Schedule for Saturday

Here's the schedule for Saturday morning's It's My Park Day: 8 - 1030: New Plants at the Respite and Trail Clean Up

1030: Zumba

1030 - 12: Face Painting for Kids

11-12: Burgers served by the Hamburger Man

All Morning: Badminton, Croquet, and Socializing with Neighbors

We need a few volunteers to help transport plants from Northaven Gardens to the respite. If you can help with this, please email info@northaventrail.org or Tweet us @NorthavenTrail.  Also, if you are planning to attend and have not RSVP'd to the Evite, please do so - it will help us determine the right number of hamburgers to order for lunch!

See everyone on Saturday morning at the Virginia Cook Respite (located at the intersection of the trail and St. Michaels).

It's My Park Day - March 29, 2014

Please join us on March 29, 2014 from 8am to 12pm as we celebrate "It's My Park Day" at the Virginia Cook Respite at St. Michaels & the trail. It's My Park Day flier

We'll have food, face painting, zumba and fun as we help pick up the trail and plant flowers at the Virginia Cook Respite. Everyone is invited to participate. If you are interested in volunteering with specific items, please contact us at events@northaventrail.org - or just show up!

Phase II Update Information from Dallas County

Jonathan Toffer, Senior Transportation Planner at Dallas County Public Works, has shared a presentation (PDF) on Phase II of Northaven Trail. There is some great information in the presentation on the current status of Phase II funding and expansion plans for the trail.  Download the presentation from the link below. Enjoy!

 

Northaven_Trail_Feb_2014_overview (PDF - requires Adobe Reader or Acrobat to view)

Holiday Lights on the Trail

Date: Sunday, December 15, 2013Where: Northaven Trail and Edgemere Time: 6 PM

 

 

 

 

Screen shot 2013-11-17 at 9.32.53 PM

This year the Friends of Northaven Trail will be hosting  “Holiday Lights on the Trail”. This event will take place under the trees at Edgemere and the Trail on the west side on Sunday, December 15th, 2013 starting at 6:00.

We would like to personally invite the neighborhood to come and join us for this event. We are also calling volunteers to help decorate their back yards along the trail for all to enjoy!  If you need assistance or if you would like to volunteer to help some neighbors, please respond to rbhobby@gmail.com and  we will help coordinate what needs to be done.

We are really looking forward to the event and hope to see you there!

With Warmest Wishes.

Friends of Northaven Trail

North Texas Giving Day

Today is North Texas Giving Day!

If you’ve been thinking about donating to the trail, please do so TODAY as part of North Texas Giving Day.  Any donation over $25 that is made through the North Texas Giving website on September 19 will receive a matching percentage.  Help us continue to improve and expand the trail on September 19.

HOW TO DONATE 

Go to https://www.donorbridgetx.org/npo/272405143/  and make your on-line donation using credit/debit card.  You will receive an immediate email confirming your tax deductible donation.

Donor Bridge Flyer

 Thank you for your support of the Northaven Trail!

North Texas Giving Day

Reminder and Save the Date - September 19 - North Texas Giving Day!

Help the Northaven Trail grow on September 19!  If you’ve been thinking about donating to the trail, please do so as part of North Texas Giving Day on September 19.  Any donation over $25 that is made through the North Texas Giving website on September 19 will receive a matching percentage.  Help us continue to improve and expand the trail on September 19.

HOW TO DONATE ON SEPTEMBER 19,  2013

Go to www.donorbridgetx.org and make your on-line donation using credit/debit card.  You will receive an immediate email confirming your tax deductible donation.

Donor Bridge Flyer

August 2013 Trail Update

With summer winding down, now is a good time to post some recent news related to the Friends group and the trail.

September 19 - North Texas Giving Day

If you’ve been thinking about donating to the trail, please do so as part of North Texas Giving Day on September 19.  Any donation over $25 that is made through the North Texas Giving website on September 19 will receive a matching percentage.  Help us continue to improve and expand the trail on September 19!

HOW TO DONATE ON SEPTEMBER 19,  2013

Go to www.DonorBridgeTx.org and select Friends of Northaven Trail or find us by category under Community Improvement.  Make your on-line donation using credit/debit card.  You will receive an immediate email confirming your tax deductible donation.

Donor Bridge Flyer

Trail Expansion Update - Westward Planning

Western expansion of Northaven Trail is in design stage from Preston Rd to Midway. Two bridges are also under evaluation - one over Central Expressway connecting and a second bridge over White Rock Creek - with ultimate goal of providing Northaven Trail users with continuous access to White Rock Lake.

Welcome New Board Members

Friends of Northaven Trail recently elected several new board members and made new appointments for existing members.  We are currently seeking interested individuals to help with several committees, including landscaping and events.  If you are interested in helping in any way, please contact us at info@northaventrail.org.  

Larry Jones - President

Jeff Kitner - Board Development

Miriam Kitner - Treasurer

Lisa Umholtz - Events

Sheryl Yonack - Safety and Signage

Thanks and see you on the trail!

Thanks again Hillcrest Forest Neighborhood Association!

Hillcrest Forest Neighborhood Association bench being engraved.

Hillcrest Forest Neighborhood Association bench being engraved.

You may have seen the post a few weeks ago thanking HFNA for the seating area. This week the engraving was completed on the limestone seating area. Thanks again to Bruce Wilke and all the members of HFNA for their generous donation. You set a great example for neighborhood support of the trail!

Located between St. Judes Dr and Hillcrest, Hillcrest Forest Neighborhood Association's generous donation has provided a new seating area on the trail.

Located between St. Judes Dr and Hillcrest, Hillcrest Forest Neighborhood Association's generous donation has provided a new seating area on the trail.

2013 Dallas City Council Race - District 11 and 13 Candidates Survey

FoNHT 2013 Dallas City Council Election Survey - District 11 and 13 Candidates

The Friends of Northaven Trail provided this survey to each of the District 11 and District 13 candidates since the Northaven Trail is planned to extend from District 11 across District 13.  With the retirement of Council members Linda Koop and Ann Margolin, both strong supporters of the Northaven Trail and the Dallas Bike Plan, we felt that the views of the candidates on the completion of the Trail system is an important issue for voters in the District 11 and 13 races.  The content of their answers below could serve as a barometer of their willingness to put an effort in towards locating alternate funding for the Trail’s completion which potentially could be delayed until 2017.

What are your views on the City’s continued investment to build out a hike and bike trail system (Dallas Bike Plan)?

Jennifer Staubach Gates:  To be a great city, we must have great basics, and that means smooth roads, great schools, strong police and fire protection and parks and rec centers. With better parks, rec centers and trails, we can create a healthier and safer community that will attract new families to our city.

Leland Burk:  I support the Dallas Bike Plan and feel it is not only an important quality of life issue for our residents, but is important in attracting new business to Dallas. Companies rate community amenities very highly, along with low taxes and an educated work force when deciding to relocate. I personally enjoy biking on the trail!

Lee Kleinman:  I am a strong supporter and proponent of an expansion of the Dallas Bike Plan as well as the expansion of the off-street Hike and Bike Trails.  These quality of life projects bring neighborhoods together which reduces crime, has a positive effect on public health in the form of exercise (reducing obesity) and clean air (less driving).  They also provide much needed green space in areas that have little parkland.  The NHT for example turned a marginally maintained easement into a 2-mile linear park.  Working with Oncor to make this happen shows their commitment to the quality of life for Dallas residents.

Ori Raphael:  I support the hike and bike system, but believe before we spend additional tax dollars, we must prioritize funding for our massive infrastructure needs . I feel that there is a great opportunity to continue funding our hike and bike trail system through public-private partnerships.

 

As a component of that Plan, what are your views on The Northaven Trail (NHT) system, which starts in District 11 and is planned to continue through District 13 to the Walnut Hill DART Station?

Ori:  Same view as stated above.

Lee:  The NHT is a key component to the plan as the only east-west trail in North Dallas.  The corridor parallels several key traffic patterns including LBJ, Forest Lane and Royal Lane.  The intermodal connections to both the Forest Lane Station and the Walnut Hill Station enables the NHT to contribute to the overall transportation plan of Dallas.

Leland:  Since this is in the heart of my district, I support the plan. I am proud to have the support of Ann Margolin, who dedicated a portion of her discretionary funds to help build the Northaven Trail. I look forward to working with your organization and our city to expand the trail system.

Jennifer:  As a mother of two and an aunt to more than 17 nieces and nephews, all of which live in our Council District, I know first hand the value of our local parks, green spaces, trails and rec centers. I support the Northaven Trail concept, as long as funding is available.

Would you support funding the NHT expansion into District 13? 

Lee:  Yes.  Trail projects have been shown to have a high amount of impact relative to their cost.  The cost per encounter for a trail is lower than that of many other uses for city bond money.  Expanding into 13 is important to create additional parkland in an area where there is little.  Also, this will give trail access to several churches, schools and community centers such as the YMCA.  It gives residents and opportunity to walk or ride to these facilities without having to drive a car.

Ori:  Again, if funds can be raised through private donations and corporate support I am fully in favor. I am not in favor of using tax dollars at this time.

Jennifer:  I would support the expansion of the NHT into District 13. We must consciously work to grow these types of amenities for our City to compete with up and coming cities like Austin, Portland, Boulder and Seattle who are able to attract young families for their great quality of life.

Leland: Yes.

The expansion of the NHT through District 13 is largely a City obligation to fund through the 2012 voter-approved Bond Program.  The City has said that the expansion of the NHT may take until 2017 to initiate from Preston Road.  With regards to the expansion schedule, do you think it is to slow, about right, or too fast? Please explain?

Jennifer:  The expansion of the NHT will be a great amenity for the entire City. In order to ease the burden and speed up the process, I would look to the private sector for funding to supplement the City bond funding.

Leland: I would like to see the schedule advanced, but I also feel our infrastructure needs concerning streets and alleys should remain a very high priority. As you know, the city manager and council set spending priorities based upon the needs of each council district and those priorities and dates have been set. I would certainly like to review the bond expenditure schedule for District 13 and see what can and should be done.

Ori:  Bond money is spent according to a strict criteria set forth by the city manager and approved by the council. Discussion on when these expenditures should be made should have happened when the schedule was presented to council. I’m sure Ms. Koop and Mr. Kleinman were aware of the timing of these expenditures and therefore in agreement. I think the planning time takes too long and there could have been many ways of speeding up the process.

Lee:  I think it is too slow.  We should capitalize on the excitement and momentum created by the development of the first section.  In North Dallas, this trail is something everyone is talking about.  We should do what we can to leverage resources to accelerate the development plan.

As a Council Member, would you be willing to invest time to identify potential funding sources outside of the City’s bond funds in order to speed up completion of the Trail?

Ori:  My emphasis will be to getting back to basics, balancing the budget and ensuring the core needs of my community are met. I will be happy to work on the community’s behalf in speaking with other entities, especially private corporations, organizations and individuals for endeavors like the trail.

Lee:  Yes.  There are several leverage opportunities to increase funding for the Trail.  Dallas County has partnered with the City on this project and private donors have made significant contributions.  I was instrumental in those partnerships and intend to continue to seek out additional funding sources for expansion.

Leland:  Yes, I am a strong believer in public-private partnerships and with my business experience and civic involvement. I will certainly help in this effort.

Jennifer:  If elected, I would use my position in the community to look for greater involvement from the private sector and nonprofits. More generous donations like the one from Virginia Cook, will help supplement the City’s bond funds and grow the NHT.

The Dallas Bike Plan was developed and recently modified to create a plan for development of a 300 mile system of interconnecting hike and bike trails.  Do you see a benefit to the development of this system other than the recreational opportunities these trails will provide?

Jennifer:  Yes, in addition to recreational opportunities, the bike plan also provides connectivity of the trails, and it serves a greater transportation purpose. The two projects are complementary. 

Leland:  As I stated above, expansion of our economic base by drawing new business to Dallas is critical to our future and quality of life issues are important to companies and people considering moving here. Health benefits and encouraging people to use alternative modes of transportation to improve our air quality are important factors as well.

Lee:  Yes.  I served on the Dallas Bike Plan Steering committee along with several Council Members and representatives from DART, Dallas County, NTCOG, DISD, etc.  This system will enable bicycling in Dallas to be part of the transportation system.  In addition to traffic relief, parking relief and air quality, this system interconnects our off-street trail system enabling people access to DART, shopping, restaurants and churches without the need to drive a car.  It provides and option that was not there before.

Ori:  These plans help draw new business to our city because business and people rank quality of life issues high on the list. However, low taxes and good schools are of critical importance too.

Soon there will be two ballot propositions presented to the Council for vote which authorize the City to sell two pieces of parkland.  

Proposition No. 1

Authorizing the city council to: (1) convey by sale or exchange up to approximately

25 acres of city park land contained in Joey Georgusis Park, which is located

near the intersection of Interstate Highway 30 and Cockrell Hill Road and which has

limited accessibility for recreational use, and (2) use the proceeds of the

conveyance for the enhancement of the City of Dallas park and recreation system.

Proposition No. 2

Authorizing the city council to: (1) convey by sale or exchange up to all of the city

park land contained in Elgin B. Robertson Park, which is located at Lake Ray

Hubbard and which is of limited use and accessibility to City of Dallas residents,

and (2) use the proceeds of the conveyance for the enhancement of the City of Dallas park and recreation system.

As a newly elected member to the Council, what are your views on selling park land, using City resources to acquire park land, and would you support initiatives like the two discussed below

Ori:  Yes.

Lee:  Selling park land can become and emotional issue.  Having served on the Park Board for 5 years I had the opportunity to understand what is in Dallas’ inventory and the  utilization levels of Dallas residents.  Initiating the sale of park land is done via referendums such as these.  It is the only property in the city that goes through this process.  I am in favor of both propositions.  The land in Proposition 1 is irregularly shaped and situated in a light industrial area.  It could never be used for any recreational purpose.  The land in Proposition 2 is well outside the city limits and primarily benefits the residents of Rockwall County.  Few Dallas residents use this area.  I favor these propositions because the proceeds are designated for land acquisition and capital improvements within the City of Dallas as well as designated specifically for park projects.  This will enable the park system to provide more services to Dallas residents.

 

Leland:  I am in favor of both these Propositions. 

Jennifer:  I support Proposition No. 1. By selling this piece of undeveloped land that was donated to the City we can not only use proceeds to enhance parks that would serve more citizens, but the sale will also support a development project that will create new tax revenues for the City.

I support Proposition No. 2. . This park land is not adjacent to the City of Dallas and is expensive to maintain especially considering the number of Dallas residents it serves. It makes perfect sense that we should divest of this land and use the proceeds to enhance parks that serve a greater number of Dallas citizens.

 

 

Spring 2013 Update

With the blooming of the wildflowers and increase in neighbors out on the trail, Spring must be here!  It's been a few months since we've provided a list of what we've been up to, so read on for several trail updates and trail happenings.

Friends of Northaven Trail Receive Trail Advocacy Award from American Trails

On April 16, at the 21st National Trails Awards Program presented by American Trails, the Friends of Northaven Trail received the Trail Advocacy Award for Texas.  Thanks American Trails for recognizing our efforts as well as the collective efforts of the Trail's planners, la terra design and the City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department!

The Trail Advocacy award is given to an individual/group that has demonstrated successful efforts to influence public policy relating to trail planning, trail protection, trail development, or maintenance.

Trail Improvements

Commemorative Paver Engravings

We recently completed another round of paver engravings at multiple locations along the trail.  Thanks to everyone who donated a commemorative paver. Community funding is critical to capital improvements and Trail maintenance.  The Commemorative Paver program thus far has raised $38,200.  If you haven’t gotten one yet, there are still paver spots available and donations are eligible for tax deductions under IRS Guidelines.   Visit the donation page on the website –www.northaventrail.org/donate - or email us to purchase yours - info@northaventrail.org.

Freda Stern Parking Area

The respite and parking area at Freda Stern were recently completed.  Featuring a water fountain, water misters and seating, the parking area/respite should be a popular rest spot and amenity on the trail this summer.   Our appreciation goes to our supporters at the JCC for their contribution to the creation of this important Trail amenity.

Thanks to paver contributions and several potential donors, FoNHT Trail has tentative plans to plant 28 trees, native grasses and perennial plants in the Respite and median areas. This will be a great opportunity for us to plan a Landscape Planting so our Friends and supporters can work together in making a lasting contribution to the beauty of the Trail. We will keep you posted with an announcement in May.

New water fountain near Royalshire

Many of you have probably seen the new water fountain on the trail near Royalshire. Made possible by a generous donation from Mark and Carol Kreditor, the water fountain will definitely be an oasis this summer for walkers, joggers and bikers on the western end of the trail.  Many thanks to the Kreditors for their donation and for giving back to the community!

Hillcrest Forest Neighborhood Association Seating Area

Thanks to a generous donation from the HFNA, a new seating area between Hillcrest and St. Judes was recently installed with three Lueders Limestone seating benches. Thanks to Bruce Wilke, the HFNA Board, and everyone in HFNA for their support and adoption of the trail.

Upcoming Events and Projects

26th Annual JCC Bagle Run, Sunday, May 19th, 8:00 AM

Sponsored by our neighbors at the Aaron Family JCC, this year’s Bagel Run will feature a new course that utilizes sections of The Northaven Trail.  The race features a kids K, a 5K and a 10K.  For more information, please visit the JCC website for race information.  We hope to see you there!

Upcoming Dallas City Council Election

District 11 and 13 seats are up with the retirement of Linda Koop and Ann Margolin. These seats are important to the timing and funding of the Trail's westward expansion and the full development of the Dallas Bike Plan. Please take time to read each candidate's position on the development of Parks at each candidate's campaign website.  FoNHT want to express our gratitude to Council Members Koop and Margolin for their past and future support of the Northaven Trail.  It is not Friends of Northaven Trail's position to endorse candidates for the upcoming Dallas City Council election.  To help inform you as to each candidate's position on the development of the Trail, the Dallas Bike Plan and support of Parks in general, we recently provided the candidates with a survey.  Their responses are being collected and will be published shortly before election voting begins.

Landscape Plans

FoNHT is working with CCA Landscape Architects and its owner, Caye Cook, who developed a landscape plan for the Freda Stern Respite. FoNHT is also working with CCA on a landscape plan for the Virginia Cook St. Michaels Respite and the Royalshire Respite.  Future projects will be planned at each of these locations.

Thanks!

Mowing

And last but definitely not least, many thanks to Ken Beem, District Park Maintenance Supervisor, and his team for carefully avoiding the wildflowers as they mowed the Trail last week, as well as for their constant support to maintain the City's trail system.

Thank you for your continued support of the Northaven Trail.  We look forward to seeing you out on the trail or around the neighborhood!

New Water Fountain

Thanks to Mark and Carol Kreditor for the new water fountain near Royalshire!

Thanks to Mark and Carol Kreditor for the new water fountain near Royalshire!

Friends of Northaven Trail would like to thank Mark and Carol Kreditor for their generous donation of a water fountain near Royalshire on the trail.  The fountain will be much appreciated by trail users in the coming summer months and for years to come.  Thanks Kreditors!