The dream to connect downtown Mineola to the Nature Preserve is finally taking a step toward becoming reality.

The effort to create a hike and bike trail has been ongoing since 2015, and in 2018 the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. granted the city $200,000 toward the $345,000 project.

The city is seeking proposals for a firm to oversee the project, with those bids to be opened March 22.

The project is a 1.1-mile long walking and biking trail from the end of Freeman St. to Loop 564, with a trailhead to be constructed at the end of Bromberg St.

It will follow the route of the former International and Great Northern railroad, which already serves as the major trail inside the nature preserve.

Connecting from the Loop to the preserve is aided by the fact that the half-mile section of railbed has been well maintained over the years.

Ideally the trail would be able to go over the loop, but that would be an expensive proposition, so it will remain at ground level for now, with appropriate traffic controls.

From the trail head the route will follow city streets to the Amtrak train depot, where the Lake Country Trails Association hopes to be able to furnish bicycles for visitors.

The project calls for the city to kick in $145,343 which includes in-kind donations, such as labor and machinery, as well as donated funds, materials and labor that were secured in 2018.