HARLINGEN — Parks and Recreation Department officials have decided to look elsewhere for funding for the West Arroyo Trail Extension due to site preparation paperwork.
The Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation has provided $1.2 million for the project, which will be used to link the existing Arroyo trail to a new paved hike and bike path from near Boggus Ford all the way to Dixieland Park.
Javier Mendez, parks and rec director, told the board yesterday that seeking funding from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and gaining environmental clearances through TxDOT would take too long. Instead, the department would use the funds provided by the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation.
The West Arroyo Trail Extension will stretch for three miles, and will double the current trail’s length.
“We’re going to try to finalize the alignment, get a surveyor out there to draft up something for us, and then we have to go in and hire a consultant to do the environmental,” Mendez said. “So that’s going to take about 12 months.
“As far as the permitting goes, its going to take about 12 months and then we get into the actual design of it,” he added. “We’re going to do that in-house.”
Mendez said written clearances will be needed from TPWD, the Texas Historical Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Mendez said no easements will be required along the proposed trail route, which hopefully will run behind Tony Butler Golf Course. But he said it may not be possible to place the trail there.
“It’s real narrow so we don’t know if we can fit the trail there,” he said. “If it can, it will be great because we don’t have to spend so much money on bridge crossings.
“We’re looking at a drone video with our engineer to see if we can fit it,” he added.
When complete, the trail will connect McKelvey Park, the Harlingen Thicket, Arroyo Park and C.V. Wood Park.
Trail will link these parks
McKelvey Park
Harlingen Thicket
Arroyo Park
C.B. Wood Park
