Town Lake Trail Foundation Unveils Over $200,000 In Town Lake Trail Improvements

Three new projects enhance Austin’s most popular Hike and Bike Trail

April 12, 2006 — Tonight, the Town Lake Trail Foundation will officially unveil three major restoration projects representing over $200,000 of improvements. The projects are:

• Rowing Center Overlook Restoration
• Luke’s Point Restoration
• Lou Neff Point Renovation

Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM, Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Location: At the newly restored Rowing Center Overlook located 100 yards east of the Texas

Rowing Center (100 yards west of the Austin High Baseball fields). There should be plenty of parking along Stephen F. Austin Drive by the track.

Project Overviews:

Lou Neff Point

Named for Mrs. Lou Neff, who served alongside Lady Bird Johnson as a member of the Town Lake Beautification Committee, this scenic overlook is a popular stopping point on the Trail with a stunning view of downtown Austin.

Unfortunately, in recent years, the point named after Mrs. Neff has begun to deteriorate. The railroad-tie steps leading to the point and the retaining walls that sustain the point have begun to collapse. Additionally, as usage has increased, the steep and narrow bend in the trail has become a dangerous pinch-point that has been the site for frequent and unfortunate accidents between cyclists, baby-strollers and pedestrians.

Starting Tuesday, April 3, working in collaboration with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, the Town Lake Trail Foundation began a major restoration of this point. The Town Lake Trail Foundation anticipates the project will be complete by June 15, 2006.

The project is anticipated to cost the foundation almost $142,000. Most of the funding was obtained through a Texas Parks and Wildlife National Recreational Trails Grant of $96,976 that the Foundation applied for and won in 2004. It has been supplemented with generous grants from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and the friends of Nancy Kohler. The remainder came from Town Lake Trail Foundation members and supporters.

Rowing Center Overlook

The Foundation just completed a restoration of the Rowing Center Overlook near the Austin High baseball fields just east of the Texas Rowing Center. The project was generously funded by the Betty and Jim Wilson Family of Austin.

Luke’s Point

Luke’s Point is a small lookout point with a unique scenic vista located 100 yards west of the Texas Rowing Center near Austin High. The Town Lake Trail Foundation stabilized, restored and replanted Luke’s Point. That project was made possible by an anonymous donation and supplemented with funding from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation.

About The Town Lake Trail Foundation

The Town Lake Trail Foundation was formed in 2003 with a mission to maintain, improve, beautify and expand the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail. The Foundation works to ensure that the Trail remains the most beautiful, natural, fitness-friendly hike and bike path in any urban area in the United States. Financial pledges, information and trail improvement ideas are welcome and appreciated. The Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. For more information, visit www.townlaketrail.org.

For media inquires, please contact pr@thetrailfoundation.org.