THROUGH THE LOOP

THE CITY OF DALLAS began making comprehensive plans for a citywide trail system about 14 years ago. So far, Dallas has built 149 miles of trails, with another 37 miles currently under development. But total of 300 miles of trails are proposed across the city, but so far much of that is unfunded.

While many are disconnected, there is a plan in the works to create The Loop, a $56-million project that would create one 50-mile loop connecting North Dallas, White Rock Lake, South Dallas, Oak Cliff and West Dallas, spanning all 14 City Council districts. The Loop is the idea of pals Jeff Ellerman, a real estate executive, and oilman Larry Dale, who became frustrated one day while riding bikes on the dead-end Trinity Skyline Trail in Oak Cliff.

“We were saying, ‘This is so frustrating because there’s no trail to get here. Once you’re down here, it’s unbelievable, but it doesn’t go anywhere,’ ” Ellerman recalls. “ ‘The Great Trinity Forest is amazing, but you can’t get to it. Wouldn’t it be great if these trails connected and they were longer?’ ”

With encouragement from Mayor Mike Rawlings and Katy Trail mastermind Philip Henderson, they created a nonprofit, the Circuit

Trail Conservancy; about two years ago, they began working with the city’s Park Department and Trinity Watershed Management on a plan to connect the trails.

Now plans for The Loop are complete, and the nonprofit already has raised about $17 million, including $5 million from Dallas County.

The city’s portion is $20 million, and if approved, The Loop could open in the next four years.

—RACHEL STONE

How Trails Are Funded

THE EXTENSIVE NATURE OF OUR TRAIL SYSTEM requires more than one source of funding for trails, connections and other amenities. While implementation relies heavily on municipal bond programs, federal, state and local government grants periodically become available for trail projects. Friends groups and advocacy partners also are increasingly important when it comes to making the most of the trail network, Project manager Peter Bratt says. Bond meetings to determine where city money is used are slated this month, though exact dates have yet to be posted. Bratt says public input will be important.