click graphic for Google map

Meeting of the Minds

The Friends of Northaven Trail had their initial organizational meeting on the 9th of February.  I wanted to attend but prior family commitments conflicted, so I missed out.  Lee Kleinman is helping coordinate that effort and some of you know Lee as the Dallas Park and Recreation Board Member for District 11.   He’s also doing the “Friends” website and we’re delighted he’s using Google Maps to illustrate the trail.  We wish all the “Friends” and city and county sites did the same.  We’ve added Lee’s Google map to this article.

Lee told me it was a standing room only crowd of over 40 people.  He heard from many more (myself included) who couldn’t attend but they want in on the next meeting.  Several people volunteered to serve on the “Friends of” committee, and others offered to help in other ways.  Jim Hoyt, from Richardson Bike Mart (my local bike shop), was present and he’s offered to cover some of the board and non-profit entity set up costs.  Thanks Jim.

The Northaven Trail falls within County Commissioner District 1, so a representative from Maureen Dickey’s office attended.  Dallas City Council Member Linda Koop (District 11), and Park Board members Larry Jones (District 13) and Joan Walne (District 10) were also in attendance.  Several key, major linear trails fall within Koop’s district, and they all tie together to form a strategic trail transportation system and recreational asset for Dallas County as a whole.  Much of our trail system is riding on the shoulders of District 11.  I think there’s a pun there somewhere…

For more about the meeting and their next steps drop by and read Lee’s summary on their website here.  And while you’re learning more about the trail you might want to read this 2009 Advocate article that I dug up which  highlights the trail here.

The Trail

The Northaven Trail will the primary east-west hike and bike trail in north Dallas.  It’s a major linear trail (12 feet wide) that runs mostly along an Oncor easement from Central to the North Dallas Tollway.  A sidewalk connector will join the White Rock Creek trail to the east.   The Cottonwood, Northaven and White Rock Creek trails form a “Trinity” to the east.  Construction is scheduled to begin in 2011.  Cheers to the folks who are helping make this trail become a reality.

Northaven Trail map. click graphic for larger version