Home Page for Friends of the Parks

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.

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

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

May 2022
Workday Projects for Sat. May 14 Last workday before the summer break! This Saturday 5/14!!! Howdy All, Friends of the Parks will be holding it's May workday this Saturday at 8AM, starting at the City Park Pavilion. It's probably going to be a warm one, so dress appropriately. Activities for the day are as follows: 1) Spreading mulch on trails near the red bridge in City Park 2) Gathering downed limbs in HGBI 3) Trimming tall grass in City Park 4) Planting plants in a few locations 5) Cleaning up garden bed at Canyonlands entrance Lunch will be a build your own Taco bar! Mmmmm, tacos!!! Thanks lunch crew. See everyone Saturday, ~FoP	Canyonlands entrance garden needs work! Photo by Dan Moyer.
May 2022 - General Membership Annual Meeting We had about forty members present at the first ever annual meeting in the Pavilion in City Park. BBQ meat was catered by Opie's and sides and desserts were provided by our food committee. Special award was to Judy Hazen, presented by Sondra Morton. Guest speaker was Lakeway's mayor Tom Kilgore who is also a member of FOP and a regular volunteer at our workdays. We will be having a dinner and get-together next month on Monday May 9th at 6:30pm at Lakeway City Park Pavilion. This event is open to the public as well and the purpose of the event is to celebrate all the accomplishments of the group over the last couple years, recognize some special volunteers, and enjoy some good food and community. The dinner will be BBQ with sides and various dessert options, and the guest speaker for the event will be Mayor Tom Kilgore. If you plan to attend, please RSVP with your total headcount to Sondra Morton at skmgran@gmail.com. Dinner is free to all current members and anyone can pay membership dues at the meeting at $20 per household. For $20, you can get a BBQ dinner and t-shirts(if you come out to a workday) all while supporting a good cause! Good luck finding a better deal these days! Thanks and hope to see everyone there, ~FoP	FOP members receive their plates at the serving line. Photo by Jim Dunn. Judy Hazen receives a honorary casserole dish for her years of service on the food committee. Photo by Jim Dunn. Fruit bowl provided by Jin and Jack. Photo by Jim Dunn. Mayor Tom Kilgore answers questions after his speech. Photo by Jim Dunn.

April 2022
Wilderness Walk Sat. Apr. 23, Start time 9AM. The Lakeway Friends of the Parks hosted a group hike on Saturday April 23rd starting at the Hamilton Greenbelt main trail head (across from the Justice Center building on Lohman's Crossing). The event is free and open to all, many two or four legged hikers come out for an opportunity to get to meet other community members while enjoying one of Lakeway's prettiest hiking areas. The route was from the HGB trailhead to the bird blind (~1 mile) and then to the overlook area (~0.4 miles) and back to the start. Most participants hiked the entire route (~3 miles).	Hikers gather at the FOP canopy prior to the start of the walk. Photo by Jim Dunn. Hikers enjoying the quiet at the bird blind. Photo by Jim Dunn. Hikers ascending the primitive trail on the way to the Overlook. Photo by Jim Dunn. Hikers enjoying the view at the Overlook. Photo by Jim Dunn.
Workday Report Workday was on Saturday, Apr. 9th. starting at the City Park Pavilion. Current forecast says it will start out cool and warm up quickly so dress appropriately and bring some extra water. Workday activities included: 1) Planting new plants at Butterfly garden and HGBI trailhead, and doing some general clean up of the areas 2) Finishing trail work(spreading mulch) near bridge behind butterfly garden 3) Removing dead cedar in HGBI near the Duck Lake trail Lunch this time was fried chicken and sides!!! And plenty of dessert!! Thanks to all who attended.	Volunteers working in the Butterfly Garden. Photo by Doris McDermott.
Scheduled Workday projects Workday is scheduled for Saturday, Apr. 9th. starting at 8AM at the City Park Pavilion. Current forecast says it will start out cool and warm up quickly so dress appropriately and bring some extra water. Anticipated workday activities include: 1) Planting new plants at Butterfly garden and HGBI trailhead, and doing some general clean up of the areas 2) Finishing trail work(spreading mulch) near bridge behind butterfly garden 3) Removing dead cedar in HGBI and working on the Duck Lake trail 4) Stretch goal of removing some low brush near the skate park/swim center Lunch this week will be fried chicken and sides!!! And plenty of dessert!! Look forward to seeing everyone there. Wilderness Walk Sat. Apr. 23, Start time 9AM until 11:30AM. We will setup a canopy and table at the Hamilton Greenbelt entrance at 8:30AM. We will offer guides to the Bird Blind (short route) and the Overlook (more strenuous). Maps and cards will be made available along with FOP labeled water bottles.	Newly painted bridge by the Butterfly Garden. Photo by Carl Christensen.
Upcoming Events Apr. workday Sat. 4/9 starting at 8AM. Apr. Wilderness Walk in HGB Sat. 4/23, Time 9AM May Board meeting Monday 5/2 at 6:30PM. General Membership Meeting/BBQ is planned for Monday evening, May 9th. May workday Sat. 4/14 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.	Pat and Dan using the Kobota to haul brush. Photo by Doris McDermott.

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