An update to AFM’s story on the trail completion

In our current issue, we focused on philanthropy and giving (’tis the season, after all) and AFM covered The Trail Foundation’s (TTF’s) campaign to raise funds for the boardwalk completion project (you can read the article here).

At the time of the AFM interview in October, TTF was hoping to raise $3 million to cover a portion of the estimated  total project costs of $17.4 million.  By November, however, expectations had been exceeded.  TTF held a press conference on November 17 to announce that TTF had already secured $2.4 million; originally, they had projected several years to procure that amount.  In light of their great success in fundraising,  the TTF has expanded their goal to raise $5 million towards the boardwalk completion project.

Also, since the AFM story was written, the fences have come down from around the newly refurbished area at “the Rock” (the trail access located under MoPac, near the Austin High Tennis Center).  Check out the area; plantings will be added later when the weather allows, but the bank of water fountains is ready for thirsty runners.  There’s even a shower for warmer weather.

If you have out-of-town family coming for a visit, head down to the trail.  There’s an interactive map on TTF’s website to help you plan your outing.  If you’re looking for a gift for that trail enthusiast in your family, membership in TTF might just be a perfect Christmas gift;  you can join for as little as $25, and there are varying levels of membership.  Or for $100, you can make a donation to the Campaign for the Trail, the new fundraising push chaired by Luci Baines Johnson and Ann Butler (did you know that the trail is named the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail?  It is; Roy Butler was mayor of Austin and Ann Butler was one of the original members of the Town Lake Beautification Project).

Susan Rankin, the executive director of TTF, is “optimistic that we will have some more good news in December.”  Let’s make sure that TTF has something good under the tree this holiday season.