First of six Caracara Trails catalyst projects unveiled

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A groundbreaking was held recently for the Battlefield Trail Extension, which adds 1.8 miles to City of Brownsville’s Historic Battlefield Trail.Among those attending the ceremony were representatives from, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, the City of Brownsville, the National Park Service, the UT School of Public Health, the City Harlingen, the City of Port Isabel, the City of South Padre Island, the City of Los Fresnos, the City of San Benito and the Town of Rancho Viejo.It is the first phase in a plan to connect Brownsville with Los Fresnos by trail and is a project intended to increase access to public lands in the region. The extension to the trail ties in with Challenge-RGV, a county-wide effort to inspire healthy eating and active living among residents.The Battlefield Trail Extension was funded with a $2 million grant from the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation (Legacy Foundation) to jumpstart Cameron County’s efforts to create new opportunities for physical activity and active transportation in a part of the country facing significant rates of chronic disease and poverty. It is the first of six Caracara Trails catalyst projects that are intended to accelerate development of the 428-mile trail network, which is poised to deliver significant health and economic benefits to the region. For example, the development of the trail network is expected to generate a 22 percent increase in physical activity to Cameron County residents and an annual health care cost savings of as much as $12.3 million. Construction of the trail network alone is expected to deliver a total economic impact of more than $173 million.“As we break ground on the Battlefield Trail Extension, we’re marking a turning point for the health, wellness and economic potential of our region,” said Rose M.Z. Gowen, M.D., Brownsville city commissioner and a board member of RTC. “The Caracara Trails vision is already bringing new investment to Cameron County in the form of federal and private grants. Already, you can see families and friends out on the trails, having fun while building new routines in their lives around physical activity.”Soon, Gowen said, a trail will connect Brownsville to Los Fresnos, with the new extension part of the project.“Our trail network vision and all that it can deliver for the health and economic growth of our region is being realized with each investment, each mile of trail built and each person who gets out for a walk, a run or a ride.”The above podcast features all the speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.