On September 23, the Allen City Council accepted A&C Construction Inc.’s $1.1 million contract for the Watters Trail South Extension project.
The quarter-mile addition will connect the current trail termination points at Montgomery Apartments at Watters Creek with the future Rowlett Trail, which is nearing completion. For more than 20 years, the project has been a top priority in Allen, Collin County, and regional master plans.
“This section of trail is by far the most requested connection,” said Parks and Recreation Director Kate Meacham. “So, this has been identified for over 20 years as a key connector between not only Plano and Allen, but eventually this also connects up into McKinney.”
According to Meacham, the community has expressed overwhelming support for this proposal.
“The community has asked for this since the first day I got here,” she told me.
The extension will feature trail repairs through the Watters Creek Commercial District, a pedestrian bridge across a natural drainage route, and the use of low-maintenance, sustainable materials.
Meacham regarded the building region as “very complicated” but underlined its natural beauty.
“It is a lovely setting. If you’ve been down into the areas that we do have, it’s really wooded, gorgeous, and cool in the summer — as cool as Texas can get in the trees — but it’s a lovely link,” she said.
The project will connect mixed-use commercial complexes with residential areas, reducing reliance on vehicles. Once completed, it will connect Spirit Park on Ridgeview to The Courses at Watters Creek.
The $1.1 million construction cost will be financed through:
Allen Community Development Corporation has $961,072. Collin County Parks and Open Space Grant: $139,428.
The project has a construction timeframe of 195 days, with completion expected in April or May 2026.
The Watters Trail extension represents the initial stage of a bigger trail network expansion. The Rowlett Trail project, worth $4.5 million in funding, is slated to go before the council in January 2026, with construction starting in April.
“We’ll be completing the north-south component of the Watters Trail just as we’re getting ready to start construction on the Rowlett Trail, so it’ll be continuation construction over the next two to three years.”
Meacham stated.
The Rowlett Trail Project includes:
The Texas Department of Transportation administered a $3.2 million federal grant. Collin County awards a $1 million grant $300,000 from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Construction documents for the Rowlett Trail have been submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for evaluation, which can take up to 90 days.
A&C Construction was chosen as the lowest-responsive bidder. While the company has not completed any trail work for Allen, it has just completed the Heritage Village pavilion and train depot cover projects for the city. The organization has trail construction experience in Irving and Grand Prairie.
“This is a very exciting time for us,” Meacham said, pointing out that the project is the culmination of years of planning.
