by G Edds / 0 Comments / 391 View / August 7, 2016

By David Tuma

Publisher

A new trail will be finished in Belton. The Nolan Creek Nature Trail near the Martin Luther King Bridge will open in mid-August. It will be a ½ mile nature trail along-side Nolan Creek. This stretch of Nolan Creek is a hidden gem. There is no question because of the remoteness near the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor campus you won’t know where you are at.

It is simply untouched in the area. There will be eight parking places with handicap access on the East Side of the MLK Bridge. Basically UMHB side of Nolan Creek. It will have a bird watching area. Storyboards will be placed throughout the trail system describing the plants, trees an animals.

A few picnic tables will be near the parking lot. Because it was former trail for the area and a low water crossing is nearby there is an abundance of fish in the creek. Even a few big catfish can be seen.

Crushed asphalt recycled by TxDOT was used to make the 4-foot-wide trail. It is eight inches deep so the trail is here to stay. The City of Belton is going to plant wildflowers along the trail system. There will be flowers for spring, summer and fall based on when they bloom naturally.

Kayak’s are big part of Nolan Creek’s white water area. There will be a kayak entry point near the trail. This was part of the white water grant the city received a few years ago. City crews began working on the trail in May and work should be finished in August. Concrete work will be completed this week.

Horseshoe pits were required by TxDOT. The actual address of the start of the trail is 1151 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue.

“It (nature trail) gives you a very secluded feel,” said Matt Bates Recreation and Events Director.

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