Trinity Trail Closure! Bellaire & 183 low water crossing

Update:  TRWD now says there was some confusion with a contractor and that the trail will NOT be closed.  A detour will be built before construction begins that will effect the existing trail.

A sign recently went up at the Trinity River low water crossing at Bellaire near the Hwy 183 overpass stating that the Trinity Trails will be closed starting May 31, 2017.   (sign photo below)

With no alternate route available, those of you who use the Trinity Trails to go to and from Benbrook will not be able to do so soon.  Hundreds of people use this section of the trail every week, so this will be a real inconvenience.

The trail will be closed for construction by PRIM Construction related to the Waterside development on Bryant Irvin (the site of the old Lockheed Martin Recreation Complex, LMRC).

I've made lots of calls, but no one has been able to tell me who made the decision to close the trail or how long this closure will be.

All I can recommend is contacting your Fort Worth City councilperson and Mayor Betsy Price, or the TRWD (who is ultimately responsible for the Trails).  Considering Mayor Price's focus on a bike friendly Fort Worth I'm amazed that an alternate to closure or an alternate route was not worked out.  This will truly inconvenience many people.

Many, many people will be inconvenienced by this closure.

Please note: this web site and blog is a community forum for people who use the trails, with no official capacity related to the Trinity Trails.

Airfield Falls Trailhead now open!

It's new official name is "Airfield Falls Conservation Park," and it is now an attraction in its own right, but it is still also the trailhead with access to Fort Worth's beautiful Airfield Falls along the Trinity Trails.  (map below)

It has taken a long time to finish, but now it's open and looks great.  The McDonnell Douglas C-9 aircraft wings and tail are in place along with some other airplane related pieces such as wind socks beside the entry driveways and runway lighting poles (orange and white in photo below).

The overall concept for the park/trailhead is conservation.  The parking area features water permeable paving, allowing rainwater to be absorbed directly into the ground rather than becoming runoff.  There are numerous picnic tables and a pavilion.

The park is bordered by Kings Branch and Farmers Branch tributaries of the Trinity River. They join near the park and then proceed Airfield Falls. There is a paved trail that leads down to Kings Branch and bridges over both.  The trail follows the waterway to the waterfall and is beautifully landscaped with drought tolerant plants and butterfly attracting flowering plants.

Parking area with permeable paving (under the pickup and the walkway in foreground)

Picnic table and runway light poles near parking area.

"Airfield Falls Conservation Park" entry sign

Wing and tail of McDonnell Douglas C-9 airplane on display.

Information signs:

Picnic tables and pavilion.

Looking back at the C-9 aircraft from trail that leads to Kings Branch creek.

Looking up at trail bridge over Kings Branch

Farmers Branch from trail bridge

Butterflies on one of many butterfly friendly flowering plants along trail.

Airfield Falls from trail.

Airfield Falls

Airfield Falls with my exploring companion.