Barton Creek Greenbelt
This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2022) |
Barton Creek Greenbelt | |
---|---|
Location | Travis County, Texas, U.S. |
Nearest city | Austin, Texas |
Coordinates | 30°14′38″N 97°48′35″W / 30.24389°N 97.80972°W |
Established | 1974 |
Governing body | City of Austin Parks and Recreation |
The Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin, Texas is managed by the City of Austin's Park and Recreation Department. The Greenbelt is a 7.25-mile (11.67 km) stretch of public land spanning from Zilker Park west to the Lost Creek neighborhood. The Barton Creek Greenbelt runs parallel to the first 6.5 miles of Barton Creek before ending on a steep .75 mile hill commonly referred to as the hill of life.[1] The Barton Creek Greenbelt consists of three areas: the Barton Creek Wilderness Park, the Upper Greenbelt, and the Lower Greenbelt. It is characterized by large limestone cliffs, dense foliage, and shallow bodies of water.
Climate
Located in Austin, Texas, the Barton Creek Greenbelt has a humid subtropical climate characterized by hot summers and mild winters. The Greenbelt receives 30 to 35 inches (760 to 890 mm) of rain annually, with the majority of the precipitation coming in the spring and the second highest in the fall. Small bodies of water can be found at all times of the year throughout the Greenbelt; however, the creek bed that runs along the spine of the Greenbelt actively flows only 1 to 2 months out of the year depending on precipitation levels. The Barton Creek tributary feeding the Colorado River contributes to the area's highly concentrated vegetation.
Sports and recreation
With its diverse terrain, the Greenbelt is a popular location for adventure-loving locals. The large limestone cliffs that line portions of the Greenbelt make for excellent
. During the annual "Tubin' the Belt" parade in the Spring hundreds of individuals tube the Greenbelt.Adjacent to Barton Creek Greenbelt is a popular site for
History
William Barton gave his name to the creek that created the Greenbelt when he settled on its banks in 1837.
On September 7, 1974, the Bradfield-Cummins real estate firm sold 132.34 acres to the City of Austin for parkland. Another 0.88-acre parcel was purchased July 24, 1982.[5][verification needed]
The trail running along the Greenbelt has an interesting history. For example, the westernmost section, called "The Hill of Life," formerly was closed. The residents in the subdivision at the top of the hill had arranged with the Parks & Recreation Department to keep it closed. However, John Hartman orchestrated a meeting with the Parks and Recreation board to get that portion opened, prevailing after lining up at least 10 major neighborhood groups to argue against the special deal.
During the 1970s and 1980s, hikers had to find ways over, under, and around the fences placed to keep them from accessing the creek's cool clear water and free swimming holes. The initial Greenbelt "River Rats" made it clear to all users:
- "you carried the trash in...you carry the trash out! Don't let your trash mess up our clear creeks and rivers!"
In March 2009,
Maintenance
In 2011, the City of Austin's maintenance team, assisted by five
Locations
Popular Barton Creek Greenbelt locations include: Twin Falls, Campbell's Hole, The Flats, Gus Fruh, and Sculpture Falls.[8]
References
- ^ "The Guide to Austin-area Birding Sites". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. February 9, 2007. 5. Barton Creek Greenbelt. Archived from the original on 2008-03-18.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Loder, Michael Wescott (2004). "Airmen's [i.e. Airman's] Cave: An Early History". www.personal.psu.edu.
- ^ "Airmen's Cave Frequently Asked Questions". Underground Texas Grotto.
- ^ Letter from Mr. Don Cummins to Karen Kocher
- ^ "TPL Donates Land to Expand Barton Creek Greenbelt (TX)". Trust for Public Land. March 25, 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-01-01.
- ^ "Barton Creek Greenbelt". Trust for Public Land.
- ^ "Guide to Austin's Barton Creek Greenbelt". Visit Austin. May 19, 2021.
Sources
- Parent, Laurence (2005). "Hike 39: Barton Creek". Hiking Texas (2nd ed.). Falcon Guide Publishing. pp. 98–101. OCLC 36951231.
External links
- City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department: Greenbelts
- Map of Barton Creek Greenbelt from Austin Parks & Recreation