City to use federal grant to build four-mile trail

HARLINGEN — City officials will use a $2.1 million federal grant to build a four-mile trail that will run from a nature park along neighborhoods and schools on its way to Texas State Technical College, officials said Friday.

“This will be an absolutely fantastic trail for the city,” Mayor Chris Boswell said. “It’s going to tie together major parts of the area, including TSTC and other schools.”

The city will put up $525,000 to build the $2.6 million trail that will run from Hugh Ramsey Nature Park, across to Loop 499, then run toward Harrison Avenue to 25th Street before reaching TSTC, Jeff Lyssy, the city’s parks superintendent, said.

The trail, part of which will run along a canal, will tie together the campuses of Vernon and Memorial middle schools and run along several neighborhoods, Lyssy said.

“It’s a great recreational avenue for the people to get out and enjoy the outdoors,” Lyssy said. “The trail’s going to give people a great opportunity to exercise.”

The project is part the Harlingen 100 master plan that includes development of additional trails, Boswell said.

The trail will not tie into the popular Arroyo Hike and Bike Trail, a 2.1-mile trail opened in 2000 that runs along McKelvey, Arroyo, Victor and C.B. Wood parks, Lyssy said.

“I think there’s a real demand for these trails in the city,” Boswell said.

The 10-foot-wide trail will offer residents opportunities to walk, jog and ride bicycles, Lyssy said.

“It’s accessible to a lot of families. There are a lot of neighborhoods in that area,” Lyssy said. “I’m sure there are parents looking to get their kids on bikes off the streets and that’s what the trial will do.”

Boswell said officials will dip into the city’s $10.5 million reserve to fund its $525,000 share of the project.

“This will give a lot of kids a safe route to school,” Lyssy said. “Students who attend TSTC can walk to school or ride their bikes to school.”