City’s first nature trail nearing completion

Chris Roark

croark@cherryroad.com

The city of Waxahachie will soon open up a nature trail near Lions Park.

On Monday, Kyle Cooper, senior director of parks and recreation, updated the City Council on progress of the trail, which will be located at Lions Park.

Cooper said the idea for the trail came about during discussion of the Lions Park master plan update in 2022. During that time the city had purchased 56 acres of land adjacent to the park for expansion of the wastewater treatment facility, with some of that land being planned as park expansion.

“Half of that property to the west was heavily wooded and wouldn’t really accommodate much expansion to Lions Park,” Cooper said. “So it was an obvious fit for the nature trail.”

The trail will be approximately 1.7 miles long and have two loops – a west loop totaling 0.93 miles and an east loop of 0.8 miles.

The trail will highlight the natural setting in the area. For example, Cooper said there are mulberry patches along the trail, as well as a pecan grove. He said there will be signage along the trail to educate people on the natural amenities.

“We designed the trail to take into consideration all of the natural elements of the land itself,” Cooper said. “So we’re winding through trees and making sure it’s a nice, scenic trail.”

See TRAIL, Page A5

Pictured is the west loop of the nature trail being created near Lions Park. The east and west loops will total approximately 1.7 miles. Courtesy of the city of Waxahachie

Continued from A1

Cooper said people can access the trail from the dog park off Matthews Street, exit the west loop to get to the hike and bike trail and re-enter on the eastern loop.

He said the entry feature is still being designed, but once that’s complete the city will officially open the nature trail.

The trail will be part of the Lions Park master plan.

Last month the council approved a professional services agreement with Kimley-Horn in the amount of $850,000 for the design and engineering for Lions Park.

The most recent plan calls for multiple unmarked flexible-use fields with lighting, a basketball court, a replaced playground and expanded restroom facilities. There are also plans for eight pickleball courts and two tennis courts, though Cooper said the tennis courts could be converted to pickleball courts depending on council preferences.

The Lions Park project also includes more parking.