City planners and developers hope to link the Trinity River corridor's trees and green fields with the contrasting downtown Dallas skyline. At the heart of the project is Trammell Crow Park, which was the setting Saturday for the annual Trinity River Levee Run.

G.J. MCCARTHY/DMN

Runners raced along the Trinity River near Trammell Crow Park on Saturday during the Trinity River Levee Run. The construction on the corridor is expected to be finished by 2014.

Recruits from Dallas Fire-Rescue and the Dallas Police Department – along with interested runners – competed in 10K and 2-mile races.

The event, sponsored by the city of Dallas and several corporate partners, benefited the Trinity Commons Foundation and the Dallas Running Club.

Saturday's run was the fourth at the park but the first in which participants could see construction progress on the Trinity River project, including the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.

"The bond program [was] passed in 1998 to upgrade lakes, flood protection and environmental restoration. It's been a long time since they have seen real construction work, and today's race takes them by some," said Rebecca Dugger, director of the Trinity River project.

Runners passed the bridge, the first of several that will connect the corridor with downtown.

Additional projects will add foot trails, playing fields, an amphitheater and support for wetlands and lakes.

Race director Roger Foster said participants were eager to see the construction and looked forward to future events in the park.

"The first time I ran this course, I looked up and saw the hawks flying," Mr. Foster said. "Then I look up and see the skyline. This is the closest thing Dallas has to Central Park."

A competition was set up between fire and police recruits. Race times for both men and women were averaged to determine the winner.

Victory on Saturday went to the fire recruits, who finished the race in an average time of 41 minutes, 9 seconds, said Taryn Brown, senior public information officer for the city. The police recruits finished with an average time of 41 minutes, 53 seconds.

Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle, who ran the 10K, said the event helped to increase awareness of the park and gave recruits a chance to interact with the public.

"This is different than anything I run," he said. "You're in the dirt and right on the rivers. I believe in the future of this city, and this will be the center of its development."

Dallas Fire Chief Eddie Burns also competed in the event.

"This is a healthy competition between public servants," he said. "It helps us stay healthy and fit and gives them a chance to meet each other."

In addition to the race, Dallas City Council member David Neumann provided an update on the project and its construction.

Ms. Dugger said that construction on the corridor will be finished by 2014.

"We always have the run," she said. "But this year we've got the competition. Having public figures give us their support gives more credibility to what we're doing."