Facts and Questions

Cottonwood Trail Q&A

1. How long will the Cottonwood Trail be?
1. When all sections are finished, the Cottonwood Trail will be almost four miles long.
2. What will the trail connect?
1. The Cottonwood Trail will connect the Preston Ridge Trail to the White Rock Creek Trail, which connects to the KATY Trail and the Mockingbird Extension of the KATY Trail. The KATY Trail, the White Rock Creek Trail, The White Rock Loop Trail, the Cottonwood Trail and the Preston Ridge Trail will total 35 miles. The Cottonwood Trail will also connect into trails that will provide access to Fair Park, Downtown, and the Trinity River Corridor.
3. When is construction going to start?
1. Sections of the trail are already built; however, we need to have funds to complete it. The construction dates for the missing links are dependant on funding.
4. Who is doing the construction?
1. That has not been decided. The City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department will oversee the design and construction of the trail and will follow state procedures for selecting a contractor. Each section will be competitively bid.
5. How long will the construction take?
1. It depends on the section of the trail being built and the funding. If all funding is received, design and construction could take one to two years depending on the difficulty of the construction.
6. Will the trail be paved?
1. Yes, the Cottonwood Trail will be a 12-foot-wide concrete trail. Many runners prefer asphalt trails, but because of the flood plain, an asphalt trail would not last as long as a concrete trail.
7. Can I bring my dog on the trail?
1. Yes, but please be responsible and pick up after your dog. There are plans to eventually have stands containing doggie bags and trash cans conveniently placed along the trail.
8. Will the doggie bags be free?
1. Typically, doggie bags are adopted by the community, and hopefully, volunteers will help keep the stands stocked. The Dallas Park Department will supply bags.
9. Can I use the trail for bicycling, rollerblading and skateboarding or is just for runners and walkers?
1. Yes, it will be a multi-use trail.
10. How will the trail be landscaped?
1. For the most part, this trail runs through a naturally vegetated area along the creek corridor. In trail head / amenity areas, we would encourage native landscaping to conserve water.
11. Will there be lighting along the trail?
1. We would like the trail to be lighted, but maintenance and electricity costs make it difficult. If fundraising efforts provide enough maintenance and operations costs for the lights, it will be considered.
12. Will the trail have Emergency Medical Service (EMS) access?
1. Yes. Since the Cottonwood Trail is designed to run along city streets, every section of the trail will have EMS access.
13. Will there be rest stops along the trail?
1. Yes, the plan is to eventually have benches and water fountains along the trail, but again, this is a matter of funding.
14. Will there be concession stands along the trail?
1. No, but the trail does provide easy access to many food and grocery establishments.
15. What will the impact on my property values be?
1. The Trail should have a neutral or positive impact on property values. In fact, many homeowners consider the availability of such a facility to be an asset to the neighborhood. The property values in close proximity to White Rock Lake and the White Rock trails have increased significantly since the dredging of White Rock Lake and the construction of new trails. Property owners close to the Katy Trail and the Mockingbird Extension of the Katy Trail consider the trail a real asset.
16. Will my taxes increase because the trail?
1. No. The city funds that are planned for this project are funds that are already programmed for the Dallas Park Department. There are no new tax allocations as a result of this project. In addition to the private fundraising, it is also hoped that some state and federal money will be available for this project.