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HIKING TRAILS
"After a day’s walk, everything has twice its usual value." — G.M. Trevelyan
Frank Dietz, Comal County resident
CCCA Board Member
Herald Zeitung monthly columnist
Try a Trail, or Two or Three ...!
July 20, 2020
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Some friends and colleagues have mentioned their frustration in seeking away from home options while remaining distanced and quarantined in this "selah season." They've mentioned their appreciation for my/our circumstances living as we do with wild and pasture life as our primary neighbors. My suggestions have included, "why not try a trail suited for your interest, ability and purposes!"
We in New Braunfels and Comal County are blessed with local trail options as well as a broader Hill Country context which multiplies the options exponentially both for hiking and biking. There are some excellent resources to pursue. Most local would be the Comal Trails Alliance (comaltrails.org). They identify some nearby options and invite participation in trail development and maintenance as well. Find your comfort zone and head on out! When I inquired of a small select group of family, friends and colleagues about favorites all of the listings with Comal Trails were on the list. In addition, I was pointed to the rich offerings identified on the All Trails apps for sophisticated phones. Note the options carry with them "degrees of challenge." Nothing is better food for the soul and one's mental health than a stroll under the canopy of a wooded area or alongside a fascinating creek bed. With "our Canyon Lake" so much more begins to open wide. Be sure to prepare for any stroll with a good walking stick and sufficient hydration, especially in our summer months. Use hardy shoes and take your best sunscreen and repellents as well. When I asked my circle for some input about "favorites" I also asked for the modest to wildest dreams of additional options. It doesn't take much to surface bold, reasonable, desirable options. Some suggestions seem |
doable in the short term; others will take long lead in planning and strategy. Among the suggestions that were coming included, "add a wilderness parcel to Fischer Park in New Braunfels." Some are working on that! Two former Boy Scout campers who grew up in the greater Houston area mentioned "our old camp by the 'Backbone' known as El Rancho Cima." One was aware the property was for sale but wasn't aware it is being offered in several parcels. The other wondered if anyone(s) would consider trails and camping for the public. Again, I said some of us seek to address this creatively with the County to help a big dream bloom. Are there readers who'd help? Come aboard via our website! Dry Comal Creek which continues to expand and seeks volunteers got mentioned as well. Possibilities abound! Resources are a tougher challenge. Strong energetic involvement is a current invitation by groups working in the County and City!
Some of this reflection comes as our national summer holiday approaches. The traditional gatherings for many of us will be curtailed or impossible. As an alternative, consider a walk beneath the canopy and absorb the gifts of shade and wonders of frequently ignored gifts in the natural involvement. For me that'll include whistling as I go some of the traditional favorite music for the day such as "America, America the Beautiful, Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "This Land is..." along the way. To be sure, this year will include in the repertoire the timely "We Shall Overcome." The songs in the wooded trail will not mend all that challenges but will lift sights and hopes as the journey continues. Carry a flag if you wish. Join in a safe and distanced way the hikers and bikers this year! Savor the beauty and wonder of this land that is our land! If you have favorite trails in Comal County, modest or bold dreams of additions, take them to our website at comalconservation.org. We'd love to hear from you this way and begin a conversation/discussion. Such dialogue is welcomed and encouraged. |
For Your Health
New Braunfels Seeks Funds for Dry Comal Creek Trail Work
By Steve Knight
May 10, 2021
May 10, 2021
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New Braunfels city leaders hope to take the first step soon toward constructing the Dry Comal Creek hike and bike trail, a project ranked as one of the city’s top strategic priorities.
Officials envision the Dry Comal Creek Greenway as a linear trail park that will connect neighborhoods with local destinations, existing and future trails and provide recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. Plans call for the trail, a 10-foot wide concrete multi-use path with public Americans with Disabilities Act access as well as for bicyclists, walkers and runners, to span about 0.75 miles in length between North Walnut Avenue and Landa Street and about 0.35 miles between Landa Street and Elizabeth Avenue. The project is one section of a larger part of the proposed Dry Comal Creek Greenway that could eventually connect to the Little League ballfields and Loop 337. But a funding source is needed before putting those plans into place. City officials placed the project as its top priority for transportation alternatives funding to the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which is a special funding allocation for bike and pedestrian improvements. “This project has been part of our hike and bike trail vernacular for the last several years,” said Ylda Capriccioso, the city’s park development manager, during a recent presentation to members of the New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation. “We’ve included it in various strategic master plans. We did complete a specific master plan for the Dry Comal Creek Greenway with the National Park Service in 2019. It’s often incorporated into one of the opportunity areas for the hike and bike trail plan. This was one of the projects that qualifies as a good candidate for those transportation alternative dollars.” If awarded for AAMPO funding, the city would be responsible for 20% of the construction match, which is currently estimated at $500,000. The cost for the total project, including design and construction, is estimated at $2.85 million. |
The city completed the preliminary design for the project in 2018.
A proposed project expenditure under consideration, a contract with Bain Medina Bain estimated at $340,960, would fund the project’s final design to include civil, survey, environmental, wayfinding, materials testing and landscape architecture. The NBEDC did not take action on the proposed expenditure, pending the funding decision by AAMPO expected to take place in August. In January, members of the New Braunfels City Council adopted the first update to the hike and bike trail plan since 2010. The plan identifies on and off-street trail connections to neighborhoods, parks, schools and commerce throughout the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. With its significant growth since 2010, the city reevaluated its completed trail inventory, adopted standards for trails, identified new and expanded opportunities to implement the trail vision, and incorporated newly adopted planning studies. The plan also provides staff, elected and appointed officials, the development community and citizens a more accurate picture of current trails and future corridor planning and implementation efforts. The completion of the Dry Comal Creek Trail was ranked sixth out of 16 NBEDC strategic priorities, and this expenditure would mark the first section of the trail’s construction. In a related item, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department received the 2021 Planning Excellence Award for the Dry Comal Creek Greenway Master Plan it conducted with the National Park Service during a city council meeting last month. The award from the Texas Recreation and Park Society recognizes one planning project which displays a high degree of professional analysis, quality planning principles and organizational or city/county/statewide value. The award is also meant to encourage and expand the cooperation between planning consultants and parks and recreation professionals. |
Mikala Compton, Herald Zeitung
City Council Adopts Updated Hike and Bike Plan for New Braunfels
By Steve Knight
Jan 12, 2021
Jan 12, 2021
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New Braunfels City Council members on Monday voted 6-1 adopting an update to the city’s 2010 hike and bike trail plan, which the city will use as a trail and greenway planning tool to enhance its transportation and park network. Council member Harry Bowers cast the sole no vote on the item.
City leaders adopted a hike and bike trail plan in 2010, which identified existing and proposed on- and off-street park connections to neighborhood/community parks, schools, and commerce. That effort was later incorporated in the 2012 Regional Transportation Plan to identify transit and bike/pedestrian needs, alternative transportation networks and connections. However, the city’s population has continued to grow since the adoption, prompting an updated plan to address population growth and the increasing interest in hike and bike trails. “We were trying to refresh that old 10-year outdated map,” said Ylda Capriccioso, the city’s park development manager. “We wanted to make sure that the city’s inventory (of completed trail projects) was reflective of many of the changes that have happened in the last 10 years.” Capriccioso also told council members, the plan update also incorporates newly adopted planning studies, creates a reference guide for standards in New Braunfels based on nationally recognized trail and greenway standards and identifies new trail opportunities. According to the adopted plan, those new trail opportunities include:
Mikala Compton, Herald Zeitung
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The eight areas of future opportunities, according to Capriccioso, are based on 2010 recommendations, the 2017 Park Strategic Plan, Envision New Braunfels, development activities and other city plans. “We did not modify this list (from 2010),” she said. “ We went back through this list with the consultant and internally to say, ‘what kind of information can we provide to make these particular trails more relevant.’” Bowers, who represents District 3 on the city’s northwest side, said he was voting no on the measure because none of the proposed trail opportunities are located in that district. “It’s nothing to do with the work that the (parks and recreation) staff has done or what the consultant has done — I want to make that abundantly clear,” Bowers said. “My vote is not against what the staff is doing, but in good faith, I’m not a fan of excluding a single district from opportunities.” Bowers added that he did not believe the exclusion of projects on the opportunity list was intentional. The update also gives city staff, elected officials, development and residents current information on trail corridor planning efforts and will be a planning tool to assist the city in acquiring land for hike and bike trail corridors. Council members said they would like to revisit city ordinances that prohibit vehicular use, such as ATVs, golf carts or the use of non-maintenance vehicles on hike and bike trails in the near future to determine if stronger language is needed. The plan and interactive maps are available online at www.nbtexas.org/parks. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommended approval of the plan at their meeting on July 21. The Planning Commission approved the plan at their meeting on Sept. 2. |
Hiking Trails in Comal County
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COUNTRY LINE MEMORIAL TRAIL — EASY
New Braunfels County Line Memorial Trail is a 3.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for walking and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail. alltrails.com/trail/us/texas/county-line-memorial-trail CANYON LAKE CHAMGER OF COMMERCE Park at the Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce and enjoy a nice .3 mile stroll just behind the main building. comaltrails.org/trails/ MADRONE TRAIL — DIFFICULT Canyon Lake, TX Nice and rocky 7.6 mile trail that winds it’s way through a peninsula on Canyon Lake. This is a popular mountain biking trail as there are lot of rocky challenges. Cool off in the lake after a hike or ride. Park fee may apply. comaltrails.org/trails/madrone-trail/ MADRONE TRAIL LOOP — EASY Canyon Lake The Madrone Trail Loop is a 1 mile loop in a great forest setting. The trail is good for all skill levels, although it is pretty rocky in sections. Dogs are permitted on this trail. CANYON LAKE GORGE — EASY Canyon Lake Canyon Lake Gorge is a guided 2.6 mile out and back trail offering scenic views and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from March until October. gbra.org/canyonlakegorge/default.aspx JAMES CURRY NATURE CENTER — EASY Canyon Lake (1889 Skyline Drive) James C. Curry Nature Loop is a beautiful 0.9 mile walking trail located on a 52 acre valley near Canyon Lake, Texas that offers the chance to see wildlife and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips. It's open from sunrise to sunset. No motor vehicles are allowed, and please clean up any pet messes. alltrails.com/trail/us/texas/james-c-curry-nature-loop OVERLOOK PARK (CANYON LAKE DAM LOOP) — EASY Canyon Lake Overlook Park trail is a .6 mile loop that encompasses a swimming area and a dam. It's good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from April until September swf-wc.usace.army.mil/canyon/Recreation/Trails/ OLD HANCOCK TRAIL — EASU Canyon Lake Great trail for hiking and horseback riding. Trail follows the lake line and has very little elevation gain. The trail is a good spot for beginner bicyclists who want to try going off-road for the first time. comaltrails.org/trails/old-hancock-trail/ GUADALUPE RIVER SOUTH NATURE TRAIL — MODERATE Canyon Lake Guadalupe Park is located below Canyon Dam along the first mile of the Guadalupe River. It features an ADA-accessible parking lot and trailway with fishing pier on the north side. A foot trail is available along the river on the south side of the park. The river can be accessed from the trails for fishing. Please have a state fishing license. No restroom, camping or picnic facilities are available in the park. Sometimes a portable toilet is provided. The nearest restroom facility is located at nearby Overlook Park near the southern end of Canyon Dam. Overlook Park closes at sunset daily. swfwc.usace.army.mil/canyon/Recreation/Parks/Corpsparks.asp#Guadalupe |
GUADALUPE RIVER STATE PARK
Spring Branch There are many different trails in this wonderful park: hiking trails, walking trails, dogs leash trails and more. Just looking to take a quick stroll? There are nine easy trails in Guadalupe River State Park ranging from 0.7 to 5.1 miles and from 1,062 to 1,233 feet above sea level. Start checking them out and you'll be out on the trail in no time! Entrance Fees Adult: $7 Daily Child 12 Years and Under: Free tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/guadalupe-river KLECK PARK — EASY Spring Branch Kleck Park was donated by the Helena Kleck Vivian Living Trust to Comal County on March 6, 2014. The trails are covered with native mulch and provide a stunning view of the natural hill country beauty. Drinking water is not available, so be sure to bring plenty of water as you enjoy this beautiful gift. Kleck Park is located on Stahl Ln, between FM 1863 & Hwy 46. facebook.com/pages/Kleck-Park/166975713659384 HONEY CREEK STATE NATURAL AREA — MODERATE Spring Branch Entry into Honey Creek is by guided tours only. The diverse geology, flora and fauna make Honey Creek a special place for all visitors using two miles of nature/interpretive trails. No pets are allowed in this State Natural Area. tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/honey-creek PANTHER CANYON NATURE TRAIL — EASY New Braunfels Panther Canyon Nature Trail is a 1.7 mile out and back trail featuring a lake. It's good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, running, nature trips, and bird watching. Dogs on leash are permitted. comaltrails.org/trails/ DRY COMAL CREEK — EASY New Braunfels Dry Comal Creek is a 2.3 kilometer moderately trafficked loop trail that features a great forest setting and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. comaltrails.org/trails/ LANDA PARK LOOP — EASY New Braunfels Landa Park Loop is a 1.2 mile moderately trafficked loop trail that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. alltrails.com/trail/us/texas/landa-park-loop FISCHER PARK LOOP — EASY New Braunfels Fischer Park Loop is a 1.6 mile moderately trafficked loop trail that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and running. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. alltrails.com/trail/us/texas/fischer-park-loop HERITAGE MUSEUM OF TEXAS HILL COUNTRY — EASY The Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country is a multi-acre layout located midway between Startzville and Sattler on FM 2673. While the museum has over 200 dinosaur tracks and 28 separate trackways made approximately 110 million years ago and is a must see, there is also a lovely hiking trail near the museum. Address: 4831 FM 2673, Canyon Lake, Texas 78133 Phone number: 830-899-4542. theheritagemuseum.com/ |
GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT
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Connecting Texas Communities
| texas-trail-study-report.pdf |
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, with the help of other State agencies and partners, have conducted this study to determine the potential for historic, scenic, and/or recreational trails to be created in Texas and also to identify and foster potential partners and strategies to promote local, regional, and statewide development of trails that enhance the lives of all Texans. This study is intended to initiate the conversation about the opportunity for the development of a future statewide system of regionally-connected trails.
This study recognizes that a vision for trail networks in Texas will be ultimately carried out by entities and organizations prioritizing and developing trails at the local and regional level. However, the three state agencies focused on parks, historic sites, and trails within Texas – Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the Texas Historical Commission – do not have a mandate or adequate existing staffing capacity to coordinate the planning and development of a regional or statewide trails network. How, therefore, can and should the State of Texas assist and promote the further development of trails?
This study recognizes that a vision for trail networks in Texas will be ultimately carried out by entities and organizations prioritizing and developing trails at the local and regional level. However, the three state agencies focused on parks, historic sites, and trails within Texas – Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the Texas Historical Commission – do not have a mandate or adequate existing staffing capacity to coordinate the planning and development of a regional or statewide trails network. How, therefore, can and should the State of Texas assist and promote the further development of trails?
Users mill around the trailhead at Eisenhower Park that connects the Salado Creek Trail and the Leon Creek Trail. Daniel Ramirez
San Antonians Can Travel for 40 Straight Miles with New Trail Extension
By Daniel Ramirez
Texas Public Radio
October 6, 2021
Texas Public Radio
October 6, 2021
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San Antonians can now travel almost 40 miles straight without ever exiting a trail. An eagerly awaited connection between the Leon Creek and Salado Creek Trails officially opened this past Friday, Oct. 1. A newly minted trailhead at Eisenhower Park links the two sides with 2 miles of brand new trail.
While two wheels may be the most popular method of transport on the trail, two feet are also common. Friends Sandra Martinez and Karen Diorio walked the round trip on the Leon Creek Trail to the Rim Shopping Center and back to the trailhead. The route’s steep incline didn’t seem to phase them as they raved about how beautiful and easy to use the new trail For Diorio, who visits the trail system about once a week, there is also a sentimental aspect to using the trails. She used to regularly guide her husband, who resided in a memory care facility near the Salado Creek Trail, in his wheelchair along the trail. She explained that “he was a Korean War Veteran and always had his hat on, so people were always coming over and thanking him for his service” while they were on the trail. For other users, it’s not necessarily the trail itself, but what it leads to. Between Eisenhower Park and Highway 1604 on the Salado Creek Trail is the Medicine Wall, a cliff face popular with rock climbers. Zack Cleveland and Liz Brown are novice climbers who were testing out the climbing gear they had just bought the day before. In fact, it was only Cleveland’s second time climbing outdoors and Brown’s first. “I’m planning to climb all over this wall,” Cleveland said. Brown, on the other hand, admitted to being a little scared but enjoyed it nonetheless. |
Dan Ramirez
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It’s precisely that fear that drives Devin Cleveland — Zack’s brother — and his approach to rock climbing. Inspired by the free solo style of climbing which involves using no safety gear at all, he prefers to let the “fear factor” tether him to the wall. He pointed to a ledge about 12 feet above his head to indicate how high he made it that morning. His goal is to free solo climb all the way to the top of the wall.
Zack Cleveland (middle) and Liz Brown (right) test out their new climbing gear on the Medicine Wall. Inspired by free solo climbing, Devin Cleveland (left) prefers the “fear factor” of no safety gear when he climbs.“Me getting up on the wall, looking down, being like, ‘Ok, I don’t wanna end up down there’ — that drives me,” Devin said. Any type of user can now travel uninterrupted from Rittiman Road on the city’s East Side up to Eisenhower Park and then back down to West Military Drive on the West Side. And this is only part of a larger web of trails that comprise the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trails System. Together, this collection of trails creates approximately 80 miles of paths throughout San Antonio. Currently, the north and south sections of the Salado Creek Trail are separated by Fort Sam Houston, where trail construction has required special approval. However, according to Brandon Ross, a Special Projects Manager with the San Antonio Parks Department, the city hopes to break ground on this connection through the base some time in late 2022. Once this is complete, and when added to another extension that is currently underway on the south section, users will be able to go well over 50 straight miles on the joint Leon Springs-Salado Creek trail. Anyone on the fence about trying out the trails might be encouraged by frequent user Janet Wilson. The 70-year-old cyclist laughed as she called herself old, but mused, “You know, the best thing about this trail is that all ages and all levels use it.” In other words, one doesn’t have to sprint the full 40 miles to reap the restorative benefits touted by the users above. |
Zack Cleveland (middle) and Liz Brown (right) test out their new climbing gear on the Medicine Wall. Inspired by free solo climbing, Devin Cleveland (left) prefers the “fear factor” of no safety gear when he climbs. Daniel Ramirez
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The colossal trail project could have a major economic impact. RoschetzkyIstockPhoto/Getty Images
100-mile Trail Connecting Austin to San Antonio Could Spring $55 Million in Benefits
By Melissa Gaskill
July 14, 2021
July 14, 2021
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A proposed 100-mile network of trails from the Alamo to the Capitol could generate more than $55 million in annual economic, health, and other benefits, according to a recent report released by the Great Springs Project. The project envisions trails traversing protected lands and the Edwards Aquifer to link four iconic Texas springs: Barton, San Marcos, Comal, and San Antonio Springs.
Though final trail routes remain to be determined by a Trails Plan, scheduled for completion by December of this year, the report uses a best estimate of those routes based on the springs, existing trails, and local trail plans. “This report is one of the first steps in the trails plan,” says Emma Lindrose-Siegel, Great Springs Project chief development officer. “Part of it was being able to articulate why this work is valuable, to point to the benefits of the trail itself and the goal of conserving 50,000 acres of land.” The analysis estimated the number of bicycle and pedestrian trips on the trail system, the corresponding reduction in vehicle trips and vehicle-miles traveled, potential benefits that would accrue once the entire trail system is constructed, and ecosystem services associated with land conservation along the trail corridor. “Trails make us healthier, and access to outdoors is a reason people want to live here,” Lindrose-Siegel says. “We wanted to quantify that for the community and our stakeholders.” Estimated economic benefits total $23.3 million, including estimated spending on goods, services, and lodging from non-local visitors to the trail. Transportation benefits of $11.4 million include fewer vehicle miles traveled and associated reduction in congestion, collision, roadway maintenance costs, and vehicle emissions. Estimated health benefits, $1.8 million, factor in increased physical activity and the resulting decrease in healthcare costs. Ecosystem services benefits total an estimated $19.2 million. These include improved water quality, stormwater management, wildlife habitat, and carbon sequestration. Preserving 50,000 acres of undeveloped land and reducing emissions as a result of fewer car trips (replaced with biking or walking trips) produce the |
carbon sequestration benefits. An estimated 5,500 walkers and runners and 4,800 cyclists are expected to use the trail each day.
Lindrose-Siegel cites growing crowds on existing area trails, along with the number of people projected to use the Great Springs routes, as evidence of the need for the project.“ We anticipate people traveling to the trail for recreation, or going the whole Alamo-to-the-Capitol distance. There will be people who, say, live in Kyle and want to go to San Marcos and not get on I-35,” she says. “We anticipate a lot of bikers and trail users will be people using it for transportation.” On comparable trails, 33 percent of trail users are not from the area. If that holds here, it represents an estimated 1.1 million non-local users per year — who will spend money on food, entertainment, bicycle rental, lodging, and the like. Additional economic benefits could include jobs related to trail construction and maintenance. All the projections are based on usage estimates and survey results from similar trail systems in Texas and throughout the Southeastern United States, extrapolated through the use of various multipliers from national studies and quantified in terms of monetary value where appropriate. The report also highlights the use of the natural infrastructure of conserved land to reduce catastrophic flood damage and save millions of dollars per year. Texas anticipates $31.5 billion in statewide flood mitigation costs during the next 10 years. “That’s an important part of the report, highlighting the role of strategic land conservation in reducing catastrophic flood damage,” Lindrose-Siegel adds. “Sometimes it can be hard to see why an investment in trails is worthwhile, but as this report shows, it has so many benefits. Being able to quantify and articulate that in a way that people can relate to really helps build support for this project, which is going to have a meaningful impact on people’s lives for decades to come.” The report was produced with guidance from Alta Planning + Design and the National Park Service. |
Great Springs Project Proposes a Network of Trails From Austin to San Antonio:
Squaring conservation with development
By Lina Fisher
January 1, 2021
January 1, 2021
Can one of the fastest-developing regions in the country prioritize conservation? That's the hope of the ambitious Great Springs Project, which has inched a little closer to realizing its goal of a national parklike trail connecting two of Texas' most populous cities.
On Dec. 8, the National Park Service selected the Great Springs Project to receive backing in the form of "community planning and technical assistance" for their endeavor to build a network of multiuse trails from Austin to San Antonio. The project proposes adding 50,000 acres of protected land over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone and portions of the contributing zones in Hays, Travis, Comal, and Bexar counties, as well as connecting hike-and-bike trails to the project's namesake four bodies of water: Barton Springs, San Marcos Springs, Comal Springs, and San Antonio Springs.
The southeast boundary of the imagined spring-to-spring trail clings closely to the west of I-35 and its northwest boundary spans along Barton Creek, Onion Creek, and the Blanco River down to San Antonio. The legal mechanism by which this land would be protected in perpetuity is called a conservation easement, in which private landowners get tax cuts in return for ceding their right to develop on the land. But typically the land in those cases is not publicly accessible; Great Springs, conversely, wants to encourage public access to the trails and waterways the same way a state park might.
Co-founded in 2018 by Deborah Morin, former board member of the Hill Country Foundation, the project aims to protect endangered species and Hill Country water quality from the increasing development along that corridor, especially in Hays County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S. But Great Springs leadership also contends that it will be an "economic development catalyst," creating jobs with its ambitious construction.
"We know that more people in Central Texas means we need more places here for those people to live, work, and be outside," says Emma Lindrose-Siegel, their chief development officer. "For that reason, Great Springs Project works with developers and city and county planners to ensure that the things we love most about living here will be protected and continue to be a resource for future generations."
The project is currently in its design stages, so there's no clear plan yet as to where the trails will go, but Lindrose-Siegel says they will potentially connect to existing trails, making transportation by bike all the way from Austin to San Antonio a possibility. However much this project aims to involve the human communities along I-35, she says that only "a small amount of the total land conserved will have actual trail on it ... A priority is protecting the habitat of endangered species endemic to our region."
So far, Great Springs has made their pitch to former San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger, who told the San Antonio Report that the plan is "conceptually" possible, though he worries that the public access part of it could make deals with landowners more difficult to attain. Hill Country landowners might live on their plots and be averse to bike trails crossing through their private land, but there are many different types of easements, and in many cases the landowners benefit from negotiating different uses for the land. For example, Shield Ranch, northwest of Austin, hosts summer camps and partners with TerraPurezza regenerative farm to raise their sheep and pigs on the ranch's property. Easements like this allow the family that owns the land large tax cuts to be able to keep the homestead in perpetuity, while allowing other uses on other parts of the property – a win-win situation that Great Springs could take advantage of. GSP currently partners with Hill Country Conservancy, Meadows Center for the Environment, San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance, Activate SA, Comal Trails Alliance, and Hill Country Alliance, and Lindrose-Siegel says they do want to "collaborate with ... city and county governments and community groups to both amplify their work and unite conservation efforts."
Great Springs is still just in its nascency; to help get the project off the ground, they'll require large philanthropic donations, and probably federal dollars, too. The trail planning process is projected to be finished in 2021, but in order to actually break ground, they first need to seek conservation easements and partnerships with land trusts and local, state, and national parks – and, of course, that all-important funding.
On Dec. 8, the National Park Service selected the Great Springs Project to receive backing in the form of "community planning and technical assistance" for their endeavor to build a network of multiuse trails from Austin to San Antonio. The project proposes adding 50,000 acres of protected land over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone and portions of the contributing zones in Hays, Travis, Comal, and Bexar counties, as well as connecting hike-and-bike trails to the project's namesake four bodies of water: Barton Springs, San Marcos Springs, Comal Springs, and San Antonio Springs.
The southeast boundary of the imagined spring-to-spring trail clings closely to the west of I-35 and its northwest boundary spans along Barton Creek, Onion Creek, and the Blanco River down to San Antonio. The legal mechanism by which this land would be protected in perpetuity is called a conservation easement, in which private landowners get tax cuts in return for ceding their right to develop on the land. But typically the land in those cases is not publicly accessible; Great Springs, conversely, wants to encourage public access to the trails and waterways the same way a state park might.
Co-founded in 2018 by Deborah Morin, former board member of the Hill Country Foundation, the project aims to protect endangered species and Hill Country water quality from the increasing development along that corridor, especially in Hays County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S. But Great Springs leadership also contends that it will be an "economic development catalyst," creating jobs with its ambitious construction.
"We know that more people in Central Texas means we need more places here for those people to live, work, and be outside," says Emma Lindrose-Siegel, their chief development officer. "For that reason, Great Springs Project works with developers and city and county planners to ensure that the things we love most about living here will be protected and continue to be a resource for future generations."
The project is currently in its design stages, so there's no clear plan yet as to where the trails will go, but Lindrose-Siegel says they will potentially connect to existing trails, making transportation by bike all the way from Austin to San Antonio a possibility. However much this project aims to involve the human communities along I-35, she says that only "a small amount of the total land conserved will have actual trail on it ... A priority is protecting the habitat of endangered species endemic to our region."
So far, Great Springs has made their pitch to former San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger, who told the San Antonio Report that the plan is "conceptually" possible, though he worries that the public access part of it could make deals with landowners more difficult to attain. Hill Country landowners might live on their plots and be averse to bike trails crossing through their private land, but there are many different types of easements, and in many cases the landowners benefit from negotiating different uses for the land. For example, Shield Ranch, northwest of Austin, hosts summer camps and partners with TerraPurezza regenerative farm to raise their sheep and pigs on the ranch's property. Easements like this allow the family that owns the land large tax cuts to be able to keep the homestead in perpetuity, while allowing other uses on other parts of the property – a win-win situation that Great Springs could take advantage of. GSP currently partners with Hill Country Conservancy, Meadows Center for the Environment, San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance, Activate SA, Comal Trails Alliance, and Hill Country Alliance, and Lindrose-Siegel says they do want to "collaborate with ... city and county governments and community groups to both amplify their work and unite conservation efforts."
Great Springs is still just in its nascency; to help get the project off the ground, they'll require large philanthropic donations, and probably federal dollars, too. The trail planning process is projected to be finished in 2021, but in order to actually break ground, they first need to seek conservation easements and partnerships with land trusts and local, state, and national parks – and, of course, that all-important funding.
Great Springs Project Envisions a Network of Trails From Austin to San Antonio
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Brendan Gibbons
June 28, 2020
June 28, 2020
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Twenty-seven years ago, Deborah Morin watched as the hills, streams, caves, and springs of the Hill Country outside of Austin were being gobbled up by construction.
At the time, Morin was serving on the board of the Hill Country Foundation, where she was involved with efforts to map the watershed for the Barton Springs portion of the Edwards Aquifer outside of Austin. The vast majority of that land is in private hands, meaning the health of the aquifer and Barton Springs was mostly dependent upon the decisions of private landowners. In Morin’s view, government regulation alone wouldn’t protect these sensitive waterways or preserve the land for generations. “It doesn’t matter how many laws, how many rules you have,” Morin told the Rivard Report earlier this month. “You have to buy it.” |
Cyclists ride north on the Salado Creek Greenway Trail near Loop 1604 and Shavano Park. The trail and others could one day connect to a larger regional system between Austin and San Antonio. Credit: Scott Ball / Rivard Report
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The council voted 6-1 and approved the new citywide trail master plan that will utilize 2020 bond election funds for trails that will help connect Austin to San Antonio. (Courtesy Pexels)
Kyle City Council Approves Citywide Trail Master Plan that will Connect Austin to San Antonio
By Zara Flores
September 22, 2021
September 22, 2021
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Kyle City Council approved the citywide trail master plan that will be part of the Green Springs Project that aims to connect San Antonio to Austin through New Braunfels, San Marcos, Kyle and Buda via trails with a 6-1 vote Sept. 21.
According to presentation documents, the project has been labeled a trail-oriented development, and the trail itself has been tentatively named The Vybe Kyle and will feature individual “vybes” throughout the trail where visitors can eat at restaurants, shop at retail locations, and have access to necessary amenities such as bathrooms and parking. The trail system will connect to existing trails and construct new ones throughout the city. The project passed with the stipulation that adjustments and changes can be made based on feedback from the council. City Manager Scott Sellers assured the council that the project “is a living, breathing document,” meaning improvements can always be made as it moves forward. One of the biggest concerns raised by the council was the proposed use of concrete on parts of the trail and its longevity as flooding and extreme weather may be present over time. “We have researched concrete versus a variety of other materials. When it came to porous material in the flood plain areas, the maintenance for porous materials is extremely demanding,” Sellers said. “It creates a very expensive, ongoing maintenance problem.” Council Member Dex Ellison was the lone member who voted against the plan despite being on the task force responsible for putting the project together. He said that while he is a big supporter of nature trails, this project |
was very difficult for him to be a part of at times, and the inclusion of concrete and other retail additions take away from the experience of being completely outdoors.
“I think that’s the excitement of it, of a trail, is going out and being in nature and not having a concrete improved area,” Ellison said. “With the task force, sometimes there’s compromise and cohesiveness, and we move together to make a recommendation to council. Sometimes you’re just outnumbered, and I think I’m outnumbered on this one. I cannot support this trail plan.” Parts of the trail will be built out to 12 feet wide to accommodate golf carts and light poles, benches and security cameras, among other things. Funding for The Vybe Kyle comes from a citizen-approved bond from the November 2020 election, according to the presentation documents, which allocates $2 million for construction as well as the Kyle Parks and Open Space Advisory Commission and grants. The budget for upkeep and maintenance is currently set at $500,000 a year, and the city has requested additional funding from Hays County. “There’s just a lot that is still forthcoming, but this signals the council’s intent that you’re committed to the plan,” Sellers said. “As you know, this is a very important project; it’s moving pretty quickly. These updates and map revisions will come pretty quickly back to council.” It is unclear when construction will begin, but the council will be discussing the details further at upcoming meetings. |
Trails & Economic Development
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Trails and green space are important community amenities that help to spur economic development. From home owners choosing to live along a park-like trail to bicycle tourists making their way from small town to small town, trails are important community facilities that attract people and dollars.
The relationship between well-designed green spaces and trails and economic development has long been understood. Fredrick Law Olmsted, the renowned landscape architect, conducted the first economic impact analysis of urban parks on Central Park, finding a strong positive relationship between this new amenity and property values. The evidence of the positive impact of green space on adjacent land values became “conventional wisdom” (Crompton 2001, p. 9) for park planners and was used to fuel the early park movement in communities around the country. But with increasing competition for scarce resources, this conventional wisdom on the value of parks for economic development was supplanted by wariness to invest in purely recreational resources. Over the last decade, however, community leaders and planners, buoyed by sophisticated new economic studies, have once again begun to use greenways, urban parks and trails as economic engines for |
James Curry Nature Center
community revitalization. Mounting new evidence shows an almost universal positive connection between well-designed open spaces and trails and important economic development indicators. As Donna Erickson, author of MetroGreen: Connecting Open Space in North America (2006), recently pointed out, trails and greenways are helping “shape urban growth, contribute [to] critical environmental values, and, indeed, place economic development and neighborhood revitalization”
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El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail extends between Los Adaes and Mexico City. Displayed in this map are the trail routes in Louisiana and Texas.
El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail Association
A National Historic Trail is a long-distance route that follows and commemorates a historic path of travel that changed the history and character of the U.S. Today the route offers opportunities to visit surviving sites, trail segments, and defining places of history and learn about the diverse stories they tell.
Established in 2007, El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail Association strives to build a strong citizen's group to support the National Historic Trail
HISTORY OF THE EL CAMINO REAL DE LOS TEJAS NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL
- We are a non-profit organization designed to promote and conserve this historical and cultural resource.
- We accomplish this through relationships between citizens, local historical groups, tourism bureaus, and the National Park Service.
HISTORY OF THE EL CAMINO REAL DE LOS TEJAS NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL
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Spanish presence in the northeast quadrant of its new kingdom was expedited by the arrival of the Frenchman, René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, on the coast of Texas in 1685. In search of the mouth of the Mississippi River, La Salle instead over-sailed it and landed near present day Garcitas Creek (McGraw and Sparks 1998, 49, 50). Word of the unintentional French landing in Texas reached Spanish officials in New Spain and inspired them to send out entradas, or military expeditions, in search of their colonial rivals. The entradas were carried out both by sea and land.
According to Castañeda, the first expedition in search of La Salle was conducted by sea in early 1686, as Juan Enríquez Barroto and Antonio Romero set sail from Florida towards the Texas coast (Castañeda 1936, 1: 304). Finding no trace of the French, Barroto and Romero returned empty-handed. Therefore, a second expedition was undertaken in 1687, this time from the port of Veracruz, and under the leadership of Martín de Rivas and Antonio de Iriarte (Castañeda 1936, 1: 307). This expedition reached as far as Matagorda Bay, but did not venture inland where the French colony of Fort Saint Louis, in dire-straits, was barely clinging to existence. Once again, the Spanish fleet returned unsuccessfully to its port. Third and fourth expeditions were made along the coast in search of the colony but, due to un-navigable rivers and inlets, the French were not found. However, as previously stated, expeditions were also conducted by land. In 1686, two companies of men were sent out from Monterrey and Cadereita (Chipman 2000, 78) in search of the Bahía de Espíritu Santo, where the French colony was believed to be located. Under the leadership of Alonso de León, the expedition explored all the way to the mouth of the Río Grande, came to the determination that La Salle was not located near the mouth of the river, and returned to Cadereita, where their report was filed (Castañeda 1936, 1: 316, 317). However, certain that the French colony was somewhere on the Gulf Coast of Texas, in 1687 the Marquis de Aguayo ordered de León to continue to hunt for them. Once more, de León followed the Río Grande to its mouth and then headed north along the coast until he reached an impassable point, which was likely Baffin Bay (Castañeda 1936, 1: 319). Stymied once again, the expedition returned to Cadereita. Nevertheless, in 1688, de León captured a Frenchman named Jean Géry who would provide the necessary information de León needed to locate the ill-fated colony of La Salle. Therefore, the following year, with Jean Géry in tow, de León returned to Texas. Castañeda states, “[s]ince this expedition was the first to penetrate as far as the Guadalupe River from the frontiers of Coahuila, [it] has generally been considered as marking the beginnings of Texas” (Castañeda 1936, 1: 333). This time de León was successful in finding Fort Saint Louis. According to Chipman, “de León … recorded a scene of utter devastation. A fort near the creek and five crude houses … had been sacked, furniture smashed, dishes broken, books and documents torn apart and scattered. What the Indian attackers had not wanted or carried off, they had destroyed. Three corpses, one apparently a woman, lay among the ruins” (Chipman 2000, 83). Further, having sent a letter to the land of the Tejas Indians seeking the surrender of any French who may have been there, de León retrieved two Frenchmen and returned to Coahuila (Chipman 2000, 83). Having discovered the ruins of the French colony, along with word from the Tejas Indians that they were seeking Christianity after having been visited by María de Agreda, the Lady in Blue, who seems to have been a miraculous incarnation that visited the Tejas, Spanish evangelic and military ambitions determined that it was necessary to establish missions in East Texas among the Tejas Indians. Therefore, in 1690 de León and Father Massanet set out with a force of 110 men to assist in the creation of the first missions in Texas. Chipman states, “de León marched the full expedition on to the Neches River, where on May 22 he encountered a settlement of the Tejas. |
After a brief search for an ideal site, the foundations for the first mission in East Texas, San Francisco de los Tejas, were laid, and mass was celebrated in the new church on June 1” (Chipman 2000, 89). Spanish missionary aspirations and El Camino Real de los Tejas had been established in Texas.
With the foundation of the mission and presidio of San Juan Bautista on the Río Grande in 1700 and the settlement of San Fernando de Béxar and San Antonio de Valero in 1718, El Camino Real de los Tejas was becoming a major route of travel in the Spanish colonial period. Many expeditions, as well as the removal of the East Texas missions closer to the presidial line of fortifications along the Northern Frontier of New Spain, resulted in a well-established link that facilitated trade and movement between the colonial territories of Spain and France in Texas and Louisiana and, later, the movement of U.S. settlers heading west. The latter period requires further mention at this point. An early recorded instance of a U.S. citizen utilizing El Camino Real de los Tejas was when Moses Austin headed west to San Antonio along the path, seeking to establish a colony in Spanish Texas (The Handbook of Texas Online 2001). In San Antonio, he met with the Baron de Bastrop, who influenced Governor Antonio María Martínez to endorse the idea of the Austin Colony. Tragically, Moses Austin died in Missouri shortly after receiving word that his colony had been approved. Therefore, his son, Stephen F. Austin traveled along the road to make good on his father’s contract in San Antonio. Around that same time, many Anglo-American colonists entered Texas at Gaines Ferry on the Sabine and arrived at Nacogdoches and the interior of Texas over the road (The Handbook of Texas Online 2001). Further, as relations between the Mexican government and its Anglo citizens deteriorated, “the road was valuable as a conduit along which volunteers from the United States could be quickly funneled to battlegrounds around San Antonio de Béxar” (Hardin 1998, 225). Plus, figures such as Sam Houston and David Crockett also followed the road as they entered Texas. Concerning Crockett, it is said that, “[his] route was down the Mississippi River to the Arkansas and then up that river to Little Rock; overland to Fulton, Arkansas, and up the Red River along the northern boundary of Texas; across the Red River, through Clarksville, to Nacogdoches and San Augustine; and on to San Antonio” (The Handbook of Texas Online 2001). It can even be claimed that Crockett would have continued to follow El Camino Real de los Tejas all the way to San Juan Bautista on the Río Grande had he not met his fate at the Battle of the Alamo, for he wrote in his last known letter, “I have taken the oath of government and have enrolled my name as a volunteer and will set out for the Rio Grand in a few days with the volunteers from the United States” (The Handbook of Texas Online 2001). Consequently, it can be said that many a valiant person traversed El Camino Real de los Tejas from the time of de León, to Crockett, and beyond. De la Teja said it well when he stated, “How then to describe the camino real? First, it might almost be considered a living thing: ever changing its humors, taking on new roles and responsibilities, responding to the needs of a developing frontier province. The obstacles of travel on the road made the wayfarer respectful and fearful of it. Anyone wishing to go from Texas to the rest of the world had to be patient with the road, for it had a slow and evasive nature. Second, the caminos were the arteries that kept Texas alive” (De la Teja 1998, 48). Therefore, it is plain to see that the Native American footpath that had long existed in the region was a lifeline that facilitated the spread of European culture and influence among what became known as El Camino Real de los Tejas. This path initially facilitated Spanish expansion northeastward toward present day Louisiana in search of their French imperial rivals. Then, over 130 years later, this same path allowed Anglo settlers from the U.S. to begin heading southwest into Texas to seek their fortune. Over time, this dynamic ebb and flow of people, cultures, and trade created the modern state of Texas as we know it today. Therefore, El Camino Real de los Tejas is deserving of its designation as a National Historic Trail. |
The 6.5-mile project will be an important connection for the pedestrian, bicycle and transit networks, according to city officials. (Courtesy Austin Public Works)
City of Austin Begins Design of Urban Trail on Abandoned Rail Corridor
By Benton Graham
December 3, 2021
December 3, 2021
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The city of Austin's Urban Trails Program has begun design on an urban trail that would run through the Bergstrom Spur Corridor, according to a Dec. 1 press release.
The trail stretches about 6.5 miles from Vinson Drive in South Austin to East Riverside Drive and US 183 in southeast Austin, near the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The project had been identified as an important link along the city's pedestrian, bicycle and transit networks in 2017 by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and in the 2019 Austin Strategic Mobility Plan. “Planning projects like the Bergstrom Spur Corridor study help turn aspirations into reality,” said Ann Kitchen, City Council member and CAMPO Transportation Policy Board vice chair, in a press release. “Considering both the short- and long-term possibilities for this corridor makes this project stand out in its potential to provide needed transportation options in a rapidly growing city.” The city along with the CAMPO won the Planning Achievement Award for Transportation Planning from the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association for a study published on the corridor in December 2020. The project will happen in three segments, and the city is working on designs for all three concurrently. The cost is to be determined. |
The Bergstrom Spur project extends 6.5 miles (Courtesy Austin Public Works)
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