Expanding trails and improving connectivity between parks will be the goal of Mexico’s next phase of park improvements.

At the Jan. 26 meeting, the Mexico City Council approved the adoption of a parks master plan from SWT Design of St. Louis — the first phase in what is expected to be a decade-long parks improvement plan.

The feedback from the survey completed in phase one emphasised trails and connectivity at local parks. Chad Unterriener, Mexico Parks and Recreation director, said the main focus of phase two will be to determine where additional trails can be added and how to connect the parks through additional routes, including sidewalks.

Phase two will cost $18,000 and includes all anticipated expenses, according to the professional service agreement submitted by SWT Design.

“This was a budgeted item,” Unterriener said. “Phase two was budgeted for this year, so whenever engineers were awarded in the RFQ (request for quotation), this was part of the plan. The rates stay the same as what we got charged from last year’s rate.”

A breakdown of phase two operations includes establishing a baseline inventory and condition assessment of existing park trails; developing an inventory of sidewalks and pedestrian infrastructure within the city; identifying recommendations for trail improvements within existing parks; identifying preferred routes for connecting parks through off-street and on-street
trails; identifying city-wide connections beyond linking parks including neighborhoods,
schools and downtown; and developing implementation priorities, phasing recommendations and order-of-magnitude cost estimates.