As the New Year approaches, we want to pause and recognize—with gratitude—everything we’ve accomplished together. Your belief in The Loop Dallas and continued support have helped move a bold vision forward: six of eight trail sections are completed or under construction, and Dallas residents are more connected through safer, welcoming and accessible trails that bring our city together. Here are some highlights of that impact:
Award-Winning Connection: The Hi Line Connector
We’re proud to share that this month, the Hi Line Connector received the GDPC Trinity Urban Design Built Award, recognizing projects that enhance the public realm, strengthen community character and drive positive change in Dallas’ built environment.
The Hi Line Connector does exactly that—delivering a safer, welcoming and vibrant one-mile urban trail that links the Katy Trail through Victory Park and the Design District to the Trinity Strand Trail and into the Trinity River levees. With wider paths, awesome lighting, updated signals, native plantings, shaded seating areas and public art, this project sets a new standard for urban connectivity in Dallas.
Thank you to the GDPC, our design partners at SWA, the Dallas Park and Recreation Department and every partner and stakeholder who helped bring this vision to life.
Goats on the Trail: Safety with a Smile
This fall, we welcomed back one of our favorite (and cutest) cleanup crews for a special goatscaping project at Valley View Park. In October, more than 450 goats got to work clearing invasive privet and overgrown vegetation. The result? Opened sightlines, improved visibility and safer, more inviting trails for everyone. Check out a project recap in the awesome video below!
Goatscaping is a fun, all-natural and community-focused way to put user safety first—while keeping our trails beautiful and making us all smile.
A huge thank you to the Dallas Park and Recreation Department and Friends of Valley View Park for the wonderful collaboration and to Exploredinary for capturing this project so beautifully.
Meet Kevin Fitzsimmons and His My Dallas Trail Story
We’re excited to welcome Kevin Fitzsimmons to The Loop Dallas. Kevin joined our team earlier this year and has been discovering firsthand how impactful Dallas trails can be.
In his My Dallas Trail Story, he shares a memorable (and windy!) ride on the Trinity Skyline Trail that challenged and humbled him and ultimately taught an unexpected life lesson about doing hard things now for a better future later. It’s a story about growth, perspective and how trails can teach us lessons that extend beyond the ride itself.
We encourage you to read Kevin’s full story on our Instagram.
Explore Our New Donation Page
If you are looking to support a nonprofit as the end of the year approaches, we invite you to visit our new donation page. The Loop Dallas runs on the support of private philanthropy – we have many different ways to give and greatly appreciate your support.
From all of us at The Loop Dallas, we wish you a happy holiday season and a joyful, healthy New Year. We can’t wait to see you on the trails in 2026 and beyond.
With gratitude,
Philip Hiatt Haigh
Executive Director
The Loop Dallas
