On October 2, 2004, an historic event took place in southwest Austin.Seventy-five people representing neighborhood associations, environmental groups, developers, businesses, professional planners and other community groups spent all day Saturday at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center developing visions for greenbelt and trail connections in southwest Austin. The area considered for a new greenbelt trail is roughly between the Barton Creek Greenbelt and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Informative and succinct morning presentations laid the intellectual groundwork to put the rest of the day's planning in context. Special thanks to Dr. Fritz Steiner, Dean of the UT School of Architecture served as our event host and helped both introduce the day’s learning and wrap up our lessons learned at the end of the day. Kudos to Robin Loving, our professional facilitator who helped us keep on track through the whole day.

Topics covered included:

• The National Planning Experience - greenbelt and trail projects from around the US and the world Dean Fritz Steiner, UT School of Architecture
• Sunset Valley's success balancing development with conservation, integrating trails and greenbelts - Mayor Pro-Tem Cat Quintanilla, Sunset Valley City Council
• Design principles that blend development, environmental conservation and community features. Examples: The Walters Southwest Company, Stratus and Cardinal Paragon - Steve Beers, Save Barton Creek Association
• Circle C's trail planning process and successes Russ Hodes - Circle C Ranch home owner
• Funding sources for bikeways and proposed Safe Routes to School legislation - Robin Stallings, Executive Director of the Texas Bicycle Coalition
• Overview of Austin Metro Trails & Greenways and Austin Bikeways existing and planned trails and bikeways through, and features of a safe crossing - David Foster, Clean Water Action, Envision Central Texas, Liveable City
• Walk for a Day concept, Water Quality preserve lands - Permitted uses and Stakeholder process Mary Gay Maxwell, City of Austin Environmental Board, Hill Country Foundation
• Aquifer 101 Jennee Galland, Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District

Map expert Heidi Dues introduced the concept of Green Infrastructure. She oriented participants to the multi-dimensional maps that would be used during the workshop. Groups were instructed to look at creating a system of hubs (parks and other green space) and links (trails, bike paths and connected greenbelts).

The project was originally conceived by Steve Beers as an initiative to ensure the preservation of a north-south greenbelt corridor before the last undeveloped private land was developed in that area. Conference participants turned the workshop into a community visioning process to gather ideas for connecting the existing trails, creeks, schools, major activity centers and parks with a network of trails. More than 30 groups have endorsed the concept of planning a connected trail and greenbelt system for this area.

Endorsers include:
Austin Cycling Association, Austin Independent Business Alliance, Austin Metro Trails and Greenways, Austin Neighborhoods Council, Austin Parks Foundation, Austin Ridge Riders Mountain Bike Club, Barton Hills Neighborhood Association, Barton View Neighborhood Association, Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, Bicycle Sport Shop, Cardinal Paragon Inc., Central Texas Trail Tamers, Cherry Creek on Brodie Lane Neighborhood Association, Circle C Home Owners Association, City of Sunset Valley, Clean Water Action, Envision Central Texas, Liveable City, Oak Hill Association of Neighborhoods, Oak Hill Gazette, Save Barton Creek Association, Save Our Springs Alliance, Sierra Club Austin Regional Group, Southwood Neighborhood Association, Stratus Properties, Texas Bicycle Coalition, Texas Community Project, Trans Texas Alliance, Trust for Public Land, Walters Southwest Company, Yates Cattle, and Zilker Neighborhood Association.

Seven maps were generated showing different scenarios for potential trails. Some looked more like a main artery with feeder arterioles, some looked more like a ladder with two dominant outside routes with connectors running more or less between them. Others more closely resembled a lattice-work with an intricate web of connections between activity centers all over the region.

MAPS

Bravo and thank you to our small group facilitators for helping lead the participants to such great "finished" products. These maps and accompanying notes will be a great foundation for creating actual plans that will translate into real trails that will serve current and future generations for Austinites and visitors.

• David Foster
• Paul K. Johnston
• Danielle Pieranunzi
• Cat Quintanilla
• Dean Fritz Steiner
• Steve Williams
• Ellen Wyoming

Thanks to our event sponsors (in alphabetical order)

• Bicycle Sport Shop
• Cardinal Paragon, Inc.
• Drenner, Stuart, Wolfe, Metcalfe, von Kreisler, L.L.P.
• Grassroots Solutions
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
• Oak Hill Gazette
• Save Barton Creek Association
• Save Our Springs Alliance
• Stratus Properties
• Texas Bicycle Coalition
• Walters Southwest Company

Many thanks to everyone who has expressed an interest in this project and/or offered support and input. Anyone who is interested but did not attend the event is encouraged to jump in now - this will be a long process.