Home Page for Friends of the Parks

November 2022

November Workday!!!

We had 17 volunteers sign in and worked at the Barnes Garden irrigation trenching, Wildflower Meadow clean-up and HGB Bird Blind repair fence and install equipment. A delicious and warm spaghetti lunch was served.

We just received word of the following!

This Friday the 18th at 10:30 there will be a small Arbor Day ceremony and tree planting at Hamilton Greenbelt parking lot. The Mayor will read a proclamation and they'll be planting a Bur Oak.

Howdy All,

The Lakeway FoP November workday will be taking place this Saturday(11/12) starting at City Park Pavilion at 8AM. It's looking like it might be a cold one, so good volunteering weather!

Activities for the workday include running some irrigation lines near the Butterfly and Barnes Gardens in City Park, doing some TLC at the bird blind in HGB, and trimming back vegetation that is over growing the Bissett trailhead at the Canyonlands.

Lunch for the day will be spaghetti, salad, and desserts! Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

~Lakeway FoP

October 2022

Howdy All,

Sat. 10/8 Workday details.
Please arrive at the upper parking lot by the Pavilion of the City Park by 8AM. Work assignments will be made at that time. Wear gloves, heavy shoes and be prepared for a cool start but rapid warm-up as the day progresses. Bring water bottles.

~~We have asked the new City of Lakeway Forester to give a presentation before we start our workday activities.~~
The City Forester has asked to reschedule to our November workday.

Project List Announcement

City Park
o Sow seeds in the wildflower meadow
o Use the walk behinds and some weedeaters to trim grass and weeds
o Stretch goal is cactus garden in city park could use some TLC.

HGBI & II Dead tree branches (large and small) near HGBI trail head

Smith Greenbelt – Maybe some trees to trim out.

Canyon Lands – finish up work at Canyonland trailheads

Lunch – Sandwich buffet

~FoP

Upcoming Events

Oct. workday Sat. 10/8 starting at 8AM.
Oct. Witches Run Sat. 10/22 starting at 6PM. FOP is planning on manning a booth.
Nov. Board meeting Monday 11/7 at 6:30PM.
Nov. workday Sat. 11/12 starting at 8AM.
We have a Facebook page being administered by Dan Moyer
Lakeway Friends of the Parks
For those who shop on Amazon, FOP is now a listed charitable organization and can receive 0.5% of your Amazon purchase.
Navigate to smile.amazon.com, login, select "Change Your Charity" and search for "Friends of the Parks of Lakeway" located in Lakeway, TX and click on the Select button.
Family membership dues for 2022, pay by mail, click here or pay in person at our workday, contact our Treasurer Sondra Morton.
Our long time sponsor/partner for the Bird Blind and the Purple Martin houses has a name change.
The Wild Bird Centers of America has changed their business model and we are no longer part of the franchise. We are still in business but are now known as Hill Country Birds. Only the name and email contact information have changed; ownership, address, and phone numbers remain the same.
Laura Hopkins, Owner
Hill Country Birds
2127 Lohmans Crossing, Suite 316
Lakeway, TX 78734
P: 512.351.8213
C: 512.799.7256
www.hillcountrybirds.com (work in progress)
laura@hillcountrybirds.com

September 2022

September Workday Activities at City Park

A number of volunteers worked in the Wildflower Meadow at the southern end of City Park to prepare the ground for the sowing of wildflower seeds at the October workday.

View all workday photos Click here.

Sad news

Three current/former FOP members passed away in August and September.

Dick Drury's Obituary

WC Enmon's Obituary

Jerry Morton's Obituary

Other not-so-good news

Bernie contacted Dan Moyer on 9/4 to let him know the FoP shed was broken into and the weed eaters, chain saws, pole saw, and inverter/battery for it were all taken. It does not appear they took anything else including any hand tools. Dan received an email from the City on August 25th saying they found one of our wheelbarrows left out in City Park and they just leaned it up against the shed for us, so we think that is when it happened and the thief was probably using it to haul the stolen tools. For now, we have a new keyed lock on the shed. Bernie contacted the police and a report has been filed. New value of the stolen equipment was over $4,000.

The Bird Blind located in HGB II is also been vandalized lately. The pool pump was stolen and on another occasion damage was done to the storage structure attachment.

A group of volunteers working in the Wildflower Meadow (click to enlarge)

A group of volunteers working in the Wildflower Meadow, removing dead overgrowth and spreading decomposed granite.

A volunteer swinging a pick in the Wildflower Meadow. (click to enlarge)

A volunteer swinging a pick in the Wildflower Meadow to loosen up the soil.

Two volunteers taking a quick break. (click to enlarge)

Two volunteers taking a quick break while refreshing the Wildflower Meadow soil.

September Workday Announcement

Howdy All,

Hope everyone had a great summer and is ready to get back to work! The September workday will be this Saturday at the usual time and place(8am at the City Park Pavilion). Current forecast says it could be a warm one so dress appropriately and bring some extra water.

Anticipated workday activities include:
1) Prepping the wildflower meadow area for October seeding and other landscaping work at the South end of the lower part of City Park
2) Removing some dead branches and other beautification near the HGBI trailhead.
3) Cleaning out the garden beds at the Canyonlands entrance off of Trophy Drive. Hopefully will add new plants at the October workday.

Lunch this week is TBD but likely pizza and desserts!!

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

~FoP

4th of July Parade 2022

Enjoy Lakeway's 4th of July Parade

Howdy All,

Friends of the Parks will not be entering a 4th of July Parade float this year. The City of Lakeway is still looking for volunteers to assist in the big event if you are interested.
The link : Click here

The City's agenda for the 4th of July weekend.
The link : Click here

FOP is not planning any activities until September, see you then.

Thanks,
~FoP

The astronaut theme took first place in 2019

Parade volunteers ready to march

FoP marching tools was a crowd pleaser!

June 2022

Lakeway's Parks Town Hall

Thursday, June 30 starting at 5:30 PM

Lakeway Town Hall on Parks!!!

Just a heads up that Lakeway will be hosting a Town Hall with city manager Julie Oakley on the topic of Lakeway Parks. Event is Thursday June 30th from 5:30 to 6:30 at City Hall. Please come out as they will likely be giving some preliminary info on the reimagining of Lakeway parkland.

Regards,
~FoP

From the City's weekly "The Lake Way" email
The third in a series of four town halls for 2022 will take place on Thursday, June 30 from 5:30 p.m. through 6:30 p.m. at Lakeway City Hall (1102 Lohmans Crossing Road). This Town Hall Series with City Manager Julie Oakley will focus on the Lakeway park system, including potential future parkland. There will be an introduction by City Manager Julie Oakley, and then an opportunity for the public to visit different stations at City Hall to ask questions to the parks team about upcoming projects and events. The introduction will also be live-streamed on the City's website.

City Calendar link : Click here

News Flash link : Click here

More info link : Click here

Lakeway Town Hall Thu. 6/30 on City Parks

Trail Maps for the Parks of Lakeway

Friends of the Parks is a group of citizens who enjoy the rewards of volunteer service in the parks and greenbelts areas of Lakeway. Monthly Saturday morning work sessions provide opportunities for all levels of service, whether it is tree maintenance, general cleanup or tending memorial gardens at City Park. A few of the hardier members help build and maintain hiking/biking trails in the Hamilton Greenbelts and the Canyonlands Natural Area. Still others provide food for our workday picnics. For information contact Sondra Morton 713-870-5462 or email Skmgran@gmail.com.

Friends of the Parks sponsors one annual community event which is the annual Wilderness Run/Walk event on the Hamilton Greenbelt trails on the third Saturday of April. The goal of this event is to encourage citizens to get out and enjoy the beauty of the greenbelts and parks of the City of Lakeway.

Friends of the Parks of Lakeway is a 501 (c) 3, Federal Tax Exempt Organization. Donations made to this organization may be tax deductible; check with your tax advisor.

Lakeway, Texas

December 2022