The Austin Parks Foundation (APF) has approved and agreed to a matching fund request of $1,175 from the BCNA for improvements at the Nicholas Dawson Park, at 604 W. Gibson St. APF also went on to praise all of the "creativity, planning and volunteer involvement" shown at the park.
APF felt "confident that the Nicholas Dawson Park project would achieve the principle objective of the grants program: to strengthen community support for and investment in neighborhood parks."
The funds are tied specifically to BCNA 's trail & pathway project. This was the project that was unanimously approved by the general membership in April, 2001. In that decision the general membership approved allocation of funds for the installation of a decomposed granite pathway leading from Gibson Street to the trailhead of the East Bouldin Creek greenbelt. Attached to the decision was also the friendly amendment that BCNA apply for matching funds to help offset any additional costs.
With the addition of t
he APF
grant, the pathway project is a major step closer to completion. BCNA thanks
and appreciates all of the many volunteers and contributors who have spent
countless hours cleaning, clearing & creating landscapes in our park.
special kudos go to local park activists Matt Coldwell, who wrote the grant proposal and pursued it through to completion, and Tony Forshage, who worked tirelessly through the heat of mid-summer to create the gorgeous community garden at the corner of James and South Third Streets.
Editor's note: Since last November's rainfalls, the swimming holes at Nicholas Dawson Park's Gibson and South First Street entrance have had a furious flushing and now look cleaner and more picturesque than they've looked in years. Take a stroll along these water-carved rock spillways and sparkling pools for a reminder of what these natural jewels once were and could once again be with diligent neighborhood and city stewardship.