Trinity River Corridor Timeline

1841

John Neely Bryan settled on the East Bank of the Trinity River.

1846

John Neely Bryan begins operating a ferry across the Trinity.

1868

Captain James McGarvey piloted Job Boat #1 along the Trinity River from Galveston to Dallas. Dallas subsequently builds a steamship, the Sallie Haynes, which made several trips along the upper reaches of the Trinity.

1893

Steamboat H.A. Harvey navigates Trinity from Galveston to Dallas.

1908

Great Flood: The Trinity River reaches a depth of 52.6 feet and a width of one and a half miles. Five people are drowned; 4,000 flee their homes; and property damage is estimated at $2.5 million. The worst flooding of the Trinity in Dallas history prompts calls for a levee project.

1911

Kessler Plan - "A City Plan For Dallas."

1917

Approval of the levees for the protection of the property owned by T.H. Harbin and others by the state.

1919

Kessler returns to update plan.

1926

City of Dallas and Dallas County form the Dallas Levee Improvement District with the goal to build levees.

1930

Levee project completed. Trinity Canal Association is formed.

1942

Hare & Hare Master Plan - "A System of Parks and Schools": Proposes portions of the Trinity become parkway along old river bed with landscaping similar to Turtle Creek. No recommendations for area between levees.

1945

Congress authorizes the "Dallas Floodway Project."

1950

Reauthorization of the "Dallas Floodway Project."

1959

Parks and Open Space Plan: Proposes using area between levees for athletic fields and public use areas. All of Trinity was proposed as a reservation for future recreational development.

1962

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan for Trinity calls for full multi-use development including flood control, navigation, recreation, and water resources development.

1965

Congress authorizes the "Dallas Floodway Extension Project."

1967

Bond program sets aside funds to begin Trinity greenbelt acquisition for use of recreational facilities such as trails, picnic and athletic facilities.

1968

The City of Dallas assumes the facilities and responsibilities of the Flood Control district.

1969

Town Lake Feasibility Study: Proposed in addition to a lake, alteration to levees and close connections between the lake and surrounding areas.

1969

"Open Space Development Trinity River System."

1970

Adoption of the 1969 Plan.

1972

Donation of Trinity Levee System to the city: Approximately 930 acres of land is donated for use as park and transportation facilities including roadways, navigation and flood protection. City used donation to request a grant from HUD to acquire remaining privately owned property between levees and received $2.23 million grant that stated it would provide open space for riding & biking trails, archery fields, basketball & tennis courts, athletic fields, golf courses and lakes.

1972

Trinity River Greenway: A Prototype: Proposes a river parkway and suggests that the area might be a State Park.

1972

Town Lake Environmental Awareness Study: Heightened environmental awareness & stimulated interest in beautifying and enhancing the local environment by means of a Town Lake.

1974

All privately owned land between the levees is purchased.

1975

Town Lake Concept Assesment: Evaluates four alternatives for floodway park development and recommends an expanded lake situated in a slightly enlarged Dallas Floodway.

1975

Town Lake Plan.

1978

Bond Program: Town Lake was placed on Bond program as a separate item and was defeated.

1978

Economic Impacts of The Proposed Dallas Town Lake: Town Lake can be viewed as a long-term investment and a major urban amenity, Gradual redevelopment, highest density should be near park areas & Phase I of Town lake would not have a significant affect on development.

1980

Levee Extension Proposal

1983

Trinity River State Park: The portion of the Trinity River below the levee system was approved by the state Legislature as designation for a State Park. The park would be approximately 200 feet wide on each side for the river from near downtown to south IH 35 for a distance of 11.6 mi. Till 1983, the The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has not had the funding to pursue the park.

1983

Trinity River Greenbelt Plan.

1985

Town Lake Study: Analyzed 4 alternatives.

1985

Chain of Lakes Plan: This concept was added to the city study as a 5th alternative.

1985

Bond Program: Approved by voters

1989

Upper Trinity River Feasibility Study initiated.

1990

As a result of flooding in 1989 and 1990, the City of Dallas asks the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reevaluate the Dallas Floodway Extension and to assess structural and nonstructural alternatives.1996

1996

Dallas Floodway and the Stemmons/North Industrial District: Dallas City Council authorizes the City's participation in the study

1996

Summit on the Trinity River Corridor: Mayor Ronald Kirk brings together representatives of the City of Dallas, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of the Army, Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Turnpike Authority, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, and the County of Dallas to initiate full inter-agency cooperation for improvements within the Corridor to coordinate funding and schedules for projects within the Trinity River Corridor, to increase communication in order to prevent duplication of effort, and to provide information to the public in a proactive manner.

1996

"Chain of Wetlands" concept: Approved by the Dallas City Council

1997

The Great Trinity Forest Master Plan Concept: Approved by the Dallas City Council

1997

Dallas County Trail Plan: Approved by the Dallas County Commissioners Court; includes an extensive network of trails within the Trinity River Corridor.

1997

Lamar and Cadillac Heights Protective Levees: Approved by the Dallas City Council as the locally preferred plan.

1997

Texas Department of Transportation Trinity Parkway Major Transportation Investment Study (MTIS): Approved by the Dallas City Council as the locally preferred plan.

1998

$246 million Capital Bond Program: Approved by the Citizens of Dallas for improvements within the Trinity River Corridor.

Trinity River Corridor Project

Trinity River Corridor Timeline