City of Laredo Receives Grant to Enhance Shiloh Trails
Written by admin, Aug 9, 2023, 0 Comments
Courtesy Andres Garcia,
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department awards Recreational Trail Grant Award for $334,000.
Laredo, Texas – In February 2022, the Grant Division for the City of Laredo Economic Development Department submitted an application to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the Shiloh Hike and Bike Trails in District 6. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department approved the City’s application and awarded a $334,000 state grant for enhancing and revitalizing the trails in North Laredo.
The project will fund the construction of new reclaimed trails and the rehabilitation of existing floodplain trails for hiking, biking, nature exploration, and bird watching. The funding will help reconnect lost trails due to the new Springfield Road Extension Phase 3, develop new challenges for riders, connect new routes, and make communities safer places to live.
Recreational trails contribute to the quality of life, promoting the maximization of economic benefits by stimulating accessibility and new development. New trails will reconnect through culverts passing under Springfield and create new natural corridors for birds and animals, improve hike/bike trails, and link residents to nearby parks and other areas of North Laredo by connecting to Springfield’s new ADA sidewalk and infrastructure. Clearing thick brush on floodplain trails will increase visibility and reduce injuries. The new amenities will include bike repair stations throughout, signage for mile markers and interpretive signing, wildlife habitat signage, and numbered emergency call towers with distress beacons for emergency situations.
Dr. Tyler King, City Council Member for District 6, stated, “We are extremely excited to finally get this project off the ground and help save and preserve the Shiloh Trails for all. Special thanks to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for recognizing the City’s efforts to enhance the community’s quality of life and support this project.”
The project will become a top amenity and destination for the city. It will enforce and preserve years of hard work and community unity, including the creation of beautifully crafted trails and natural resources to be enjoyed for generations. The new trail corridors will promote linkages that encourage an active lifestyle, provide new recreational opportunities, and make Shiloh Trails the region’s premier hike/bike system.
