Background/History about this area

You may recall that the city’s trail area ‘safe route’ project was halted. The good news, however, is that the City of Austin agreed to work with the WNA board to make alternative, considerable improvements in this area. We’ve announced this alternative plan in the past but we are now seeing it really happen!

(For background info., see http://www.westcreekna.org/2009/02/brush-country-trail/city-puts-westcreek-trail-plan-on-hold-oak-hill-gazette/ andhttp://www.westcreekna.org/wp-content/uploads/1008WK.pdf and http://www.westcreekna.org/wp-content/uploads/trail-letter_022209.pdf andhttp://www.westcreekna.org/category/current-issues/brush-country-trail/ and http://www.westcreekna.org/wp-content/uploads/0608WK.pdf)

What kind of construction project is being done?

The City of Austin has informed us that construction will begin on or about October 1 for the removal of the Brush Country stub-out (Brush Country & Summerset Trail), which will mean the end of that ugly & often broken red & white barricade at the end of Brush Country. The project will include removal of the asphalt, extension of the sidewalk along Summerset, drainage improvements, and filling in the area with soil, and seeding with a native grass/wildflower seed mix. The board has been meeting with several city resources about this project.

How Westcreekers can help – Westcreek Neighborhood Enhancement Initiative
The board is excited to make this stub-out project one of the first beautification & conservation improvements in Westcreek. There is potential to do more projects in the future and aside from using WNA dues to further enhance Westcreek, we will also need volunteers.

We especially need your help with the following:

1. assistance from people who have an interest in and/or experience with (including associations with local businesses) landscaping design and/or installation, native / drought tolerant plants

2. donations of drought-tolerant native plants and small trees (we will provide a list of appropriate plants) for planting later this Fall

3. donations of mulch from trees being trimmed or removed from your yards – ask your tree service company if tree mulch can be donated for the trailhead area

4. signage design and/or donated services

5. volunteer to be on a WNA committee to handle long-term maintenance of this commons area.

If you are interested in helping with landscaping projects at the stub out (or even projects in the future), please let us know. Remember that the WNA is a non-profit organization and donations (monetary or in-kind) are tax deductible.

Please email board@westcreekna.org to let us know how you can be involved.

This is a little belated, but here’s a BIG THANK YOU for the great neighbors who worked on the trail on Saturday, June 2:

• Chris, Sean and Star (White Elm)
• Julie (White Elm)
• Bridget and Kevin (Dry Oak)
• Bob (Morning Dew)
• John (Cana Cove)
• David and Trudy (Sun Vista)

It was hot, sweaty work but everyone was still smiling at the end!

And can you believe the flowers are still blooming?

Westcreek resident and WNA board member Barbara Huffman is shown above helping to improve the nature trail located at the end of Westcreek Drive. Barb and several other volunteers from the Westcreek Neighborhood Association and Oak Hill Trails Association (OHTA) got together on January 21 to spread bark mulch that had been donated by Davey Trees. Thanks to Barb, Jennifer Voss and her son Quinn, Trudy and David Hasan, John Mendenhall, and OHTA members Tom Thayer and Jim Hinshaw. The huge pile of mulch has now been reduced to just a big pile.

The trail area has been an ongoing project by the Westcreek Neighborhood Association and OHTA. The area is a combination of City of Austin right-of-way, AISD land and private land. The private land consists of the unimproved area behind the duplexes, and no improvements have been made to this area since it is privately owned. Many Westcreek residents and cyclists enjoy this area, since no motorized vehicles are allowed.

More work days will be scheduled in February and March, so stayed tuned for your chance to help out the neighborhood!

If you would like to volunteer, either email Trudy Hasan directly or sign up online at: http://www.keepaustinbeautiful.org/CleanSweep.

Please get out and enjoy the trail! Your footsteps will help keep the weeds down.
Trudy Hasan

• Download the Letter (35 KB PDF)