Mayor Eric Johnson Allocates $70 Million for Great Trinity Forest Trail Network and Wetland Parks

DALLAS — Mayor Eric Johnson and the Dallas Park and Recreation Board announced on Monday the formal approval of a $70 million capital development contract from the voter-approved 2024 Dallas Bond Program to construct twenty-five miles of paved multi-use hiking and biking trails, pedestrian suspension bridges, and elevated wetland boardwalks throughout the 6,000-acre Great Trinity Forest in South Dallas.

The project connects the Trinity River Audubon Center, Joppa Preserve, and McCommas Bluff with the broader 150-mile Dallas Circuit Trail network, creating continuous, car-free off-road active transportation connections linking South Dallas neighborhoods directly to downtown and the Medical District.

Transforming America's Largest Urban Hardwood Forest into a World-Class Park The Great Trinity Forest encompasses 6,000 acres of bottomland hardwood forest—the largest urban bottomland forest in North America—supporting hundreds of migratory bird species and serving as a natural floodplain sponge for the Trinity River basin.

"The Great Trinity Forest is one of the most incredible, untapped natural treasures in North America, and we are making it accessible for every resident in Dallas to enjoy," Mayor Eric Johnson said during an announcement at the Trinity River Audubon Center. "By investing $70 million in high-quality paved trails, pedestrian bridges, and wetland boardwalks, we are connecting historically underserved South Dallas neighborhoods to world-class recreation, boosting outdoor tourism, and preserving our natural environment for future generations."

Trail Infrastructure and Nature Preserves The $70 million development package funds:

• 25 Miles of Paved Multi-Use Concrete Trails: Engineered 12-foot-wide paths designed to withstand seasonal river flooding.
• Two Pedestrian Suspension Bridges: Spanning the Trinity River to connect Joppa Preserve with Rochester Park.
• 500 Acres of Wetland Habitat Restoration: Removing invasive species and restoring native hardwood canopy trees including bur oak, cedar elm, and green ash.
• Solar-Powered Safety Emergency Call Boxes & Lighting: Installing illuminated mile markers and direct emergency telemetry.

Park conservationists, cycling federations, and South Dallas civic associations praised the city council investment, highlighting that regional trail connections promote healthy outdoor recreation and sustainable urban mobility.