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Northern Walnut Creek Trail extension in Austin, TX

sign in park

Gorgeous pathway down the Northern Walnut Creek Trail | Photo via @docmarvy

Get ready for some more hiking and biking, Austin. The Northern Walnut Creek Trail is gaining an extra 1.3 miles over the next year.

The trail will be a total of 19 miles long once complete + connect East Austin’s Govalle Neighborhood Park to North Austin’s Balcones District Park.

What’s in progress?

  • The Northern Walnut Creek Trail Section 2A — Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park to Walnut Bluffs Trailhead
  • Northern Walnut Creek Trail Section 2B — Walnut Bluffs Trailhead to IH-35
  • Northern Walnut Creek Trail Copperfield Elementary Connector

Most of the sections are being paid for through the 2016 Mobility Bond. So, what are the estimated project costs?

  • Northern Walnut Creek Trail Section 2A$6.4 million from the 2016 Mobility Bond and the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department
  • Northern Walnut Creek Trail Section 2B$2 million from the 2016 Mobility Bond
  • Northern Walnut Creek Trail Copperfield Elementary Connector — $500,000 from the 2016 Mobility Bond + $300,000 from quarter-cent funding

What’s already completed and open to the public?

The Southern Walnut Creek Trail, which runs from Govalle Park to Johnny Morris Road/Daffan Lane. It also connects to the Austin to Manor Trail. This 8.7-mile stretch of the trail first opened in 2014 + is the city’s first urban trail.

Additionally, Section 1 of the Northern Walnut Creek Trail is completed. This area runs 3.5 miles, which includes Balcones District Park to Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park.

The Northern Walnut Creek Trail is part of the Austin Public Works Urban Trails Program and is in partnership with Austin City Parks.

It’s expected to take at least one year for Section 2A of the Northern Walnut Creek Trail to be completed. Curious about construction? Sign up to stay up-to-date with construction progress.

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