Austin Parks and Recreation

Person walking a dog on a paved trail by a river lined with trees

Holly Project with The Trail Conservancy

City Council District 3

Project Summary

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.

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 worked with neighbors and community members to identify priorities. TTC, in alignment with the Vision Plan, is partnering with Austin Parks and Recreation to implement the following projects.

View Final Schematic Designs

 

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).

Objectives

  • Add a new trailhead to the northern entrance to the Butler Trail at Metz Park, which may include shade, seating, signage, and other amenities for the Trail and park users.
  • Mark the connection between the future East Link Trail and the Butler Trail.
  • Create a new concrete multi-use Trail connecting the Butler Trail along the shoreline of the decommissioned Holly Power Plant.
  • Provide trail amenities, which may include shade, drinking fountains, additional tree plantings, and play features.
  • Further develop the 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.

Anticipated Timeline

  • 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 - 2026: Fundraising and permitting (in progress)
  • October 10, 2026: Design Concepts Open House
  • 2027: Construction

Communication and Engagement

Community engagement began in spring 2024 and continued through 2025.

October 10, 2026: Design Concepts Open House

View the Story Map

Meetings, Surveys and Outreach

    Engagement Series 1
    DateEventLocationMaterials
    April 12 to May 19, 2024Community Survey 1OnlineSurvey results (PDF)
    April 13, 2024Table at Tejano Trail of Legends partnership event with Holly Neighborhood AssociationWaller Beach 
    April 17, 2024Presentation to East Town Lake Citizen Association  
    April 24, 2024Focused Conversations: Lorraine "Grandma" Camacho Activity Center EmployeesLorraine "Grandma" Camacho Activity Center 
    May 2, 2024Table at Cinco de Mayo EventRodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center 
    May 8, 2024Table at Bike-to-School Pop-UpBlackshear Elementary 
    May 11, 2024Community MeetingLorraine "Grandma" Camacho Activity CenterProject Boards with Community Comments (PDF)
    May 29, 2024Focused Conversations: Rodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center EmployeesRodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center 
    May 29, 2024Meeting with East Town Lake Citizen Association Board  
    Engagement Series 2
    DateEventLocationMaterials
    September 21, 2024Community Open HouseLorraine "Grandma" Camacho Activity Center 
    September 21 to November 4, 2024Community Survey 2Online 
    September 25, 2024 Community Open HouseVirtual 
    October 7, 2024Community Open HouseRodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center 
    January 15, 2025Engagement Series 2 Summary Report PublishedOnlineEngagement Series 2 Summary Report (PDF)
    Engagement Series 3
    DateEventLocationMaterials
    April 12, 2025Community Open HouseLorraine "Grandma" Camacho Activity Center 
    April 12, 2025Community Survey 3 OpenedOnline 
    April 22, 2025Community Open HouseRodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center 
    April 26, 2025Table at The Trail Conservancy's Holly Shores Bio BlitzHolly Shores 
    May 14, 2025Focused Conversations: Lorraine "Grandma" Camacho Activity Center EmployeesLorraine "Grandma" Camacho Activity Center 
    May 20, 2025Community Survey 3 ClosedOnline 
    May 20, 2025Focused Conversations: Rodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center EmployeesRodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center 
    July 16, 2025Engagement Series 3 Summary Report PublishedOnlineEngagement Series 3 Summary Report (PDF)

    • Site of the proposed trailhead improvements

    • Holly Shores Trail

    • Proposed site for enhanced play area

    • View of Lakefront Trail Park Terrace Overlook

    • View of Lakefront Trail Park Large Meadow and Bike Skills Area

    • View of Eastside Family Garden Community Lawn and Play Area

    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.

    Completed Spring 2025

    Holly Shores Fishing Pier

    This project provided 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/

    Visit TTC's Project Webpage
      Project Timeline
      • 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
      Communication and Engagement
      DateEventLocationMaterials
      April 29, 2019ETLNCA Town Hall  
      May 18, 2019Project Kick-off EventLorraine "Grandma" Camacho Activity Center 
      June 8, 2019Community Meeting 1: Open House Meeting Boards (PDF)
      June 8, 2019Community Survey 1 OpensOnline 
      June 12, 2019Festival Beach Community Garden Group PresentationTerrazas Branch Library 
      June 15, 2019Table at the TrailAnn and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail 
      June 19, 2019East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood Contact Team Group Presentation  
      July 5, 2019Community Survey 1 ClosesOnlineCommunity Survey #1 Results (PDF)
      August 1, 2019ETLCNA Neighborhood Meeting  
      December 7, 2019Community Meeting 2: Open HouseLorraine "Grandma" Camacho Activity Center 
      December 7, 2019Community Survey 2 OpensOnline 
      December 16, 2019Group PresentationRebekah Baines Johnson Center 
      December 18, 2019Group PresentationTerrazas Branch Library 
      December 21, 2019Table at the TrailAnn and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail 
      January 10, 2020Parent MeetingMetz Elementary 
      January 11, 2020Community Survey 2 ClosesOnlineResponses from Questionnaire #2 (PDF)
      June 24, 2021Community Meeting 3: Open HouseVirtual

      Meeting Presentation (PDF)

      Presentación en español (PDF)

      Meeting Recording (YouTube)

      June 24, 2021Community Survey OpensOnline 
      August 31, 2021Community Survey ClosesOnlineQuestionnaire Results (PDF)
      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.

      • Holly Fishing Pier