Staff Report
KYLE — Kyle’s newest trail project, the Vybe, is aiming to design and construct an 80-mile paved path to connect all neighborhoods in Kyle to business, recreation and entertainment destinations.
In September 2021, Kyle City Council approved a Citywide Trails Master Plan that prioritized trail-oriented development that works independently and with developers to create an over 80-mile network of trails connecting across the city.
Council also recently voted to approve items that will further the progress of the Vybe trail system and expand the city’s natural trail system by funding engineering services, amending city code as it relates to the project and allowing for golf cart use on the trail to make travel easier, safer and more reliable.
The goal of the Vybe is to improve connectivity throughout the city to recreation, commerce and unique experiences through individual “vybes” throughout the trail where visitors can shop, eat and access amenities like parking and restrooms. The paved path and trail developments will serve as an extension of the city’s park and transportation systems.
Other additions will include 12-foot-wide paved, illuminated and ADA accessible paths, bird watching stations, kiosks, benches, Wi-Fi and golf cart parking and charging stations. There will also be multiple entrance points along the path to enable easy access throughout the city.
The trail system will also intersect with the Emerald Crown Trail, which connects Austin to San Antonio through the collaborative Great Springs project.
“We’re hoping this expansion of our trail system will not only serve as an extension of the city’s park system but also connect people from all over the city to recreation and unique experiences,” Mayor Travis Mitchell said. “It is ultimately an investment in our residents’ quality of life.”
The initial funding for the project will come from the approved capital improvement program (CIP) budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2022, the $2 million bond Kyle residents approved in 2020 for east Kyle trails, and potentially $2 million from Hays County.
While the project is still in its planning/study phase, the city is conducting a consumer interest survey. Visit www.CityofKyle.com/Vybe to take the survey or to learn more about the trail system.
