Holly Project with The Trail Conservancy
Austin Parks and Recreation is partnering with The Trail Conservancy (TTC) to implement elements proposed in the Holly Shores/Edward Rendon Sr. Park at Festival Beach Master Plan and improve the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail and its connection in this area. City Council District 3
Background
The Holly Projects with The Trail Conservancy (TTC) are a series of projects aimed at fulfilling elements of the Holly Shores/Edward Rendon Sr. Park at Festival Beach Master Plan and improve the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail and its connection in this area. This includes the park area on the north shore from just west of the decommissioned Holly Power Plant at Festival Beach, stretching east to I-35. The area is located in the East Cesar Chavez and Holly Neighborhoods, home to generations of Hispanic/Latinx residents who have worked to preserve the area’s character and its culturally historic sites. During the development of the Vision Plan, Austin Parks and Recreation (APR) worked with neighbors and community members to identify priorities. TTC, in alignment with the Vision Plan, is partnering with APR to implement the following projects.
Holly Area Comprehensive Area Project Community Engagement Report (July 16, 2025) (PDF)
Holly Shores Trailhead, Trail Enhancements, and Play Area
In 2024 and 2025, The Trail Conservancy held community engagement and schematic design for all three original projects: Play Area, Trail Enhancements, and Trailhead. With the completion of this phase of work, the original projects will become two separate projects for fundraising efforts: the Eastside Family Garden (formerly Play Area) and the Lakefront Trail Park (formerly Trail Enhancements and Trailhead).
- Project Descriptions
Holly Shores Trailhead
This project will add a new trailhead to the northern entrance to the Butler Trail at Metz Park. It could include shade, seating, signage, and other amenities for the Trail and park users. This trailhead will also mark the connection between the future East Link Trail and the Butler Trail.
Holly Shores Trail Enhancements
This project will add another layer to the recently completed Lakefront Trail. It will create a new concrete multi-use Trail connecting the Butler Trail along the shoreline of the decommissioned Holly Power Plant. This project could include shade, drinking fountains, additional tree plantings, and play features.
Holly Shores Play Area
The Vision Plan highlighted this new one-acre play area between Fiesta Gardens and Lorraine “Grandma” Camacho Activity Center along Jesse E. Segovia Street. Currently, the site is mowed with Bermuda grass, and there are picnic tables and temporary lighting. The Vision Plan advises to develop this area as a center of children’s activity.
- Schematic Design and Renderings
The design phase was completed in Summer 2025. View Final Schematic Designs (PDF) and renderings below.
- Anticipated Project Schedule
Please note that schedules are projected as accurately as possible, but as with any construction projects, all dates are subject to change.
- January to May 2024: Gather data and research (complete)
- April to May 2024: Community engagement phase 1 (complete)
- June 2024: Design phase begins (complete)
- Fall 2024: Engagement phase 2 (complete)
- Spring 2025: Engagement phase 3 (complete)
- Summer 2025: Design phase (complete)
- Fall 2025: Fundraising and permitting
- TBD: Construction
- Community Engagement
Community engagement began in spring 2024 and is ongoing through 2025. This story map has a detailed breakdown of community engagement activities and results.
Engagement Series #1
Community Survey #1: April 12 to May 19, 2024
- Survey results (PDF)
Community Meeting (in-person): May 11, 9 a.m. to noon
Lorraine "Grandma" Camacho Activity Center
35 Robert T Martinez Jr St, Austin, TX 78702Project Boards with Community Comments (PDF) - Round 1
Focused Conversations:
- Lorraine "Grandma" Camacho Activity Center employees (April 24, 2024)
- Rodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center employee (May 29, 2024)
- Interviews by Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon, design team member, artist, and photographer
Tabling
- Tejano Trail of Legends partnership event with Holly Neighborhood Association (April 13, 2024)
- Mendez Recreation Center Cinco de Mayo event (May 2, 2024)
- Bike to School Pop-up at Blackshear Elementary (May 8, 2024)
- Presentation to East Town Lake Citizen Association (April 17, 2024)
- Meeting with East Town Lake Citizen Association Board (May 29, 2024)
Engagement Series #2
- Engagement Series 2 Summary Report (PDF)
- Community Open House (In-person): September 21, 9 to 11 a.m. at Lorraine "Grandma" Camacho Activity Center, 35 Robert T Martinez Jr St, Austin, TX 78702
- Community Open House (Virtual): September 25, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom
- Community Open House (In-person): October 7, 6 to 8 p.m. at Rodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center, 2407 Canterbury St, Austin, TX 78702
Community Survey #2: September 21 to November 4, 2024
Engagement Series #3
- Engagement Series 3 Summary Report (PDF)
- Community Open House (In-person): Saturday, April 12, 9 to 11 a.m. at Lorraine "Grandma" Camacho Activity Center, 35 Robert T Martinez Jr St, Austin, TX 78702
- Community Open House (In-person): Tuesday, April 22, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Rodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center, 2407 Canterbury St, Austin, TX 78702
Tabling: The Trail Conservancy's Holly Shores Bio Blitz, April 26, 2025
Focused Conversations:
- Lorraine "Grandma" Camacho Activity Center employees (May 14, 2025)
- Rodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center employee (May 30, 2025)
- Interviews by Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon, design team member, artist, and photographer
Community Survey #3: Closed May 19
- Funding and Resources
Funding is provided by The Trail Conservancy's project donors.
- Contact
For questions about this project, contact Elizabeth Barnes, APR Program Development Coordinator, by email or phone at (512) 974-9483.
Holly Shores Fishing Pier
This project is complete!
- Project Description
Photo courtesy of The Trail Conservancy This project provides area residents and visitors with an ADA-accessible realignment of the Trail along the waterfront with an expanded view and use of the water for fishing or recreation, including the restoration of the wetland habitat along the shoreline, seating under the heritage oaks, and parkland improvements with gathering space that meets the community’s needs. For additional information, visit TTC's project webpage: https://thetrailconservancy.org/projects/hollyproject/
- Project Schedule
- February to August 2019: Gather data and research
- September 2019 to August 2021: Design phase
- April 2023 to May 2024: Fundraising and permitting
- Fall 2024: Construction began
- Spring 2025: Construction complete
- Community Engagement
Community engagement began in June 2019 and concluded in June 2021. See below for more information.
Community Meeting #1: Open House: June 8, 2019
- Meeting Boards (PDF)
Community Survey #1 Results (PDF): open from June 8 to July 5, 2019
Community Meeting #2: Open House: December 7, 2019
Community Meeting #3: Open House (Virtual): June 24, 2021, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- Meeting Presentation (PDF) | Presentación en español (PDF)
- Meeting Recording (YouTube)
- Questionnaire Results (PDF) (closed August 31, 2021)
Additional Engagement
- April 2019: In-depth interviews with community leaders
- April 29, 2019: ETLNCA Town Hall
- May 18, 2019: Project Kick-off Event at Camacho Activity Center
- June 12, 2019: Festival Beach Community Garden Group Presentation, Terrazas Branch Library
- June 15, 2019: Tabling Intercept Activity at the Trail
- June 19, 2019: East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood Contact Team - Group Presentation
- August 1, 2019: ETLCNA Neighborhood Meeting
- Funding and Resources
Funding is provided by The Trail Conservancy's Corgan Canopy Fund and by donors listed on the TTC project webpage.
- Contact
For questions about this project, contact Elizabeth Barnes, APR Program Development Coordinator, by email or phone at (512) 974-9483.