The Loop Dallas has been honored by D CEO, in partnership with the Communities Foundation of Texas, as the 2023 Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards Organization of the Year (Midsize). This award recognizes the outstanding work of professionals and organizations in the nonprofit world that make a positive and efficient impact on the community, while celebrating the efforts of corporations and business leaders that support and collaborate with local nonprofits. We are proud to announce that The Loop Dallas received this esteemed recognition and has also landed a coveted spot on the cover of D CEO Magazine.
This is possible because of the steadfast dedication of our board and the valuable partnerships we have forged along the way. The Loop Dallas works closely with the City of Dallas, Dallas Park and Recreation Department, Dallas County, Texas Department of Transportation, private donors, and corporate partners to connect Dallas to Dallas with trails throughout the city, with a focus on equity, that improve access to public transportation. The new 50-mile system will allow riders and hikers to travel from White Rock Lake to the Trinity Forest, around the Trinity River, through the Design District and Victory Park without ever leaving a trail.
Read the article where D CEO editor Christine Perez wrote beautifully about the history of the organization and the motivation behind the board’s dedication over the past nine years.
Illustration by: Aidan Yetman-Michaelson
Thank you to D CEO and the Communities Foundation of Texas for this incredible recognition and the opportunity to celebrate connecting Dallas to Dallas as we continue to complete The Loop Dallas.
In the next six months, nine of the 11 miles needed to complete The Loop Dallas will be under construction or completed! In anticipation of this milestone, we recently walked along the first phase of the Trinity Forest Spine Trail with The Dallas Morning Newsarchitecture critic Mark Lamster, who said:
“Dallas will soon have a trail that is genuinely world-class.”
Sunday, July 2, Arts & Life cover of The Dallas Morning News
Lamster’s comments are music to our ears.
“… the simple truth is that the most enjoyable and efficient way to explore a city is on a bicycle.”
That’s what we set out to accomplish, to provide Dallas with easy, safe access to green space and transportation.
“Our mantra is Connecting Dallas to Dallas. We’re very proud of this legacy asset that we are creating.”
Jeff Ellerman, Chair of The Loop Dallas Board
Reviewing the design of one of our four projects, the Hi Line Connector under construction now, Lamster calls attention to what The Loop Dallas is accomplishing:
“… shifting the primacy of these spaces from automobiles to pedestrians and cyclists — a considerable achievement. Throughout, sidewalks and cycling paths are expanded and protected from vehicular traffic. The rail and highway underpasses linking Victory and the Design District would be given new illumination and signage, transforming these dank passages into ceremonial gateways.”
We appreciate this recognition of SWA Group’s design intent and look forward to the project’s opening in early 2024 when trail users can experience this transformation.
Read additional design details about the projects in the full article here.
This month, we also kicked off a new series on The Loop Dallas social media, “My Dallas Trail Story.”
Our trails are critical infrastructure in the city. Some use trails to commute, for recreation and fitness, or to bond with friends and family. We’ve been collecting stories from trail users and we’re looking for more. If you want to share your trail story, or tell us about a frequent trail user, please email Allynmedia@allynmedia.com or send our Instagram account a message.
You can read the first one here. It’s an easy coffee route I take around Dallas by trail.
See you on the trails,
Philip Hiatt Haigh
Executive Director
The Loop Dallas
