2024 City Bond Projects Campaign
Overview
Friends of the Katy Trail ("FKT") is pleased to embark on two important capital projects to improve the Katy Trail for the benefit of our community. Usage of the Katy Trail quadrupled from 2021 to 2025, and the Trail now hosts millions of visits annually. Demand for the Trail will only increase as Dallas continues to grow and when The Loop Dallas project connects a 50 mile-path of trails around the city.
A busy December 30, 2024, on the Katy Trail
The total anticipated cost of the projects to enhance Trail safety, equitable access, and natural beauty is $3 million. Through the 2024 Bond, the City of Dallas has pledged to match $1 million to the $2 million+ raised privately by FKT. Please see below for an exciting fundraising announcement!
The general timeline for the Katy Trail Bond projects is fundraising in 2024 and 2025, design in 2026, and construction in 2027.
Bond Project #1: Knox to Harvard (North End) Trail Improvements
The Friends of the Katy Trail 2017 Master Plan envisioned an improved stretch of Trail between Knox and Harvard, which would feature native grasses, wildflowers, and additional trees. The Trail has gradually been improved in many areas to the south during the 2018-2020 Complete the Trail Campaign and in subsequent years. FKT increasingly receives inquiries about focusing efforts on this stretch of the Trail.
Currently, the Knox to Harvard area is mostly mowed grass/weeds and rocks. Many of the cedar trees are dying and need to be replaced with more sensible varieties. This area also has erosion issues, and silt builds up on the soft-surface patch, which is slippery and creates fall hazards for Trail users. The expansion of native plantings along the Trail in southern areas has been a tremendous success, and we will continue those efforts in this north area.
Estimated Cost: $2,400,000
Knox to Harvard stretch: dead cedar trees and silt issues
Envisioned North End native plantings and irrigation improvements
Bond Project #2: Fairmount Entrance
The areas along the Katy Trail between Maple Avenue and Fairmount Street have continued to increase in population density. The most often requested new entrance is an official Katy Trail entrance at Fairmount. Currently, there is a heavily used, rocky “goat” path up the side of a steep hill. The path is often muddy and slippery, and the area experiences runoff and changing conditions. There are also frequent, temporary homeless encampments along the areas where Trailgoers enter the non-official entrance.
The Friends of the Katy Trail Master Plan included a Fairmount staircase and entrance. FKT envisions a softly curving staircase from Fairmount up to the Katy Trail, as well as new pathways and plantings.
Estimated Cost: $600,000
Current condition of Fairmount goat path entrance
Beginning vision of Fairmount entrance
Fundraising Announcement - February 2026
FKT is excited to announce that we have reached our goal to raise $2,000,000+ toward the 2024 City Bond projects in order to receive the City of Dallas matching gift of $1,000,000.
This result is possible due to the generosity of the many Bond campaign donors listed below. The Addy Foundation's tremendous gift of $1,000,000 has taken the campaign over the top to a total raised of $3,530,000. Other Principal and Lead Donors include the City of Dallas, Steven Rayl and Scot Presley, Richard King Mellon Foundation, the Perot Family, and Lyda Hill Philanthropies.
Katy Trail Bond Projects Campaign Donors
Friends of the Katy Trail Bond Campaign Donors by Friends of the Katy Trail