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Farmers Branch staff outline Ford Road 'road diet' and Oak Brook park improvements to boost parking and pedestrian access
Summary
City staff described a Ford Road resurfacing and curb project that would create parallel parking to serve the historical park venue and add a new five-foot sidewalk; the Oak Brook and Rawhide Creek projects will add lighting, irrigation and wider trails, with some mature trees removed where necessary for infrastructure.
Parks staff updated the board on public-works projects along Ford Road and park improvements at Oak Brook and Rawhide Creek that aim to increase parking for the historical park venue, improve pedestrian access and widen trail connections.
Mark Moffett, park superintendent, described a streets-led overlay project on Ford Road between Farmers Branch Lane and the bridge that will reconfigure the roadway to one travel lane plus a parallel parking lane on each side, install a five-foot sidewalk on the historic park side and add curb and landscape work. Staff estimated the change would create about 40–45 new on-street parking spaces adjacent to the venue; combined with the venue’s existing lot, the work should yield roughly 100 spaces for park users.
Moffett said two older trees in the project area were removed because they were damaged and that crews will minimize tree loss where feasible; he noted utilities, irrigation and landscape will be rebuilt as part of the project. Board members asked how many trees would be lost and whether the new parking would affect truck routing; staff said two trees were already lost and that the road diet design was chosen to preserve as much landscape as possible while delivering parking and safer pedestrian access.
On Oak Brook, staff said construction will start in weeks to replace electrical lighting, install new irrigation and landscape, and restore turf. For the Rawhide Creek trail project, staff described widening a trail from approximately 8 feet to 12 feet in places to better accommodate bicycles and pedestrians; project work has required removal of some trees where roots interfered with utilities or sidewalks. Staff emphasized new tree plantings—in 3- to 4-inch caliper sizes—will be installed in the fall to aid establishment.
Staff also said the Ford Road changes will lean on existing street overlay funding, with the streets department coordinating curb, curb ramps and asphalt work to reduce separate procurement and cost impacts.
Ending: Staff said they will report further design details to the board and that additional updates will appear at future meetings as construction windows are set.
