Jonesing for a jog now that the weather's pleasant again? The folks at the Trinity Strand Trail are trying to accommodate you. The org started construction on its first phase, says executive director Shelly White (here with former chairman Mike Kutner on the trail last fall). Both trails will run along the old Trinity River channel with Phase One cutting behind the Anatole Hotel through the Design District. Phase 2 received bond funding in 2012 and will include the Medical District/Southwestern Medical School area. Two miles of the eight-mile trail will open this spring, Shelly tells us. (Y'all go on ahead, we'll catch up... eventually... maybe.)

The org has also almost completed design of its soft surface trail. It's ready to build as soon as money is raised to fund the construction, Shelly says. There will be a connection with the Katy Trail, too, which is also in line for funding. The Trinity Strand Trail has benefitted from the Katy Trail’s success, Shelly says, and people and businesses see the positive economic impact the trails can have on real estate values as well as the surrounding community. (This pic was obviously snapped before the nasty cold spell last month.)