Friends of the Katy Trail is the nonprofit organization responsible for maintaining and enhancing the Trail for the benefit of Dallas citizens and visitors. We partner with you through memberships, event sponsorships, and individual and corporate support to keep the Trail running in peak condition.
Friends of the Katy Trail is the nonprofit organization responsible for maintaining and enhancing the Trail for the benefit of Dallas citizens and visitors. We partner with you through memberships, event sponsorships, and individual and corporate support to keep the Trail running in peak condition. 1 2 0 2 4 A N N U A L R E P O R T
2024 HIGHLIGHTS
FKT Board approves major plantings restoration project: new flowers, bushes, and trees, decomposed granite, and mulch added by the end of February.
JAN
FEB
Annual Katy Trail Ice House Invitational golf tournament raises $100,000 for Friends of the Katy Trail.
MAR
APR
Dallasites flock to the Trail to view the solar eclipse.
Katy Trail Art partners with the Dallas Museum of Art to place Wild Flowers by Iván Argote at Victory Overlook.
Dallas voters approve the 2024 City Bond for Parks, with two Katy Trail projects (North end vision shown).
MAY
Spring Support Campaign raises $151,000 for Trail operations.
Annual Major Donor Party held at the new Terminal at Katy Trail
2024 HIGHLIGHTS
26th Annual Katy
week before the event and brings in a record number of sponsors, picnic partners, and funds raised.
Repairs to portions of the red soft-surface path begin.
Blake Shipp receives the David Stocks Volunteer Service Award.
Millions of visits to the Trail by year’s end
5K presented by Michelob Ultra sells out one
Katy Trail Art installs Eddie Martinez sculptures.
The family of Roger Staubach and Trail leadership open the Staubach Pass Plaza at the Harvard crossing.
2024 NUMBERS
MISSION STATEMENT
mission of Friends of the Katy Trail is to maintain, enhance, and advocate for the Katy Trail as the premier trail for recreation, wellness, and alternative transportation in the City of Dallas.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
There are places that feel like magic - the Katy Trail is one of them.
If you’ve spent time on the Trail, you know the feeling: the vibrant energy that keeps you walking, running, and moving forward. Bees buzz, wildflowers bloom, and you find yourself immersed in a living tunnel of green. The red path glows in the perfect slant of evening light.
I recently read that you never walk the same path twice, and nowhere is that more true than on the Katy Trail. It’s a place where the beauty of nature and the spirit of community come together to create something unique, every single day.
In 2024, the Katy Trail continued to thrive.
Keeping 3.5 miles of urban trail looking and feeling like a park takes commitment, coordination, and care, plus significant funds - and we believe the Trail has never looked better. This year, we saw the Katy Trail community grow even stronger. The Katy 5K broke records, Katy Trail Art introduced new moments of surprise and delight, and we were honored to have the two improvement projects most requested by Trail users included in the City of Dallas Bond program. By the end of 2024, we raised $1 million, halfway toward our campaign goal to meet the City match for the Bond projects. We’re excited about what’s ahead.
Friends of the Katy Trail is proud to be the stewards of this incredible ribbon of green. But we’re even more proud and grateful for you, our supporters, donors, volunteers, and Trail enthusiasts, who make everything possible.
Thank you for being part of the magic.
Amy Bean Executive Director, Friends of the Katy Trail
Would you like to become involved with supporting Friends of the Katy Trail? Here are some ideas.
– Ann Whitley Wood Senior Director, Major Gifts and Membership
• Purchase an annual Membership available at many levels, from $75 to $5,000
• Give to the Spring Support Campaign to boost early-inthe-year operations funds
• Participate in North Texas Giving Day with a donation to Friends of the Katy Trail
• Walk, run, sponsor, or volunteer at the Katy 5K
• Become a Community Partner and enjoy recognition, Katy 5K, membership, and community involvement benefits
• Name a Trail aspect or amenity, such as a bench, along the Trail to honor a person, family, or organization and add to the Greenscape Fund
• Pay an event fee to “table” on the Trail to promote a business or service
• Join the Katy Trail Art Society to bring world-class art installations to the Trail
• Fund a Major Trail feature like the Fitzhugh Staircase
• Support the 2024 City Bond projects: a Fairmount Trail entrance and landscape restoration on the Trail’s North end
• Maintain a stretch of the Trail and receive a light pole recognition sign
2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT
As I complete my term as Board President of the Friends of the Katy Trail, I want to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to serve this remarkable organization and the city it supports. It has been a privilege to work alongside a dedicated board, committed staff, and a passionate community of users and supporters who make the Katy Trail such a special part of Dallas.
In 2024, we saw meaningful progress in both preserving and enhancing the Trail. In January, we launched a major restoration effort focused on replanting native species and reinforcing the natural beauty that defines the Katy Trail experience We proudly opened Staubach Pass at Harvard, a new connection point that improves access and pays tribute to a Dallas icon, Roger Staubach. Later in the year, we completed critical repairs to the soft-surface path to ensure runners and walkers a safer and more comfortable journey.
The Katy Trail continues to thrive as a civic treasure and an essential greenway threading through the heart of our city. What began as a visionary rails-to-trails effort has grown into a nationally recognized model of urban trail design, stewardship, and community impact. Whether you are here for fitness, commuting, socializing, or simply finding peace outdoors, the Trail has become an indispensable part of daily life for residents and a compelling destination for tourists, businesses, and developers alike. The intense and ever growing interest in being near the Trail is a testament to its role in shaping a more connected, walkable, and vibrant Dallas.
This year also saw continued momentum for Katy Trail Art, a growing, multi-year initiative that integrates public art into the Trail experience With pieces being sourced from artists around the globe, this effort is helping elevate the Trail beyond recreation and into a place of culture, inspiration, and storytelling. The art enriches our environment while reflecting the diversity, creativity, and energy of Trail users.
Serving as President during this chapter has been deeply rewarding. The Katy Trail is more than a park; it is a symbol of what is possible when vision, public-private partnership, and civic pride come together. I am proud of the work we have done and even more excited for what lies ahead What makes the Katy Trail so -- it is the community behind it. The energy, support, and olunteers, and city partners make everything possible. Together, dinary: a green artery that pulses through the heart of Dallas, alth and movement, and bringing people together.
es, gives, and believes in the Trail. It is an honor to be part of this
Blake Shipp
President, Friends of the Katy Trail, 2023-2024
PRESIDENT
Blake Shipp* MEMBERS
Kellie Adkins
Bonner Allen
Robyn Bayne
Eric Bing*
Brian Callahan*
Dan Chesnut*
Bela Cooley
Sarah Dodd*
Ken Elmgren
Lara Sorokolit Francis
Michael Frantz
Cricket Griffin*
Faisal Halum
Paul Howell
William H. James
Crystal Jareske
Wade Johns
Suzan Kedron
Adam Mengacci
Preston Paine
Ben Ralston*
Jill Rareshide
Gaby Rawlings
Ruthie Shor*
Baxter Underwood
Newt Walker
Ray Washburne
Peggy Zilbermann*
*Executive Committee
2024 DONORS
$1,000,000+ Estate of Stacey Snyder
$250,000+ The Perot Family
$100,000-$249,000
Anonymous | Lyda Hill Philanthropies | Katy Trail Ice House* | Marilyn Lenox | Steven Rayl and Scot Presley
$50,000 - $99,999
Anonymous | Ben E. Keith Company* | Crowe LLP and Crowe Foundation | Katherine and Bob Penn
$25,000 - $49,999
Anonymous | Patricia Baudendistel | The Budd Family Foundation | Wesley Harder and Mark Pierce
Marti Meyerson and Jamie Hooper | ISN | Pegasus Bank | Janelle and Alden Pinnell | The Pollock Foundation Mary Jane and Frank Ryburn | Ruthie and Alan Shor | Uptown Dallas Inc.
$10,000 - $24,999
Kellie and Les Adkins | Alamo Manhattan | Estate of Dr. Brady Lee Allen | CityVet | Clay Cooley Auto Group | Bela and Chase Cooley | D Magazine* Dallasites101* | Jennifer and John Eagle | Fortress Investment Group | Allison and Jerry Freeman | Goldman Sachs | Robert Hallam, Jr.
Harry S. Moss Foundation | Haynes Boone LLP | Incline Energy | Sarah and William H. James | K18 Biomimetic Hairscience | Katy Trail Weekly* | KERA* Knox Street* | LandPatterns | Stacey and Ken Malcolmson | People Newspapers* | Rowling Foundation | Safe Harbor Marinas | Sewell Automotive Companies
Shell Energy | Daphne and Jay Shipowitz |Summit Trucking | The Terminal at Katy Trail* | Brittany and Baxter Underwood | UT-Southwestern Medical Center Danielle and Tom Walker
*Gift includes in-kind donation
2024 DONORS
$5,000 - $9,999
William Addy, Joseph Eastin & the ISN Charitable Giving Fund | Anonymous | Bess Dickson | BMW Dallas Marathon | Gerald Brady
Jane and Zane Butter | Mary and Dan Chesnut | CityDoc Urgent Care Center | Kendall and Craig Clark | Dallas Mavericks* | The Dallas Morning News* | Dallas Stars
Carol and Sam Dalton | Lillian and Tony Dona | Liete and Mark Eichorn | Mitchell Ellis | Equinox* | Lara and Will Francis | Gables Residential | Cricket Griffin
Faisal Halum and Brian Bolke | Hollywood Feed | Jim Thompson Foundation | Sarah Ketterer and Alan Vorwald | KPMG | Sylvie Legere and Todd Ricketts
Lombardi Family Concepts* | Ann and Chris Mahowald | Marye Law Firm | Melissa Frantz-Ellerman | Jennifer and Jon Mosle | Caroline and Fred Olson
Gwen and Doug Parker | Cindy and Howard Rachofsky | Ralston Outdoor Advertising* | Jill and Michael Rareshide | Thirty377 | Travis Walk/Terrace House
Amy and Les Ware | Heather and Ray Washburne | Paige Whiteside-Bales and Jeff Bales | Willow Bridge Property Company | Peggy and Mark Zilbermann
Ann and Frank Adams | Aster Turtle Creek | Robyn Bayne and Bruce Mamary | Beacon Pointe | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas | Brady | Brooks Running
Catherine Bruff | Lucinda and Barry Buford | Teresa Byrd | Angie and Brian Callahan | Cowboys Fit | Anne and Michael Duffy | DuWest Realty
Eiseman Jewels | William Forbes | Frost Bank | Hillwood Alliance Group | Peter Jones | JuiceLand | Luke’s Locker* | Magnolia Station
MetLife | Leigh and Cy Mills | Jeff Netzer | NOW Massage | Only Facial | Orangetheory Fitness | Jud Pankey | Eric Paulson and Mike McAdams
Nancy Perot and Rod Jones | Bonny-Kate and Ben Ralston | Jennifer and David Rea | Red Bull | Shake Shack | Sally Pian and Ira Silverman | SkinSpirit
Ken Sullivan | The Weil Foundation | Sally Warren and Jeffery Jackson
Ron Adams & Tim Ronan | American Online Giving Foundation | Kate and Art Anderson | Robert Banes | Mike Barhydt | Amy and Brandon
J. Mitchell Bell | Ben E. Keith Foundation | Bergner-Stewart Foundation | Tosha and Randy Bjork | Kevin Brewer | Melisa Buane | Donald Burgio
Charities Aid Foundation of America | Sue Calvery | Canine Country Club and Wellness Center | Linda Carter | Craig Caudle | Matthew Cooper
Mary and Richard Covington | Diana and Robert Cramer | Anne and Kyle Crews | Betsy and Guinn Crousen | Beth and Greg Delagi | Cara and Daniel DeMarco
Joshua Dezube and Heather Waldron | Sarah Dodd | Edward Rose III Family Fund | Julie Edwards | Lacy Eidt | Belinda and Kenneth Elmgren
Haseena Enu and Randy Hulme | Laura and Doug Evans | Karen and Tom Falk | Lisa Fendrich | Alan Folz | Elizabeth Francesconi | Sally Francis and Mark Seibel
Brill and Jason Garrett | Kara Gehan | Jill and Brady Giddens | Brett Govett | Thomas Grojean | Shea Harding | Will Harding | Mary and Kenneth Hargis
Nancy McDonnell Harlin and Robert Harlin | William Hartwell | Ashby Hatch | Monica Haver | Crawford Helbing | Scott Helbing | Marna Helland
Cheryl and Bill Henry | David Hensel | Lisa and Doug Hickok | Luann Harrell Hicks | Highland Park ER | Marguerite Hoffman | Jackie and Paul Howell
Miles Hunt | Andrew Huynh | Sue Krider | Kathleen and Frank Lauinger | LIV Golf | Samuel Todd Maclin | Kevin Maguire | Gwyn and Wilson Mason
Mike McDonald | Alicia and Kevin McGlinchey | Michelle Meiches | Kay Y. Moran | Thayer and Joseph O’Brien | Keith B. Ohnmeis | Henry Ondrusek
One Sweat | David Perkins | Phase One Part II HOA, Inc. | Melanie and Eric Pinker | Chris Pitzer | Playkout | Dianna Querbes | Riva Rahl | Robin Reidy
Jan and Jeff Rich | Veronica Rink | Randol Rodgers | Lysa and Greg Rohan | Deedie Rose | Kit and Kemp Sawers | Elizabeth Seabury | Site Selection Group
Sharon and Wayne Smith | Landon Smith | Faye and Michael Smith | Macey Stabno | Gayle Stoffel | Stonewall Protection Group
The Hersh Foundation/Ken Hersh and Regen Horchow | The Intown Chabad | The McNeel Family Foundation | Peter Miller| Joni and Forrest Tunnell
Michael Violi | Newt Walker | Jane Wansley | James Warren | Lori and Dr. David Watkins | John Watson | Steve and Anne Welch | Collin Wilson
Bean
2024 DONORS
$500 - $999
Leah Abraham | Lisa C. & Edward F. Ahnert | Frederick Albrecht | Alex and Logan Amheiser | Logan Angel | Anne and Larry Angelilli | Anonymous | Bank of America
Barry Steinhart Giving Fund | Dr. Barbara Baxter | Philip Bell | Nancy Benefield | Autumn and Brian Berryman | Boss Exotics* | Greg Brandt
Stephanie and Bennie Bray | Edward Burger | Carla Calabrese | Jim Carpenter | Kevin Clock | Timothy Collins | Calvert Collins-Bratton and Vince Bratton
Brent Cooper | Nina Cortell and Bob Fine | Kendall and Christina Cotten | Charles Sedgewick Cox | John Crispo | David Curry | Carolyn and Troy Daniel
Tiffany Divis | Sandy and Roger Dorf | Madeline and Andy Dvorocsik | Brian Eigel | David Emenheiser | Pat Faubion | Shawn Frotten | Patricia and Tom Galas
Kara Gehan | Murray and Storrow Gordon | Mark Gregor-Pearse | Amanda and Brandon Hawkins | Patricia Hendricks | John A. Henry | Emitom Hillsman
Natascha Hood | Janet and Thomas Horton | Wendy and Michael Jenkins | Kaleta Blaffer Johnson | Alan L Jones | Carole and Chris Jordan | Kimber Kadesky
Kimberly and Kent Casey | Dr. Charles B. Key | Allan Kogan | Cindy Kozmetsky | Heather Kummerer | Mike Leamer | Jason Lenox and Matt Taylor
Mary and John Lessman | William Lumry | Donald L. Luskin | Denise Lynn | Leslie MacLean | Jennifer Marrinucci | Lynn McBee | Branda Meloy | Kayla Meyer
Jarett Mirecki | Kathy and Tim Mortenson | Patricia Gaye Morton | Alexandra Muck | Jane and John M. Mullen | Katy Murray | Anne and Lowell Nelson
Kim Noltemy Charles Ostermann | Maureen and John Mike Parks | Catherine Parsley | Stan Pennock | Perna Family Charitable Fund | Heidi and Tim Perry
Thomas Quigley | Julie and Eliot Raffkind | Olivia Boyce Rafkin and Andrew Rafkin | Marcia and Bill Rafkin | Barbara and Doug Ralston | Joe Redman | Betty Regard
Denise Ring | Sandra Roberdeau | Lisa and John Rocchio | Richard Rosalez | Lizzie and Dan Routman | J D Sandfort | Tina Santizo | William Saplicki
Richard Schene | Kathy and John Seymour | Patricia Shires | Brian Smith | Biff Sturgess | Michael Tannery | Jody and John Temple | Alma Terry
Texas Instruments Foundation | The 3525 Condominiums Council | The Michael Donnino Family Fund | Becky and Brad Todd | Kay and David Walker
Cynthia and Joe Williams | Christen and Derek Wilson | Shawna Wilson and Thomas Frei
