Parks and Recreation updated the committee on the Citywide Trail Initiative, reporting progress on maintenance, safety and a new internal mapping tool that staff said will improve inspections and public navigation of Dallas’ trail network.

Renee Johnson, Deputy Director, Parks and Recreation, said the department has an “award winning” system and noted the city has roughly “on our way to 300 [miles]” after reporting about 180 miles in active use and a larger inventory of more than 200 miles when including trails under design or construction.

The department said the city now counts approximately 150 individual trails and described classifications used for management: park trails (stationary loops), linear trails (connections between parks, neighborhoods and commercial areas), soft surface trails (natural paths) and program trails (under design or construction). Staff said linear trails include roughly 18 linear miles and 3 connectors; program trails in the future inventory total about 34 miles; park trails account for about 35 miles.

David Smith, interim superintendent for Parks, described the trail team’s scope: inspections, striping, graffiti removal, pressure washing, installation of 9‑1‑1 location markers where access is remote, vegetation management to push back sight‑line buffers, ADA barrier repairs and oversight of construction and drainage/erosion issues. Smith said the 9‑1‑1 markers were “probably 1 of the the biggest components” because they help first responders locate people in remote sections such as the AT&T and Trinity Forest trails.

Ronald Good, supervisor of the trail team, demonstrated an internal database and map the team developed to visualize trail type, maintenance district, council districts and mileage. Good showed how staff can toggle trail types, view district‑level inventories and use a built‑in 360 camera to inspect trail conditions remotely. He said counters (“eco counters”) have been repaired and 16 are now collecting usage data to help prioritize maintenance and programming.

Committee members pressed for clarity on erosion and long‑term maintenance. Councilmember Blackman raised erosion at White Rock Creek and asked why erosion funding did not appear in recent bond discussions; Parks staff said erosion is included in their assessments and noted substantial costs if large‑scale erosion projects are required. Chair Moreno and Parks staff said future trail design should consult Dallas Water Utilities to avoid siting trails too close to creek embankments, and staff said a hydro‑mulcher has been used for some bank repair and revegetation.

Members discussed safety and usage concerns. Several members asked about encouraging canopy and tree preservation to avoid future heat issues where trees are being removed during infill development. The committee discussed encroachments, private property adjacency, unsheltered population cleanup and the role of park rangers and the city’s unsheltered‑population team in addressing ongoing safety and maintenance.

Parks staff listed recent accomplishments including installation of 9‑1‑1 markers, repair and installation of eco counters, striping (e.g., Katy Trail ahead of events), concrete and ADA repairs, crosswalk striping at White Rock Lake and coordination with Transportation and other departments on crosswalks and trail crossings. Smith said the trail team provides support for six maintenance districts rather than supplanting district responsibilities.

No formal actions were taken. Staff said their internal map application is a work in progress; Parks is working to develop the tool further and explore public release through a Park Tank mentorship and future funding. Committee members encouraged quick public rollout and asked Parks to continue coordinating on erosion, tree canopy preservation and maintenance funding.