AUSTIN – On June 1, National Trails Day, Hill Country Conservancy announced the grand opening of the Violet Crown Trail at Slaughter Lane. The opening of the Slaughter Lane segment marks HCC’s completion of Phase One of the trail, a milestone more than 13 years in the making.
“To be a part of an organization that is really affecting environmental change in Austin has been one of my greatest joys,” said Ashley Kegley-Whitehead, board chair of Hill Country Conservancy. “Today we are thrilled to have officially completed our portion of Phase One on the VCT, stretching from Zilker Park all the way to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. I want to thank all of our partners, donors and the community for their continued support; this trail would not be possible without their hard work and generosity.”
The VCT began as a vision to create the first regional trail system in Central Texas. Since then, HCC has spearheaded the trail-building effort, utilizing both public and private partnerships and working with multiple municipalities, including the City of Austin, to turn this vision into a reality.
“Enjoying the outdoors is central to the Austin lifestyle; it’s a key part of what makes our city so great,” said Council Member Paige Ellis. “Access to green space, park land and trails is vital to the health of our residents, and I’m so proud of my constituents in District 8 for voting to approve this trail in their neighborhood. They have generously offered up this new amenity in their own backyard for all Austinites to enjoy.”
HCC Board Member Francisco Albornoz, Austin Council Member Paige Ellis, HCC Board Chair Ashley Kegley-Whitehead, Chief of Staff for Council Member Ellis Deena Estrada-Salinas and HCC Board Member Brian Ott.
Planning officially began in 2006, and after years of strategic land acquisition and preparation, the first six-mile segment opened to the public. Through continued construction, the VCT now contains 13 miles of public trails and is on track to become the longest trail of its kind in Central Texas.
Rather than a traditional ribbon cutting, HCC and REI celebrated by co-hosting the inaugural VCT Ribbon Run: a 5K run and 1K walk-and-talk to break in the new trail at the Slaughter Trailhead. Following the ribbon breaking, community members enjoyed breakfast and festivities at nearby Sendera Mesa Neighborhood Park.
“We could not be more excited to open this segment of the VCT right here in our community, and what better way to celebrate than on National Trails Day,” said Angie Flores, Sendera Homeowners Association president. “HCC has been an incredible partner throughout this process, and we know that all Austinites will enjoy this trail for decades to come.”
With HCC’s portion of Phase One complete, work on Phase Two, the VCT Wildlands, will begin in early 2020. Once complete, the then 30-mile VCT will pass through the urban wildlands of the Barton Creek Wilderness Park, the City of Sunset Valley and eventually into Hays County. Passing near the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the VCT will head south, winding through the countryside of the City of Austin’s Water Quality Protection Lands in a uniquely natural setting.
Hill Country Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust committed to preserving open spaces in the Texas Hill Country. Preserving vital natural resources through conservation, community collaboration and engagement, HCC works to sustain our region now and forever. For more information, visit Hill Country Conservancy's website.
