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Red Bud Isle for Pooches and People

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Written by Criss Crossing

The open minded, free spirit of Austin extends not just to people, but to their pets as well.  With more leash free areas for dogs per capita than any other major Texas city, Austin embraces their best friends as ardently as they do their individuality.  One of the greatest examples of this is the Red Bud Isle Park.

A 13 acre park at the upper end of Lady Bird Lake, Red Bud Isle is a former peninsula which became cut off from the shoreline by a large flood on April 7^th, 1900.  After decades of neglect, the area slowly crept into public use.  In 1986, control of the island was transferred from the State of Texas to the City of Austin.  A year later, it became a city park.  The leash free designation was given in 2001.

The park itself is a beautiful natural setting with a well maintained primary trail creating a loop through the interior of the island.   Numerous side trails give a variety of access point to the lake on either side of the tear shaped islet.  A great variety of plant and bird populations make the park a true oasis from the surrounding city.

The circular drive and parking area on the western edge of the park are the only exposure to vehicular traffic.  This provides a safe play area for pets and families alike.  As if surrounded by a moat, the lake around the park provides a natural boundary for pets to romp, roam and cool down.

Strict rules about cleaning up after pets and widely available biodegradable bags and trash receptacles provide for a dog and people friendly nature area that is relative free of both human and pet debris.

Bringing a dog to the park is not mandatory.  A large number of kayakers use the park a launching point to explore the spill way below Lake Austin or to navigate the waters of Lady Bird Lake.  The point at the eastern end of the lake is a popular gathering area for swimmers, hikers and dogs owners alike. If you do plan on enjoying the park, you must keep in mind that it is a leash free facility and the canines occasionally have their own behavioral boundaries, despite the best intentions of the owners.  You might get muddy paws on your shirt or an unexpected participant in your picnic!

While the city offers standard park maintenance, Redbud Isle benefits from a very active volunteer group called Friends of Red Bud Isle (www.redbudisle.org).  Recent contributions to the park by this outgoing group includes the recent push to clear invasive non-native plants and to repair flood erosion by creating highly aesthetic retaining walls in erosion prone areas.   They have also erected several benches with lake or play area views.

Red Bud Isle is a real treasure for the City of Austin’s inhabitants and is a great stop for visitors to the area looking for a quick brush with nature without leaving the city.  The park is located on Red Bud Lane immediately after crossing the bridge heading south from Lake Austin Boulevard.

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