Despite the cram-jam of traffic along Oak Lawn, The Loop Dallas friends gathered on the ninth floor of 1333 Oak Lawn today for an announcement about the 50-mile “loop” that would allow Dallas to connect Dallas.
For some, like bicyclists Tucker and Rich Enthoven, they hungered to hear about the dream of connecting Dallas north, south, east and west. For others, like City Councilperson Cara Mendelsohn, Dallas Park and Recreation Director John Jenkins and Monica and Joe Eastin, it was a glowing moment how the private sector was revealing a major step in providing a 21st century infrastructure showcasing the various sectors of Dallas from White Rock to the Trinity Forest.
Right on schedule, The Loop Executive Director Philip Hiat Haigh introduced The Loop Board of Directors Chair Jeff Ellerman, who gathered his board (Larry Dale, Vana Hammond, Linda Owen, Rick Perdue and Mike Terry) for the presentation behind the model of what was to be the evening’s centerpiece — The Loop Plaza powered by The Addy Foundation.
As described, it will be the “front porch of The Loop Dallas” creating a natural transition between two elevations to form new green space taking you from the iconic Katy Trail to the new Hi Line Connector. What is currently a retaining wall will transform into an open space that serves as a walk and bike trail, and a gathering place that safely connects people to “restaurants, shops, business and residences in one of the busiest areas of Dallas.”
At one point in the program a show of hands was asked, “How many people bicycle?” Almost all hands rose throughout the room.
It was both the idea of well-being and embracing the various Dallas communities that resulted in Lydia and Bill Addy and The Addy Foundation President Ben Leal to come on board supporting the project with more than $5M.
In addressing the more than 100 guests, who like the Enthovens had bicycled their way along the Katy Trail, Bill said, “We live in a community that’s got certain advantages. The rail goes through a lot of communities that don’t have the same advantages that we have. But we’re connected. We get a chance to ride through them. My guess, our guess, is that restaurants will pop up; apartments will pop up; and that soon we’ll be riding through communities that look better than they have prior to the trail being established.”
And while the plan is to break ground on The Loop Plaza before Thanksgiving, the march for funding continues.