The small suburb of Mansfield, located just south of Arlington, regularly appears on lists of best places to live. The city takes seriously its plans for responsible growth, only approving those projects that will benefit the quality of life. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Pond Branch Linear Creek Trail is the newest project to boost the standard of living for Mansfield residents. The first phase of the project is scheduled to open to the public in January.

The $2.2 million project will wind through the city of Mansfield, with multiple connections to the downtown area. The trail starts where the creek crosses Sycamore Street, continues under East Broad Street near Mellow Mushroom, and ends at Kimball Street.

The trail project is intended to make Mansfield more walkable, especially near the downtown area. However, this is only the first phase of the project. Construction will begin on a second phase of the Pond Branch Trail in the future, although a date has not yet been set.

The second phase of the Pond Branch Trail will connect the Walnut Creek Linear Park to the Katherine Rose Memorial Park. According to city planners, that phase of the project is delayed due to negotiations with Union Pacific about routing the trail under a culvert.

Mansfield has other trail projects in the works as well. Construction will begin next year on a 10-foot-wide pedestrian trail that will connect downtown Mansfield to the new Main Street Lofts and Town Park.

The city is also seeking to begin work on another phase of the Walnut Creek Linear Park. The next phase would connect Walnut Ridge Baptist Church, the Oliver Nature Center, the Phillip Thompson Soccer Complex, and Texas 360. Mansfield needs to receive approval from the state because of the highway, as well as from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

If approved, construction on the Walnut Creek Linear Park could begin next year.