The Trail Conservancy

Responsibility for the Trail is currently divided between TTC and Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department (PARD). TTC works to protect, enhance, and connect the Trail through careful improvements to the Trail’s infrastructure and environment. Meanwhile, everyday operations and maintenance of the Trail is being phased to turn over to TTC annually until TTC is the primary stakeholder in the space.

Since 2003, TTC has been providing infrastructure improvements to the Trail and has completed more than 28 projects. While TTC will continue to provide these infrastructure changes as the need arises, they also recently transitioned (2022) to a conservancy model to take on some of the operations and maintenance responsibility from PARD to be phased over many years. While TTC has been given authority to operate and maintain the area with more efficiency, PARD remains the primary liable party for the public parkland.

TTC works to ensure the access to nature provided by the Trail to Austin residents not just remains, but continues to improve and grow along with Austin's booming population. TTC does this by providing needed Trail improvements such as restrooms, ADA-accessibility, playgrounds, and native plants & trees.

The Butler Trail is so much more than just a “trail.” It reminds Austinites why they moved to Austin or why they stayed.

TTC has identified several ways to both continue its work making infrastructure improvements and ecological restoration along the Trail as well as to increase brand awareness for ease of transition to a conservancy model.

These strategies include:

- Restoring and enhancing plant communities, including native trees, understory, and groundcover, to create diverse and aesthetically appealing plant communities that provide rich wildlife habitat;

-Repairing and improving ecological function so landscape can better absorb and clean water, regenerate native flora, filter air, create and stabilize soil, reduce urban temperatures, and provide shade;

- Enhancing resiliency so landscape is better able to adapt to and withstand drought, heavy use, climate change, and other major disturbances;

- Enhancing user experience by providing aesthetically pleasing, compelling, comfortable, and intricate natural surroundings;

- Improving stewardship by creating opportunities to appreciate, observe, and care for the natural areas along the lake;

- Engaging volunteers, members, and donors through community engagement opportunities, increased programming on the Trail, and increased opportunities to engage with staff on a 1:1 basis;

- Connecting with community partners such as other nonprofits, city departments, corporations, church & community groups, youth groups, and individuals to extend TTC's reach and encourage ongoing stewardship for years to come; and

- Diversifying funding sources and utilizing non-traditional fundraising methods to increase both earned and contributed revenue for the organization.

The Trail Conservancy has had success providing infrastructure improvement projects to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail for more than 15 years. In addition to completing 28 of these projects - and identifying an additional 15 for the next few years - TTC has recently increased volunteer and stewardship efforts by 200% and provided the community with ways to engage in the care of our natural areas. Through these partnerships we have the resources to provide a robust volunteer stewardship experience for our community.

Community partnerships are vital to the sustainability of the Trail and its surrounding 200-acres of parkland. TTC maintains successful partnerships with the Austin Watershed Protection Department, Austin Parks and Recreation Department, the Office of Sustainability, Texas Conservation Corps, Austin Youth River Watch, Austin Allies, Austin Parks Foundation, Waterloo Greenway, Shoal Creek Conservancy, Pease Park Conservancy, St. David's Foundation, and more. Each partner plays a different role in ensuring the Trail is here for generations to come; while some partners provide guidance on parkland and shoreline ecology, others provide manual labor, and others yet work together to make connect the Trail to even more parts of Austin.

Fundraising is essential to the goals of TTC and the organization has already shown success in providing the needed funding for Trail improvements. In 2019 alone, TTC invested over $3.5 million in the Trail.

TTC has successfully provided Trail infrastructure improvements to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail since its formation. Our mission is to protect, enhance, and connect the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake for the benefit of all. Since our formation in 2003 as a 501(c)(3), we have fulfilled our mission through careful improvements to the Trail’s infrastructure and environment, while honoring the original vision of the Trail’s founders. In 2003, we formed the Town Lake Trail Foundation to continue the work of the Citizen’s Committee and ensure that the heart of Austin stays strong.

Several Trail projects have been completed throughout the years including:
- An Economic Impact Study of the Trail;
- Construction of the Trail Bridge at Congress Avenue;
- Lakeshore Park improvements including new exercise equipment, shade trees, and a commemorative brick plot;
- Construction of the Auditorium Shores Trailhead;
- Completion of the Johnson Creek Restroom;
- Installation of Trailhead Signage throughout the 10-mile loop;
- Ecological restoration and trail widening at Lou Neff Point;
-Planting of a new tree grove at Zilker Bluff;
-Increased wildflower diversification;
And many, many more.

For 2023, The Trail Conservancy has identified 15 major projects to be accomplished along with continuing working toward more operations and maintenance of the Trail. These major projects are:
- Rainey Street Trailhead
- Holly Project
- Butler Shores Exercise Equipment Expansion
- Arts & Culture Comprehensive Plan
- Seaholm Waterfront Phase 2
- Continued Ecological Restoration Projects (multiple)
- Holly Lakefront Trail Enhancements
- Holly Trailhead
- Longhorn Bridge Bench Program