The Trinity River Project is the biggest project Dallas has ever endeavored. It consists of a 20-mile stretch and one of the largest urban parks in the country. This project will not only provide flood protection, but it will enhance our environment, create parks and improve mobility.

In an Environmental Health Commission meeting last Tuesday, Rebecca Dugger, director of the Trinity River Project, talked about four interrelated components that had to do with the project. Economic development is one of the main issues.

Neighborhood revitalization is predicted to flourish along the corridor of the river. Housing, offices, DART, cafes and rental shops are expected to line the passageway of the Trinity.

City leaders hope this project will attract many people to the Dallas area. The natural beauty of the Trinity will be a place for visitors of all ages to have fun and relax. There will be lakes, soccer complexes, the Santa Fe Trail and an equestrian center.

Two lakes that border downtown and North Oak Cliff will provide opportunities for fishing, canoeing and paddle boating. Only a few miles from downtown will be the Trinity River Audubon Center. This center will offer programs that highlight the areas natural resources and will feature environmental, ecological and cultural themes.

Transportation improvements will also be part of the project. The Margaret McDermott Bridge will double in size in order to help traffic flow. A roadway project that will relieve downtown traffic tie-ups will be studied to ensure that environmental and other issues are fully addressed. After the approval, the Trinity Parkway will begin.

“A better environment is needed in the city of Dallas,” city leaders said.

The floodway extension plan will reduce flooding and provide restoration and recreation in the corridor. Levees will help protect homes and business from heavy rainfall and will provide a comfortable home for fish and other wildlife.

“We will completely change what the area looks like; we will clean it up,” Dugger said.