With little discussion, City Council last week approved amendments to environmental protections to clear the way for capital improvements on the popular hike-and-bike trail at Lady Bird Lake. The code changes allow for exemptions from critical water quality zone rules protecting Lady Bird Lake, thus giving the Trail Conservancy the ability to make upgrades to […]
The Trail Foundation
Posted inParks
City, conservancy moving ahead with Rainey Street safety improvements
The Parks and Recreation Department has proposed up to $1 million in permanent infrastructure improvements to enhance public safety along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail in the Rainey Street District. A memo released last week by department Director Kimberly McNeeley informed City Council and Mayor Kirk Watson of the progress made on short-term […]
Posted inCity Hall
Ethics commission dismisses complaints over Zilker Park votes
The Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan continues to generate controversy. This week, accusations about the motivations of two of the plan’s supporters came before the Ethics Review Commission. In April, Austinite Teri Adams filed two complaints with the Ethics Review Commission. One was against Hanna Cofer, a member of the Environmental Commission and chief operating […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Council approves code amendments to allow for future Butler Trail improvements
City Council passed a resolution last week to initiate a set of Land Development Code amendments that will allow for safety and mobility improvements to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail. The item passed on the consent agenda at Council’s regular meeting May 18. Sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis, the […]
Posted inParks
Trail Conservancy seeks Council feedback on annual programming plan
This week City Council will consider an item to approve the Trail Conservancy’s 2022 annual programming plan for the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail at Town Lake Metropolitan Park. This update on annual programming at the trail comes as a condition of the agreement Council signed with the Trail Conservancy in June. […]
Posted inParks
With new lakeside access, Lady Bird Lake trail is ‘finally fully complete’
The city of Austin has officially opened a new section of the hike and bike trail along Lady Bird Lake. The quarter-mile stretch of trail connects what officials said was the last remaining gap in the 10-mile lakeside loop. Before Wednesday, the trail along the lake’s northeast shore turned away from the water near the […]
Posted inAustin
More public art is headed to the hike-and-bike trail
For the past several years, a moratorium has prevented the installment of any new public artworks in the vicinity of Austin’s hike-and-bike trail and Lady Bird Lake. With the expiration of that moratorium, the Trail Foundation, which has taken over management of the area, is making plans to incorporate more public art into the city’s […]
Posted inParks
Trail Foundation begins major enhancement of Rainey trailhead
The Trail Foundation, which will soon be taking over the management of the city’s hike-and-bike trail, is working on one of its first major enhancements of the trail. The Rainey Street Trailhead, which is situated at the southern end of Rainey Street, will be undergoing a major face-lift, thanks to TTF. The existing park doesn’t […]
Posted inParks
Council puts Trail Foundation in charge of hike-and-bike trail
On Thursday, Austin City Council gave the Trail Foundation authority over the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Town Lake Metropolitan Park. Specifically, Council authorized the Trail Foundation to “negotiate and execute” both the operations and the maintenance of the hike-and-bike trail, a centerpiece of recreation in the city. The eventual passage of the […]
Posted inParks
Trail Foundation and PARD poised to formalize long partnership
The Trail Foundation has been a steady partner of the Parks and Recreation Department since the nonprofit’s 2003 formation, growing out of a community-led effort to enhance the beauty of what is now known as Lady Bird Lake. Now the foundation and PARD are in the final stages of formalizing their long relationship with a […]