Comal County Conservation Alliance (CCCA)
  • HOME
    • Who We Are >
      • Awards
    • Why We Care
    • Mission & Goals
    • Committees
    • Comal Land Conservation Fund
    • Board of Directors
    • Partners
  • Take Action
    • Focus On El Rancho Cima
    • Writing To Get Published
    • Support Our Supporters
  • Monthly Spotlight
    • Trees
    • Birds
    • Hiking Trails
    • Hunting & Fishing
    • Night Skies
    • Precious Water
  • 2021 Events
    • 2021 Past Events
    • 2020 Events
    • 2019 Events >
      • 2019 Landowner Workshop
      • 2019 Celebration for Conservation
      • Gallery 2019
    • 2018 Events >
      • 2018 Celebration for Conservation
  • Library
    • Blog
    • For Kids
    • Health & Nature
    • HZ Columns
    • HZ LTEs & OPEDs
    • Land
    • Success Stories
    • Sundries
    • Videos & Webinars
    • Water
    • Wildlife
  • Donate

Hays County Aims At Enhancing Connectivity, Recreation Options With Cape's Pond Project

7/31/2020

 
Picture
Hays County acquired 28.7 acres of property near the San Marcos river located just east of Interstate 35 and south of River Road, which it plans to use for a project aimed at regional connectivity and recreation options for county residents. Photo courtesy of Hays County 

Mon, 07/27/2020 - 6:31pm
Nick Castillo
Managing Editor
@Nick_Castillo74
ncastillo@sanmarcosrecord.com

Hays County is aiming at enhancing and expanding regional connectivity and recreation options for county residents with the acquisition of 28.7 acres of property near the San Marcos River.

The county acquired the land located just east of Interstate 35 and south of River Road for the Cape’s Pond Project through a 2018 transportation bond. 
Hays County General Counsel Mark Kennedy said in a press release that the project was discussed as a “key land acquisition to provide multi-modal transportation connectivity between currently disconnected areas of San Marcos and local hike and bike trail systems, including those that are in the planning stages.”

After Kennedy, Precinct 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe and other county officials met with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the project added a new goal, the county said. 

The project has a fish hatchery that is contiguous to the pond property. Those 16 years old and younger can fish for free and any fish that meets Freshwater Bag and Length Limits can be taken and eaten. 

“The Parks and Wildlife Department suggested that the pond could qualify for a TPWD grant program known as ‘Neighborhood Fishin,’ which provides alternative outdoor recreational opportunities for local families — and children in particular,” Kennedy said in a statement. 

Ingalsbe said that, while she’s pleased about the addition of the fishing program, the connectivity that served as the original conception of the property is “vitally important.” 

“County Road 299, also known as Cape Road, is quite dangerous for any form of transportation other than cars,” Ingalsbe said in a statement. “Installing trails along this route would connect neighborhoods on the east side of San Marcos to existing trail systems that, after the IH-35 underpass project is complete, will connect all parts of San Marcos.”

Picture
Additionally, the Emerald Crown Trail, which will originate in Kyle and will link with the Violet Crown Trail in Austin, will end only a couple hundred feet downstream of the Cape’s Pond Project, the county said. 

“Connection to that trail system would connect San Marcos to much of the region,” Ingalsbe said. She added that the project has environmental positives, such as a riparian area along the river, bank stabilization and additional ecological benefits. The property will also be developed with a small carbon footprint, minimal parking and low impervious cover, Ingalsbe said. 

The Precinct 1 Commissioner stated that the project has been submitted to the Hays County Parks and Outdoor Spaces Advisory Committee for inclusion in a possible 2020 bond project. The county’s POSAC will deliver recommendations on prospective parks and open space projects at Tuesday’s Hays County Commissioners Court meeting at 1 p.m. 

The San Marcos River Foundation has expressed support of the Cape’s Pond Project, the county said. SMRF Executive Director Virginia Condie said the county’s land acquisition is an important purchase for county residents. 
 
“SMRF is thrilled that the county purchased this property on the east side of I-35,” Condie said in a statement. “Located across the river from Stoke's Park and adjacent to the fish hatchery, it has trees, beautiful wildflower fields, spectacular river frontage and a very large pond. The neighborhoods in the area will be very happy to see this become a park with fishing access and protection of the riverbank.”

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    July 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    January 2018

Home
Who We Are
   ° Awards
Why We Care
Mission & Goals
Committees

​Board of Directors
Comal Land Conservation Fund
Partners
Take Action
Focus on El  Rancho Cima
Writing To Get Published
​
Volunteer
Support Our Supporters
​
2021 Events
2021 Past Events
2020 Events

2019 Events
   ° 2019 Landowner Workshop
   ° 2019 Celebration for Conservation
   ° Gallery 2019
​2018 Events

   ° 2018 Celebration for Conservation
Monthly Spotlight
Trees
Birds

Hiking Trails
​Hunting & Fishing
Night Skies
Precious Water


Library
Blog
​
For Kids
Health & Nature
​HZ Columns
HZ LTE's/OpEds
​Land
Success Stories
Videos & Webinars
Water
Wildlife
​
DONATE
Contact Us: info@comalconservation.org
Mailing Address: Comal County Conservation Alliance — PO Box 2804 — Canyon Lake, TX 78133
Facebook: ​https://www.facebook.com/ComalCCAlliance/
Twitter: @ComalCCAlliance
  • HOME
    • Who We Are >
      • Awards
    • Why We Care
    • Mission & Goals
    • Committees
    • Comal Land Conservation Fund
    • Board of Directors
    • Partners
  • Take Action
    • Focus On El Rancho Cima
    • Writing To Get Published
    • Support Our Supporters
  • Monthly Spotlight
    • Trees
    • Birds
    • Hiking Trails
    • Hunting & Fishing
    • Night Skies
    • Precious Water
  • 2021 Events
    • 2021 Past Events
    • 2020 Events
    • 2019 Events >
      • 2019 Landowner Workshop
      • 2019 Celebration for Conservation
      • Gallery 2019
    • 2018 Events >
      • 2018 Celebration for Conservation
  • Library
    • Blog
    • For Kids
    • Health & Nature
    • HZ Columns
    • HZ LTEs & OPEDs
    • Land
    • Success Stories
    • Sundries
    • Videos & Webinars
    • Water
    • Wildlife
  • Donate