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Board endorses Wichita Forest trail upgrades, to seek Corps review
Summary
Parks staff presented a plan to expand and refresh Wichita Forest trail loops, add durable signage and loop markers, remove invasive species, and coordinate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the CDC unanimously recommended submitting the design to the Corps for approval.
Parks staff described the Wichita Forest Park project as a low-cost rehabilitation and expansion of the site’s trail system: add two color-coded loops, an explorer trail, updated informational kiosks and a steel bridge, and an annual cleanup program led by volunteers and Eagle Scout projects. "There have been no upgrades in 20 years, and the trail markers that were there on-site within the trail system were confusing," staff said, explaining the plan to send GPS-verified loop distances and a new street-oriented sign to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for review.
Board members raised legibility of the map scale, visibility of the sign in a treed background and opportunities to place pedestrian signage at nearby Lions Club Park and Lakeside to direct users. Staff said kiosks and signs will be pushed out on social media and that the city can produce more durable kiosks in-house at roughly $2,500 per kiosk rather than the higher TPWD quote. After discussion, a motion to move forward with submitting the new trail layout and sign to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was made by a board member and passed unanimously; staff will forward final materials to the Corps and pursue on-site cleanup and volunteer engagement.
