The Loop Dallas, a 50‑mile paved circuit that aims to knit parks, trails, and neighborhoods across the city into one giant ring, is creeping toward the finish line. Project partners say most of the route should be open to the public by the end of 2026, with the last stretches and a downtown plaza on deck to follow. If the schedule holds, the long-planned loop will at last pull South and East Dallas firmly into the broader trails network.
According to the Dallas Business Journal, the Trinity Forest Spine Trail is one of the final major pieces, and work on the remaining segments could begin next year. The outlet also reports that the Loop Plaza is slated to open near Katy Coffee Lab this summer, creating a more direct link between the Katy Trail and Victory Park. Those moves are framed as the closing push that will connect roughly 39 miles of existing paths with about 11 miles of new trail.
City officials and trail advocates marked a big step in April, when they cut the ribbon on the second phase of the Trinity Forest Spine Trail in Pleasant Grove. Coverage in D Magazine highlighted new bridge connections and bike lanes, and quoted The Loop Dallas leadership calling the project “a game-changer for Southern Dallas.” That fresh segment already ties into the AT&T Trail and Trinity Forest Trail and brings riders closer to the Lake June DART Station.
What’s Left to Build
The core of the remaining work sits on the nine‑mile Trinity Forest Spine Trail, which is planned to run between White Rock Lake and the Great Trinity Forest, according to The Loop Dallas. The group’s site notes a recent $10.9 million TxDOT award intended to accelerate design and construction on the southern phase. Elevated sections and a rebuilt Lake June bridge round out the big-ticket items that still need to be delivered.
Funding and Timeline
The money behind The Loop comes from a patchwork of federal, state, and local sources. A federal BUILD, now RAISE, application is set to advance roughly 11 miles of new trail, according to federal project summaries. The Rails-to-Trails' BUILD case study notes that the effort has drawn federal attention for its equity focus and transit connections. City and county dollars, combined with targeted TxDOT awards, have helped move design work, bridge replacement, and elevated segments forward on a tighter timeline than many local trail projects typically see.
Why It Matters
Supporters say The Loop is not just a place to jog or bike on weekends. They describe it as an equity play that sends long-overdue infrastructure into neighborhoods that have lacked safe bike and pedestrian routes. Reporting from D Magazine quotes Councilmember Jaime Resendez calling the project a major win for Pleasant Grove and pointing to the promise of safer, continuous pathways where none existed before. Advocates expect the trail to shorten commutes to transit and jobs for thousands of residents.
This year is still packed. Crews are racing to make much of the loop usable by December 2026, even as planning continues for the final leg. As reported by the Dallas Business Journal, construction on the third phase of the Trinity Forest Spine Trail is expected to begin in late 2027. The Loop Plaza, planned across from Katy Coffee Lab at 3111 N Houston St, is scheduled to open this summer, offering a high-visibility connection into Victory Park. Project leaders say a steady drip of smaller openings over the next 12 to 18 months should make The Loop feel largely complete well before the last bolt goes in.
