Cedar Park is participating in the Monarch Pledge and we would like us to take it further by developing a Cedar Park Wildflower Trail (or trails!) as part of our Active Transportation network, ideally also acting as a tourist draw. This project is a great way to start implementing the recently adopted Council Strategic Goals.
Texas has had a dedicated, State-sponsored highway wildflower program for about 90 years – and not just because it’s great scenery, promotes tourism and supports monarchs and other pollinators. It is an extremely cost effective program. Once native wildflowers and grasses are established, the main change in maintenance is reducing mowing cycles to 1-3 scheduled mows per year, saving money, time and effort compared to standard grass mowing. Everyone will benefit – the citizens, the city budget, the pollinators, local businesses and tourists. Even stormwater management will benefit, as the native plants will slow runoff better than shorn grass and thus allow more rain to soak into the ground instead of ending up in streets and storm drains.
The Wildflower Trail would be a shared-use path fronted by wildflowers and native grasses. Mowing would be seasonal (1-3 times a year) except for a strip immediately adjacent to the path kept shorter to limit encroachment. CTRMA has a good example on the 183A shared use path just North of the Brushy trailhead. This project means multiple beneficial uses for our resources – and a place for our annual Bluebonnet photos far better than the side of a highway.
While we are absolutely open to other locations, a potential first trail segment could be along the existing gas line easement trail from the library to the Quest Park trail, potentially incorporating part of Quest park approximately from the gas line easement to the creek. Trees would remain and this would not impact the ball fields.
An obvious second section is to continue around the library to the crosswalk at Quest and Discovery for access to Heritage Oak Park. Parking at the Tree Lighting is always a big problem – offering a desirable Active Transportation option for the nearby neighborhoods is certain to reduce traffic congestion and make the event more appealing to visitors/tourists. Ideally this section would also restore the trail along the gas line all the way to the railroad tracks, incorporating a destination like a small picnic area and playscape – and also connect to the County parking lot. This year I biked to the County tax office to renew my car registration, and it would have been both safer and far more pleasant along this proposed route.
A great third section would be to continue the other direction along the gas line easement and/or creek, under 183A and connect through the 183A shared use path, which would both complete a link to the Brushy Creek Regional Trail and improve access for Forest Oaks, Quest Village, Park Place and nearby neighborhoods on the East side of 183A. There is plenty of headroom under 183A for cyclists and pedestrians. Much of Lobo Street still exists under there. It wouldn’t take much to make this a great route.
Further segments could easily continue along the gas line easement at least through Forest Oaks. With the cooperation of one of two landowners, it could connect into the Starwood neighborhood (CP ETJ) as well, which makes for a far safer and more appealing route to places like Torchy’s, Phonatic, Panera, A+ Credit Union, doctors and more. Students in Starwood and Forest Oaks would have a more direct and safer route to school.
The wildflower trail would ideally become a signature amenity of Cedar Park, much like Georgetown is known for their poppy festival. This plan is largely just taking better advantage of our existing resources.