Runners, walkers, strollers and cyclists on three trails connecting West Dallas, the Design District and Victory Park have a new spot to link up. 

The Loop — a massive 50-mile circuit connecting Dallas neighborhoods — is unveiling a new gathering place near American Airlines Center this week. 

All the construction barriers and traffic cones will give way to an elevated pedestrian and bike bridge. 

Underneath is a new green space for residents to socialize and take a breather. 

The opening comes at a time when “a lot of decisions” are being made about “where we’re going as a city,” said Philip Hiatt Haigh, the executive director of The Loop. 

For the past decade, the nonprofit organization has been working with private and public groups to add 11 miles to an existing 39-mile trail system in a circle around the city. 

The makings of the project began with an early conversation with former Mayor Mike Rawlings and former parks director Willis Winters. Jeff Ellerman, one of the Loop’s board members and early boosters, said Winters had shown him a map of a possible trail circuit around the city. 

At the time, Ellerman said making the project a reality was “very aspirational, not realistic” and had no money attached to it. 

The project faced challenges. Some of the land between these trails was in a floodplain or in conflict with utility and rail lines. 

The Loop had to acquire land, design trails around restrictions, raise money and build bridges to make it work. 

Officials raised private and public dollars from the city and the federal government to kick off construction. They replaced an aging bridge in Pleasant Grove over the highway to connect trails. Before that, pedestrians had to brave walking inches from speeding cars to get their closest grocery store. 

“It’s connecting Dallas to Dallas, which is our mantra,” Ellerman said.

The group has since linked the Santa Fe and White Rock Lake trails to connect Deep Ellum and East Dallas. 

Residents can cut through southern Dallas without ever getting into their cars using the Loop-built Trinity Forest Spine Trail. 

The trail branches into a system that goes toward Joppa and South Dallas. Go north through Oak Cliff to end up near the historic La Bajada neighborhood in West Dallas. 

The organization plans to launch the Discovery Gateway on the Sylvan Avenue bridge this year. 

But for now, residents can check out the new plaza Tuesday in Victory Park.