Austin and the Trail Foundation make it official

The Trail Foundation and the Parks and Recreation Department announced Tuesday that an agreement giving the foundation more responsibility for the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail had been executed. City Council gave its blessing to the agreement, which transfers operations and maintenance of the trail and some adjacent parkland to TFF, in October. According to a press release from the city, key points of the new agreement include the following stipulations:

• The parkland will always remain public property owned by the city.
• TTF will have more opportunities to host programming and family-friendly events along the trail, including live musical performances such as its weekly Music on the Trail series, volunteer opportunities, fitness activations, etc. The trail itself will never be closed for events.
• TTF has created an extensive operations and maintenance plan that includes plantings, tree care, trail edge maintenance and more to beautify and restore ecological growth.
• TTF will continue to expand its organizational capacity and private funding to manage and pay for its new role and phased plans.

“The city of Austin has always been a wonderful partner in helping advance initiatives on the trail,” Heidi Anderson, CEO of the Trail Foundation, said in a statement to the press. “Because of the city’s trust in the organization, TTF will now be able to better support and serve the trail and our community. The trail is an iconic Austin landmark, and we are excited to invest even further and deliver an incredible experience for neighbors and visitors alike to get out and enjoy nature.”