Longview cuts the ribbon Friday on an additional 9,200 feet of the Paul G. Boorman Multi-Use Trail.

The opening ceremony is scheduled at 10 a.m. at the Boorman trailhead, 2422 H.G. Mosley Parkway just east of Bill Owens Parkway. The public is invited to attend and tour the trail.

It is the second phase of the Boorman Trail, which stretches uninterrupted between Loop 281 and Fairmont Street alongside Grace Creek. Combined with the trail's first phase between Fairmont and West Marshall Avenue, the trail now totals 2.85 miles, the city said.

"The expansion of the trail is a wonderful asset for the Longview park system. Trails are almost always near the top of our resident surveys," said Community Services Director Laura Hill. "This particular section of the trail is going to be a beautiful setting for daily recreation and special events."

The trail is named for former Parks and Recreation Division Manager and Community Services Director Paul Boorman, who worked 25 years for the city.

The Boorman Trail's first phase opened in June 2007 after an 11-month, $1.68 million construction project by East Texas Bridge of Longview, with $1.28 million provided through a Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program grant. The remaining funds were derived from the city's early debt retirement.

The second phase took 17 months to complete beginning in June 2009. Northstar Construction of Fort Worth constructed the second phase under a $3.15 million contract. It includes two pedestrian bridges crossing Grace Creek and a trail underpass at H.G. Mosley Parkway.

KSA Engineers designed both phases of the trail. It has five main trail entrances: 121 Summers Drive near Loop 281; 2422 H.G. Mosley Parkway; 1505 Princeton Avenue near Fairmont Street; 200 Bill Owens Parkway at Lois Jackson Park; and 919 W. Marshall Ave.

Hill said the city's master plan includes expanding Boorman Trail south of Marshall Avenue through Southeast Longview to Birdsong Street near West Loop 281, and connecting Boorman Trail with Guthrie and Cargill trails in eastern and central Longview.