The cities Keller, Roanoke and northeast Fort Worth have a variety of trails and hiking areas for the outdoor enthusiast or for those who are interested in getting outside and exploring. 

Check out 12 trails and walking paths in the area. This list is not comprehensive.

Keller
Big Bear Creek Greenbelt
This asphalt trail has more than five miles of walking and biking space with many recreational opportunities. The greenway leads to several city parks, including Keller Sports Park, Milestone Park and Bear Creek Park, which also serve as access points to the trail.

• Trail length: 5.4 miles
• Trail type: hiking, biking, skating

Keller ISD’s board of trustees unanimously approved its academic calendar for the 2026-27 school year at a regular meeting Dec. 18.

What you need to know: The 2026-27 calendar has the following notable dates:

• Aug. 12, 2026: start of fall semester
• Oct. 12-16, 2026: fall break
• Nov. 23-27, 2026: Thanksgiving break
• Dec. 21, 2026-Jan. 6, 2027: winter break
• Mar. 15-19, 2026: spring break
• May 26, 2027: end of spring semester

Two clean-energy financial groups are investing $3.6 million into a new Denton industrial complex that will house six buildings.

Petros PACE Finance—which finances energy conservation measures for retrofits, redevelopments and new construction of commercial properties—and Lone Star PACE—which promotes Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy, or C-PACE, financing in Texas—are spearheading the effort, according to a Dec. 18 news release.

What’s happening? The 107,000-square-foot project is designed to help Denton and North Texas’s population and business growth with the large industrial space.

C-PACE financing will fund the energy-efficient buildings and their lighting systems, with the effort reducing energy by up to 37% annually, according to the release. This is designed to reduce operating costs while enhancing asset performance in the long run.

The backstory: C-PACE is a financial service that allows property owners to fund energy efficiency, water conservation and renewable energy enhancements through a voluntary assessment of the property, according to the release.

This November, Texas voters approved 17 constitutional amendments, also known as state propositions. Here’s what’s next for some of those propositions and what they mean for Texans.

The overview: Texas voters authorized the state to spend $1 billion annually on water supply funding, totaling $20 billion over a two-decade period, through Proposition 4. Funding will flow into the Texas Water Fund, a state account created in 2023 to help finance water projects.

However, state law requires that the money does not begin moving into the water fund until September 2027, and it will not be available for grants until 2029. Until then, state agencies, water utilities and local organizations will need to plan for funding, adjust rules and processes to align with recent state laws and update Texas’ water and flood plans, according to the Texas Water Foundation.

More details: Texas homeowners were set to see expanded property tax breaks on their 2025 tax bills under Propositions 11 and 13. Four other property tax exemptions approved by voters will take effect Jan. 1.