It’s My Park Day Saturday, March 3

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Dear Greenbelt Lovers,

This year’s annual citywide It’s My Park Day event, sponsored by the Austin Parks Foundation, is scheduled for Saturday March 3, 2012. As usual, the BHNA Greenbelt Guardians will be participating, working at both the Gus Fruh and Homedale entries to the Barton Creek Greenbelt. You can participate at the site of your choice, and we will provide tasks, team leaders, tools, and refreshments at each site.

Work projects at both sites will include lots of invasive plant removal activities, some minor trail repairs and maintenance, possibly some rock work, and, as always, picking up cans, bottles, and other trash. There will be suitable tasks for all ages and skill levels. Kids with adult supervision are welcome.

Please RSVP by both replying to this message, and also registering online at the Austin Parks Foundation website at www.austinparks.org. Click on the link for It’s My Park Day volunteer registration, and then use the search tools on that page to find our events. They are listed as: Greenbelt Guardians: Homedale Entry at Barton Creek and Greenbelt Guardians: Gus Fruh Entry at Barton Creek. If you search by park name, they’re both under Barton Creek Greenbelt East. You can also just click on Show All and scroll through the list.

NOTE: be sure to register online if you want to receive a t-shirt!

The work day is from 9:00 – 1:00, and as usual we’ll start the morning off with breakfast tacos before getting to work. Snacks will be provided throughout the day. We’ll send out more details next week to everyone who registers. There’s plenty to do, so we’re hoping for a good turnout and are looking forward to seeing everyone, both veterans and newcomers!

Thanks,

Glee Ingram and Stan Ostrum
Greenbelt Guardians Coordinators

Getting to the Greenbelt: Access points for all skill levels

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By Melissa Hawthorne

The Greenbelt is truly one of the bright spots of living here in Austin. After the hustle of the week, I make time to go wander in the Greenbelt. I see some other folks wandering, as well, and wonder how many people here in the neighborhood take advantage of this respite. If it’s been awhile since you’ve enjoyed this gem in your backyard, now is a good time to go. The maps at the bottom of the page can give you a better idea of where the best access points are.

Depending on your skill level, there are several entrances you could choose to enter the Greenbelt. No matter which access point you use they all lead to the creek. If you are looking for a nice wide “main” trail — really wide and level — take the Greenbelt access through Zilker on the south side of Barton Springs Pool or the Spyglass entrance (from the Mopac side), which is actually across from the Homedale entrance.

The 360 access point is also fairly simple to navigate and, when you get down into the Greenbelt, you can go either south or north. Going south takes you toward the Wilderness Park, a developed trail not quite as large as the Zilker entrance. Going north toward Gus Fruh is stunning in its own way. The Gus Fruh entrance is definitely one of my favorites.

The Barton Hills access point, on Homedale, is a little more challenging, but once you’re there it’s absolutely exquisite. Staying on the neighborhood side on Homedale and Gus Fruh, the trail kind of dead ends; however, since the creek is not flowing now due to drought, you can easily cross to the other side of the creek to get to the “main” trail.

When the water is flowing, Homedale has the “rapids” and “falls” that kayakers love to navigate, as well as a small swimming “pool” beside the rapids, and Gus Fruh has the large swimming hole that families and dogs share. The 360 area has climbing walls just the other side of the creek. Climbing walls can also be found between Gus Fruh and Spyglass on the main trail across the creek from our neighborhood entry trail.

January 24 Meeting Agenda

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 BARTON HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

MEMBERSHIP MEETING

January 24, 2012

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Fellowship Hall

AGENDA

6:00   Pizza with our neighbors – Rockin’ Tomato Pizza

7:00   Call to order

7:05   Brief announcements

7:10   Approval of minutes of October 18, 2011 membership meeting

7:15   Treasurer’s report – Kerry Price

Membership Update – Kay Killen

7:25   Committee Reports:

  • Neighborhood Watch – John Luther
  • Greenbelt Guardians – Glee Ingram
  • Membership Outreach Committee – Sunny Luther
  • Area Development – Peter Hess
  • Emergency Preparedness Committee
  • ANC Update – Tom Nuckols

8:15  Announcements related to a Spring Fling BHNA membership event – Sunny Luther

8:30   Briefing from City of Austin Neighborhood Connectivity – Mopac Bicycle Bridge Project and Robert E. Lee sidewalk project.

8:45   Request and briefing on Cyclo-Cross Event proposed in Zilker Park

8:55   Status of nominated neighborhood improvement projects:

  • Water fountain at Barton Hills Elementary playground

9:00   Other business, as brought to the floor by the membership

9:15   Adjourn