth phase running along the arroyo’s banks to San Benito, Mendez said.
“With that future phase, we could connect the two cities through the arroyo,” he said.
Background
The trail projects are part of the city’s 2010 Master Trails Plan calling for about 10 construction projects featuring more than 40 miles of trails winding across the city.
The goal — to link all of the city’s parks while also connecting neighborhoods, schools and business areas.
As part of the master plan, officials envision a network of trails connecting the city’s parks and retail centers, linking Texas State Technical College to bicycle routes while giving birders and nature buffs scenic sites along parts of the World Birding Center at Hugh Ramsey Nature Park.
