TTF identified a heavily used area that, with a creative improvement, would better serve Butler Trail users. “Between the Bridges” is our name for the area on the south side of Lady Bird Lake between the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge and the historic Union Pacific railroad bridge. This gateway area to the Trail will, with the recent opening of nearby Butler Park, be even more heavily used as an access point to the Lady Bird Lake area. As the urban core continues to develop, the landscape buffer of this intersection will become increasingly important.

We designed and installed the project to screen the parking lot and beautify this area. A unique feature of the project is the serpentine wall that weaves along the Trail and the existing grove of  trees to the east. The meandering wall gracefully emerges as one approaches from the east or west to provide a unique trail-side meeting place and resting point. A lake overlook and informal seating walls makes this a natural gathering place for Trail goers. This project goes beyond meeting utilitarian needs and sets a new standard for improvements along the Trail.

Silicon Labs Green Team volunteers helped plant 769 perennials along the walls in September 2009.

Between the Bridges received the 2009 Keep Austin Beautiful Award – Beautification.