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February 2008   Town Lake Trail Foundation | PO Box 5195 | /Austin, TX 78763 | 512.733.3989
 
 

restroomTrail Relief Has Arrived!
Please join us on March 19 at 5:30 pm for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at our Trail's newest restroom in almost 30 years.  You can find the restroom where Rainey Street dead ends into the Trail area, about a half mile west of I-35 on the north side of Lady Bird Lake next to the Milago Condominiums, and just east of the new Mexican American Cultural Center.

This restroom was made possible by the generous in kind donation of stunning architectural services by Miro Rivera Architects. Significant site work was completed by our partner, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department.  Major financial support was provided by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and the Moody Foundation.  The Town Lake Trail Foundation provided additional funding and project management.

 
 
Trip-and-Fall Lights Now at the Trail Downtown
Installation of low-level trip-and-fall light fixtures is now being completed by the City of Austin in the downtown Trail area.  Look for the 16 very small lights in the darkest stretches between the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge and the Mexican American Cultural Center.  TLTF and the City Parks and Recreation Department collaborated on this project using criteria developed as part of TLTF's solar pilot project in the Zilker Trail area.  This pilot demonstrated that the Trail's trip-and-fall hazard areas can be improved  in an aesthetically and environmentally sensitive manner.  As a result of both the positive feedback from the TLTF Zilker pilot lights and TLTF's development of location and fixture criteria, the City is now completing limited trip and fall lighting in some of the dark spots of the downtown section of the Trail.
 
This low-level lighting will extend the useable hours of the Trail, especially in the winter months. The lights are on timers and will be consistent with the curfew.  We will continue to work to install lighting in Trail areas only where we find both a tripping hazard and an absence of ambient light.  For all of us pre-dawn and post-dusk Trail users, the new trip-and-fall lights will be a welcome safety improvement!
 

AMS Austin Laces up Their Sneakers for TLTF Video Premiere    
On March 20 at 6 pm, AMS Production Group will host a premiere party for the new TLTF video celebrating Austin's beloved Trail.  The new video, produced pro bono by AMS, features scenic vistas of the Trail, historic photos, and interviews with people throughout the community who enjoy and support the Trail. TLTF will use the video to promote awareness, boost membership and raise funds.

Recommended attire for the premiere is athletic wear and sneakers.
AMS Production Group is located at 4407 Bee Caves Road, Bld 6. 
To RSVP for the party, email thetrail@amspg.com

 

A Warm Welcome to the Class of 2008 Garden Adopters
Fourteen new adopters snapped up all but one of the available gardens at the February 2nd Lady Bird Johnson Adopt-a-Garden auction, bringing the total number of adopted gardens to thirty.  Two of the new adopters, Matt Turner and Paul Waller of the Austin Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas, are collaborating on an all Texas native garden for their planter on the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge.  Watch for their garden installation later this spring.
 
 
RVi Celebrates 25 Years with Donation to TLTF 
 
In December RVi announced its donation of a long-term vision plan for the Town Lake Trail at Lady Bird Lake. To celebrate the news, Austin Mayor Will Wynn and City Council Member Mike Martinez met with RVi President Bob Richardson, Principal Barbara Austin and Susan Rankin, ED of the Town Lake Trail Foundation, for a walk on the Trail. "I'm excited that there seems to be the momentum to focus on the trail and that RVi is willing to take a broader, more global look at what the trail can be," Mayor Wynn said.  We appreciate RVi's generous donation which will help guide the Trail and the TLTF into the future. 
 
More Bricks on the Way

We have approximately 600 commemorative bricks at the engraving contractor and will begin installation of them at Lou Neff Point in mid-March.
 
There are still bricks available.  They make great gifts for Mother's Day, Graduation and Father's Day!
 
 
 
Texas Realty Capital Donates $5,000 to TLTF
donation photo
Jim Lemos, Doug Opalka, and John Morran with Texas Realty Capital present Susan Rankin, TLTF Executive Director, with a $5,000 donation, an investment in improving the Trail and our quality of life.  We thank Texas Realty Capital for the ongoing support of the Foundation.

 
 
 
Austin Community Foundation Funds Healthy Trees for the Trail
The Austin Community Foundation has awarded TLTF $10,000 to help fund our 2008 Healthy Trees for the Trail work.  This ongoing program helps restore the natural woodlands and botanical habitat of the ecosystem around Lady Bird Lake and protect the health of the trees along the Trail for future generations.  The 2008 work is a partnership between TLTF, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at UT, American YouthWorks, and Environmental Survey Consulting.  New to the program this year, as part of a pilot restoration project, native wildflowers, grasses, wetland plants, shrubs, and trees will be planted to improve the biodiversity and beauty of Lady Bird Lake and the Trail.  An important part of this work involves removing invasive non-native plants that can crowd out native species important to birds and other wildlife for food and shelter.  
 
 
Austin Runners Club Donates 2007 Decker Challenge Proceeds
TLTF received  the Decker proceeds of $6,000 at the winter party of the Austin Runners Club.  We much appreciate their ongoing and generous support and love being part of Decker and working that water stop!  The Austin Runners Club has also supported TLTF with funds for the mile marker project. 
 
 
REI Donates $3,500
 
REICourtney Jeffries, REI, Susan Rankin,TLTF Executive Director, and Griffin Davis, TLTF Board President, meet at the North Shore Overlook for a presentation of a check for $3,500.  Thanks to REI for this donation that will fund informational signage and professional arborist work as part of Healthy Trees for the Trail.
 
 
Charles and Betti Saunders Foundation Grant Awarded
TLTF has received a $10,000 grant from the Charles and Betti Saunders Foundation/Pat, Steve, Kate, and Ian Saunders to be used for fundraising or capacity building.  This local family foundation made this grant so that the timing and purpose can have the greatest impact.
 
 
TLTF Wins Statewide Award
The Texas Recreation and Parks Society (TRAPS), the State parks professional organization, has chosen TLTF and the Austin Parks and Recreation Department for the Conservation Award in recognition for our partnership efforts in conservation and trail improvements.  This award is a great testament to the partnership between TLTF and PARD and we thank PARD for the nomination
 
 
Volunteer Opportunities: 
 
March 8, 9-11 am, gardening workday, to register email susan@townlaketrail.org
 
April 5, TLTF will again partner with Keep Austin Beautiful to clean the Trail from end to end as part of the citywide CleanSweep.  TLTF members have this early notice to register so you can get a spot at the Trail. Our Trail locations fill up quickly and it is first come, first serve, so please register soon.  There are also some spots available for cleanup of the water's edge with boats donated by the Texas Rowing Center and Zilker Park Boat Rentals. Registration required, please go to:
www.keepaustinbeautiful.org/clean_sweep 
 
Flexible times, clean the Roberta Crenshaw Pedestrian Bridge, group of 8-20, ideal for students needing community service hours, email susan@townlaketrail.org
 
Board of Directors  |  Town Lake Trail Foundation
  
Griffin Davis, President,  MarketHardware.com 
Bill Kerr, VP, Kelly Hart and Hallman
Colin Wallis, Secretary, Lance Armstrong Foundation
John Loudamy, Treasurer
   Jack Collins, Frost Bank
Bill Curra, Halliburton/KBR
John Graham, Waterloo Partners
Peter Huff, Blue Sage Capital
Christopher Kennedy, LCRA
    Elizabeth McGuire, Writer
Sara Moore, Botanist
Brian Ott, TBG Partners
Rochelle Storin, Louis Shanks
Maura Nevel Thomas, Burget Ave Mgmt Services  
 
Susan Rankin, Executive Director 
Donate to the Town Lake Trail Foundation