Arlington was awarded a Green Ribbon Grant by the Texas Department of Transportation for landscaping and irrigation improvements to the central median of Pioneer Parkway/State Highway 303. Pioneer Parkway/Spur 303 functions as an important east-west transportation corridor within Arlington.
The project includes a 10-mile span of construction to enhance the aesthetic of the highway, increase urban tree canopy cover and minimize urban air pollution. Improvements include landscape beds with permanent irrigation systems and native plants: ornamental trees, ornamental drought-tolerant grasses, native shrubs, and 75 shade trees.
Workers finished planting trees within the median Tuesday, October 24. Over the next few weeks, the contractor, C. Green Scaping LP, will continue planting the plant beds within the median at several locations on Pioneer Parkway.
'In 2008 we began 'Green the Oaks ', a program which kicked off a beautification initiative of Green Oaks Blvd, ' Assistant Director Gary Packan said. ' 'Green the Oaks ' is focused on greening up medians, on 22 miles of Green Oaks Boulevard, which started on a section between Cooper Street and Bowen Road '
The Pioneer Parkway Green Ribbon project continues that initiative thanks to our partners at TXDOT Packan said. The Parks and Recreation Department has planted thousands of trees since 2008 and will continue to beautify the city utilizing grant funds when available.
Construction began in late March and is expected to be substantially complete early January 2018. The project will exclude medians that reside within Pantego.
On November 10, 2015, the City Council passed a minute order, authorizing the execution of a Local Project Advance Funding Agreement with TxDOT of Fort Worth for Supplemental Transportation Program Green Ribbon Project in the amount of $400,000.
As the project design progressed, planners realized additional funding would be necessary to include enhancements at key locations. TxDOT approved a request for an additional $150,000 on August 8, 2016, bringing the total of the grant to $550,000.
'We are pleased to have received additional funding from TxDOT, ' Park Project Manager Mitali Mandlekar said. 'This has allowed us to include enhancements at key intersections and add more shade trees along the highway. '
Related articles:
- $550,000 Grant Helps City of Arlington Enhance Pioneer Parkway Median
- Drought-Tolerant Native Plants Added to Beautify Major Thoroughfares
- Keeping Arlington Beautiful: Council Approves Two New Projects
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