October 2011
Lake Travis
Economic Impact Report

Parks – they’re yours to use… enjoy them!

Why do you live in Travis County?  If you are a transplant, what was it that brought you here?  If you have lived in Travis County all of your life, what is it that keeps you here?  Is it the climate?  The nature scenes?  The vistas?  The lakes?  If you are like me, it is “all of the above.”  I can’t get enough of this marvelous region, so this month I decided to dedicate my column to it. 

Travis County owns and/or manages 26 parks which combine to offer approximately 7,300 acres of parkland countywide.  If you are interested in trails, you definitely have your pick of the litter: check out Arkansas Bend, Milton Reimer’s Ranch, Pace Bend, or Sandy Creek to name a few.  Looking to take a refreshing plunge in the water?  Try Hamilton Pool (call ahead to make sure swimming is allowed for the day – 512. 264.2740), Hippie Hollow (clothing optional!), Pace Bend, or Tom Hughes (scuba diving is encouraged!).  If it’s an easy-going day with family and friends that you desire, most parks have picnic tables and barbeque pits.  Consider one of the parks that have areas for sports activities such as volleyball at Bob Wentz Park or basketball at Fritz Hughes Park.  For a more comprehensive listing of the parks available in Travis County, including the parks’ amenities, visit our website at: http://www.co.travis.tx.us/tnr/parks/default.asp. 

I would like to shine a spotlight on a couple of extraordinary facilities in our precinct.  The Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve is managed by St. Edwards University, though Travis County owns the land and helps to underwrite its operations.  The Preserve is located off of Loop 360 and offers an amazing variety of educational programs and recreation for all ages from programs on birding, forestry, and flintknapping to concerts and astronomy tours.  Check it out at http://www.wildbasin.org/index.lasso.  It is not to be missed!

In addition to the typical recreational activities that are abundant in Central Texas, Travis County houses some sites that are extremely rich in history.  Nameless School in Jonestown is a one-room school house that was built in 1909.  It closed in 1945 and has been preserved as it was 55 years ago.  It reopened in April 2009 after being restored, and I encourage you to check it out.  Nameless School is already an established meeting spot for groups such as the Extension Education Association as well as local-area quilters.  It is also a great idea for a field trip for youngsters.  In fact, one kindergarten class recently experienced a morning of lessons in the one-room schoolhouse, complete with the pot belly stove, teacher’s desk, closets and the same old blackboard that was there when the schoolhouse closed in 1945.  If you are interested in visiting Nameless School, contact Genny Kercheville, at 512.267.1455. 
 
In the meantime, Travis County and the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) have begun to map out a “blueprint” for what our parks should look like in the future.  I invite you all to review the Lake Travis Master Plan document, available at http://www.co.travis.tx.us/tnr/parks/pdf_files/LakeTravis_DraftMasterPlan.pdf, and submit any comments you might have to Wendy.Scaperotta@co.travis.tx.us.  Public comments will be accepted through June 16th.

These are YOUR parks.  Your swimming holes, trails, campsites, and baseball fields.  As Travis County residents and taxpayers, you truly are the stewards of these parks.  So enjoy!  With summer here, there is no better time to experience the awesome outdoor resources available to you. 

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