 "Photo: Claire Huie")
In 1995, Georgia Lucas, an only child who never married, donated 217 acres of Central Austin land to the state of Texas. After she bought it in the 1940s, Lucas had chosen to preserve the land, turning down millions of dollars offered by real estate developers. Now, Bright Leaf State Natural Area is owned by Texas Parks and Wildlife, and is on its way to becoming an urban oasis for Austin residents.
"Georgia Lucas originally purchased the first piece of land in the 1940s as a way to get away from town. She added to that original piece in 34 separate transactions. The park is unusual in that it is entirely surrounded by the city," said Nancy Woolley, the president of Friends of Bright Leaf, a non-profit group.
Tom Harvey, a spokesman for Texas Parks and Wildlife, said Bright Leaf is unique in many ways.
"You don't see a preserved piece of land overlooking a river like the Colorado River in the middle of an upscale residential area anywhere else. It wasn't something we were expecting, it just fell into our lap," Harvey said.
Harvey said the preserve will always be "this little green oasis," just the way it was before the first Europeans came to America. It is important because it functions as an outdoor museum and will give generations of families a chance to see true wild nature right next door to their homes, he said.
The land is currently closed to the public until there is enough money to build two bridges spanning Dry Creek, which will allow wheelchair access and a visitor center. However, guided tours are offered twice a month and groups can visit the preserve if they contact the manager.
The preserve provides many recreational opportunities to the public, including hiking and nature education. It is also home to many rare plant species and a species of endangered songbird, the Golden-cheeked Warbler. Visitors can complete a 20-minute creekside loop or hiking trails that span more than 200 feet. The park's cliffs are also good for hawk-watching.
Many volunteers donate their time to the upkeep of the preserve.
"We have volunteers who build trails [and] monitor plant species," facility manager Jeff Hershey said.
The main challenge is to get enough funding to open to the public. Hershey said he hopes to do this by fund-raising and asking for donations.
"We need over $400,000. Right now we have no funding, so we're starting from scratch. The bridges need to be substantial enough to resist floods," Woolley said. "We're hoping to apply for grants and get donations. We don't have any funding from the state because the budget is tight."
Be the first to comment on this article!