Where the iconic Boardwalk now stands there was once a 1.1 mile gap in the Ann & Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. Completed in 2014, The Boardwalk was a public/private partnership between TTC (then The Trail Foundation) and The City of Austin, which closed a large gap in Austin’s transportation and recreation system by connecting the east and west ends of the south side of the Trail.
2016
2015
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Before The Boardwalk, there was a 1.1 mile gap along the south side of the Trail. Completing the Trail along the lakefront had been discussed almost since the Trail’s inception in 1972, and the idea for The Boardwalk was initially conceived of by a visionary Parks Department employee, Butch Smith, in the 1990s, but the need for such a structure didn’t come about until the 2000s.
As Austin grew in the early 2000s, so did the Trail. The 10 mile loop had become more than a recreational resource – it was an alternative transportation route for Austin’s growing urban core. Without a proper Trail connecting the east and west, Trail users had to divert onto the narrow sidewalk and travel along Riverside Drive, walking by busy business entrances, and crossing 6 lanes of I-35 access roads in order to travel along the south side of the Trail. With traffic, trail users, and businesses growing, that dangerous gap between the east and west felt even wider for the Austin community, and a solution for the Trail needed public and private investment.
In 2007, TTC put out an Investment Study which provided foundational transportation data focusing on the need to connect the south side of the Trail. The City invested over $1.9 million in the design and permitting for completing the Trail and two private property owners along the route agreed to provide permanent easements for the Trail as well as Trail maintenance on their land.
The Boardwalk is a partially overland and partially overwater trail built using 2010 standards for longevity, multiple uses (walking, running, wheelchair, bicyclists of all levels), and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It requires minimal maintenance and has a minimal impact on the lake.Â
In 2009, the Council voted 7-0 to approve the alignment recommended by the Parks Department and complete the Boardwalk Design Phase. The project is a public/private partnership. The 2010 Transportation Bond package, approved August 5, 2010 in a 7-0 vote by the City Council and by Austin voters in November 2010, included only partial funding for closing the Trail gap. The completion of The Boardwalk was dependent on the city receiving $3 million in private funds which were raised by TTC.Â
Construction started in October 2012 and was completed early June 2014. A celebration of The Boardwalk opening occurred on June 7th, 2014 featuring a ribbon cutting ceremony, music by the SoundWaves, a march across the Boardwalk led by the Eastside Panther Drumline, and an aerial dance performance under I-35 by Blue Lapis Light, which was underwritten by Silicon Labs.
This project provided safe, continuous ADA compliant pedestrian and bicycle access along a beautiful section of the public’s lake and parkland. Visitors and citizens of all levels of ability are able to access Lady Bird Lake and a safe transportation alternative to riding in a car. The Boardwalk project also included replacing an existing restroom that had fallen into disrepair on the east landing. Completing this section of the Trail has linked communities on the city’s east and west side, closing a large gap in Austin’s transportation and recreation system.
Mrs. Ann S. Butler · The Moody Foundation of Galveston · St. David’s Foundation
Michael & Susan Dell Foundation · Luci Baines Johnson · CDK-Riverside, LLC · Grayco Partners · Whataburger/ Lynne Dobson & Greg Wooldridge · Austin Parks Foundation · Griffin Davis & Heather Keating · H-E-B · James M. Cox Foundation · Cypress Real Estate Advisors · Jonny Jones/ Jones Energy Ltd.
Jefferson Boyt & Nada Lulic · Texas Gas Service/ ONEOK Foundation · The Charles & Betti Saunders Foundation Fund · Cheryl & Walt Penn · Roger K. Beasley · Marsha & Robert Jones · Bill Kerr · Jeanne & Lew Little · Laura Sandefer · Jack & Nancy Collins · Dan & Nancy Garrison · Susan Plettman Rankin · Christopher Kennedy · Admiral & Mrs. Bobby R. Inman · Michael & Christie McConnell · Grant & Margot Thomas · Jules & Zachary Elkins · Brian & Julianne Ott · Chaparral Foundation · Jeff Trigger · Q1Media/ AdExcite · Jay-Reese Contractors · Austin Community Foundation · Cirrus Logic · The Knaggs Family
The DuBose Family Foundation · Robyn & Craig Malloy · Derek & Rindi McDonald · Eric & LaRhonda Niccum · Laurie & David Weaver · Werner Family Foundation · Bob Wynn
The Miller Family Charitable Fund · Texas Realty Capital, LP · Charley Dean · Craig & Sandra Fleming · Careen Foster · Jon & Michelle Levy · Jenny McMillan · Stephanie Shoemaker · Mark & Asher Flynn · Tony Capasso · The Laurel Foundation · Ward Tisdale · Colin Wallis · Gary & Paula Amaon · David Andrews · Philip & Donna Berber · Gene & Ruthie Burrus · Charity Dynamics · Eve Chenu · Joe Christie · James Cowles & Katelena Hernandez Cowles · Germaine Curry & Borge Endresen · Joseph Daly · Jennifer Brown Emerson · Rex Gore · John & Laura Loudamy · Katherine Lowery · Majorie & Al McClurg · Jeff & Phyllis Nelson · David Newberger · Jeff & Robin Picard · Professional Janitorial Service of Texas, Inc. · Dan & Kimberly Renner · Mary Anne Robinson · Sarah Russ · Todd & Sarah Wehner
The Arch & Stella Rowan Foundation · Hill Abell & Laura Agnew · Teresa Albright M.D. · AMD Foundation · Jewel Arrington & Paul J. Van Osselaer · Karen Bantuveris & Greg Hallman · Kent Cole · James & Christine Cowden · Gary & Gette Davis · Genevieve Duncan · Cheryl & Jim George · Eric & Elizabeth Goldreyer · Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C. · Drs. Russ & Isabel Hoverman · Paul & Anne Isham · Johnathan Lee · Loucks Family Foundation · Jim & Cindy Lynn · Dave & Ana Martin · Susan Bujan & Robert Meyer · Bonnie Mills · Katie Moran · Robert Morrison · O’Hare Family Foundation · Stefan Pharis · Pamela & Michael Reese · Todd Runkle · The Shook Family · Alexander & Irene Shoghi · Thomas Sikes · Patricia Spurr · Drs. Roseann Mandzuik & James Studer · Ellen & Charlile Willmore · Jim & Betty Wilson · Brian & Elizabeth Temple · Andy Albright · Ralph& Beverly Daugherty · Chris & Alice Gunter · Louis Kokernak · Matt & Erin Thomson · Scott Trull · Baden, Schaefer & Klein · Jerry Bell · Don & Jane Berman · Paul G. Bernhard · Morgan Binswanger · John & Nancy Bosch · Kirstin & Larry Bradshaw · Scott Branson · Steve & Mollie Butler · Sam & Anne Byars · Lee & Debbie Cameron · Marlene & Jimmy Clayton · Tom & Jane Coefield · Ken & Lorrie DeAngelis · Scott Diedrick · Patricia & Rosie Dixon · Steven Dobberfuhl · Dean Dreier · Claude DuCloux · Michael E. Engels · Gary & Carol Epple · Joshua Flanagan · Michael Froehls · Allison & Jeff Gerold · Veena Gondhalekar · Charles Granberry · Harvey & Kathleen Guion · Cynthia Powell & Tom Harsh · Alan & Cheryl Haywood · The Heusner Family · James & Mickey Holtzman · Carole & Chris Jordan · Paul Karon · Sharon Kerr · Knox Key · Liza Layne · James & Cathy Little · Michelle Martinez · James Martino · David, Jean & Daniel Mattka · Elizabeth McGuire · Mary Lynn McNallie · Jeff Russell & Elizabeth Moorehead · Jason Perez · Tracy & Mark Picone · Jack Pope · Jim Thomassen & Sheela Rai · Peter & Eva Riley · Richard Pappas & Adrienne Rivers · Thomas & Trecia Roberts · Alex & Robbie Robinette · William & Lesa Rossick · Matt Sjoberg · Dan & Louisa Slaughter · Ernest & Paula Smith · Lindsay & Ford Smith · F.W. Sultan · Colleen & Brad Theriot · Tommy & Michelle Wald · Mai & Mike Ward · Ken & Marla Whelan · Jim & Kathleen Wicoff · Dan & Kristi Williams · Eric & Ann Wilson · Howard & Norine Yukon
