BELDEN TRAIL

Location: Brownsville, Texas

Partnership: BCIC | FORD | CDC Brownsville | Texas Parks and Wildlife

Project Role: Community Engagement + Design Lead + CD + CA + Fabrication + Art Installations

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The 1-mile urban trail was the City of Bronwsville’s first community-engaged design process. The pedestrian trail, an abandoned rail line, traverses the historic but low-income neighborhood of West Brownsville.  After extensive work with the neighborhood, our team created a linear park with safety and accessibility improvements at the many street crossings.  The pathway serves to connect multiple neighborhoods to resources within town, support the safe routes to school by connecting 3 schools and 2 city parks.  It is the first of a network of planned bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.  Design and construction  are complete, with continued programing including public art,  activities, and health advocacy events becoming a regular occurrence along the trail.  By partnering with Public Health advocates, the community around this trail is now setting examples for others.  The success of this project has led to additions to the trail as well as multiple partnerships with the City of Brownsville.  

reference:http://www.communitycommons.org/sa_success_story/community-transforms-old-train-tracks-in-west-brownsville-texas-into-a-public-access-hike-bike-trail/