Tim Wachtel, a planner at SPAR, has written a draft (below) of a proposed plan that would give Shreveport more bike paths. Keep in mind, this is just a DRAFT, and draft of a PROPOSAL, at that. In my mind, that means at least three things:
Because it's a proposal, it won't necessarily be adopted.
But because it's a draft, any part of it could change.
And because it's a city proposal, we can help make it even better.
Still, it's heartening just to see plans like these, and know there are city staff striving to improve our community.
Thank you Tim! Both for working on this draft, and for letting us have access to it. There are so many of us in our community who care about this.
DRAFT:
PROPOSED RECREATION TRAILS
Shreveport Public Assembly & Recreation
* Draft December, 2007 *
Please reference the “Proposed Recreational Trail” Map
SPAR GOAL?
Go to a park or school within __ miles (1, 2?) of your house and get on a Recreational Trail for a __ (3-4?) mile walk/run/bike/skate with __ (2?) or less arterial roadway crossings. (January 2008)
What is a Recreational Trail?
Our definition of a “Recreational Trail” is a multi-use trail, primarily for walking, running, cycling, skating and other non-motorized uses, with minimal cross flow by motor vehicles. It is separated from vehicular traffic, sometimes in its own right-of-way, sometimes in a street right-of-way some distance from the curb or atop a levee. Generally, the paved trail would be eight to ten feet wide in a thirty to fifty foot wide trail right-of-way. Benches, drinking fountains, overlooks, way-finding signs, landscaping and other features are part of the trail facilities. Other kinds of “trails” such as sidewalks and bicycle lanes may be needed for short segments to provide trail continuity in certain complex areas.
Recreational Trails should be considered complementary to a non-vehicular transportation system because they can have non-recreational uses. They may provide a key link in a city-wide bicycle transportation plan, for example, but there may also be a need for parallel on-street bicycle facilities that are more convenient and efficient for commuting.
Other Kinds of “Trails”
* Fitness Trail: A loop trail inside a park or other site used primarily for low-impact walking or jogging. Recreation trails should be connected to these facilities where practical.
* Nature Trail & Mountain Bike Trail: These are generally minimally improved trails through natural areas. The surfacing is generally not all-weather and may not be ADA accessible.
* Bicycle Lane, Bicycle Route, etc.: “Trails” incorporated into the street/highway network for use by cyclists for a wide range of purposes such as commuting, shopping, and recreation. Recreation trails can be used as a part of this network, but recreation trails may be inappropriate for some bicycle uses due to the presence of slow-moving pedestrians, and the trail alignment may not accommodate commuter and touring bicycle speeds.
Paul Lynch Park Trail
Route: From a new parking area near Martin Luther King Drive along McCain Creek, under the I-220 bridge to the lake in the park parcel on the south side of I-220.
Approximate Length: 0.75 miles
Features: Fishing pier at lake
Other: Connects park parcels, provides some access to south parcel
Acquisition Issues: Park is City property, require State approval of access under I-220 bridge.
Cross & 12-Mile Bayou Trail
Route: Along the south bank of Cross Bayou from the Clyde Fant Parkway, under Spring and Market Streets, to the area of the Shreveport Convention Center, then along Cross Bayou and 12-Mile Bayou to Paul Lynch Park
Approximate Length: 3.67 miles
Features: Historic shipyard property, McNeil Street Pump Station
Other: Final planning contingent on other Cross Bayou area planning efforts. Part of this trail may be a “water trail” for use by boats.
Acquisition Issues: Some property is owned by the City and there may be significant acquisition needs as well as state and federal approval & coordination.
Allendale Trail
Route: Along a drainage corridor from the north side of Lakeside Park and Booker T. Washington High school, southeast to C.C. Antoine Park, and south to Andrew Currie Park.
Approximate Length: 1.15 miles
Features: Lakeside Park, Booker T. Washington High School, C.C. Antoine Park and Andrew Currie Park.
Other: Preliminary proposal from the AllendaleONE Plan
Acquisition Issues: Anticipate need for extensive and perhaps complicated property acquisitions.
Bickham Bayou Trail
Route: Along Bickham Bayou from Bill Cockrell Park to Lakeshore Drive then west to Ford Park.
Approximate Length: 2.0 miles
Features: Bill Cockrell Park, Bickham Bayou oxidation ponds, Ford Park
Other: Grading and impoundment re-design at Bill Cockrell Park & Bickham Bayou oxidation ponds to create fishing areas.
Acquisition Issues: Anticipate need for extensive and perhaps complicated property acquisitions.
Bayou Pierre Trail
Route: Along Fern Avenue/Bayou Pierre north from 70th Street to Pierremont Road, and along Fern Avenue north to the existing Bayou Pierre Trail at Ockley Street.
Approximate Length: 1.6 miles
Features: Connects existing trails to the north and south.
Acquisition Issues: Minor, trail expected to be located in existing right-of-ways.
East Kings Highway Trail
Route: From LSUS along East Kings Highway north to Preston Street and east to the existing trail on the Clyde Fant Parkway.
Approximate Length: 5.1 miles
Features: LSUS, East Kings Highway Park, Clyde Fant Parkway
Other: The exact routing of this trail is undetermined, but opportunities exist along the East Kings Highway right-of-way and several levees and drainage ditches. In some areas it may be no more than narrow bike lane adjacent to the street, in others it may be wider and separated from the street. The primary purpose is to connect LSUS to the Parkway trail.
Acquisition Issues: Coordination with existing right-of-ways and Levee Board may minimize acquisition.
Red River Trail Extension
Route: South from the southern end of the Red River Trail to C. Bickham Dickson Park.
Approximate Length: 1.75 miles
Features: Existing Red River Trail, C. Bickham Dickson Park, Red River fishing.
Other: This may be developed in conjunction with a new vehicular access (park drive or Parkway extension) from the Clyde Fant Parkway to C. Bickham Dickson Park, allowing the closure of the problematic entrance from Bert Kouns. Trail design and routing may be coordinated with private development plans.
Acquisition Issues: Anticipate need for extensive and perhaps complicated property acquisitions.
Brush Bayou Trail
Route: From Lambert Park north along the right-of-way of Brush Bayou to 70th street, with connector trails to Southern Hills Park (along a drainage easement) and Wildwood Park (along Airport Ditch).
Approximate Length: 5.67 miles
Features: Linking Southern Hills Park, Wildwood Park and Woodlawn High School.
Other: Lambert Park oxidation ponds can be developed into wetlands/fishing areas at the south terminus, the trail could be extended north to Hollywood Avenue along Canal Boulevard.
Acquisition Issues: Minor, trail is expected to be within existing right-of-ways. Some State coordination will be required to cross some roadways.
Other Trail Facilities
Other trail and path facilities are recommended to connect the Recreational Trails to an integrated non-motorized transportation system. The other trail facilities are conceived to be a mix of local and state shared roadways, bicycle lanes, sidewalks and other appropriate facilities for safe and efficient bicycle and pedestrian travel. This type of planning is not within the scope of this proposal, but should be undertaken by local, state and federal officials with considerable input from citizens.
Goals by Others??:
* Establishing a bikeway within a half-mile of every resident. [Reference: Chicago’s Bike 2015 Plan:]
* Bikeways to priority destinations, including schools, universities and transit stations. [Reference: Chicago’s Bike 2015 Plan:]
