Government
BY JANE TURCHI
New trail connectivity coming to Mayfest Park Trail connectivity to Mayfest Park was made a priority in the 2023 Parks Master Plan to increase access to the park. The trails are part of a master plan to connect parks across the city. About $260,000 was reserved for the construc- tion of the trails, City Manager Sylvia Carrillo said. According to the parks master plan, there are a total of three trails throughout the 12 Bastrop city parks, and a need for more hiking and biking trails was listed among residents’ priorities. Also of note Previously approved by council to increase access to Mayfest Park, the project has no affil- iation with the Bastrop Gateway development, which proposed a trail connection to the park, Carrillo said at the April 29 City Council meeting.
Bastrop Gateway project sees revisions The Bastrop Gateway project—a devel- opment planned on 31 acres of land at the intersection of Pitt Street and Hwy. 71—revised designs following public concern about the development’s impact on traffic and the surrounding wildlife. Bastrop Gate- way design firm Place Designers requested a zoning change to allow for urban design in March. City Council tabled the issue at the May 14 meeting, allowing time to review the new changes. Sorting out the details The following changes were made to the Bastrop Gateway design plans: • Lower hotel height • Reduce impervious cover • Add a buffer of trees
Health department receives $50K grant The recently established Bastrop County Public Health Department received its first federal funding to aid in the creation of an infectious disease preparedness team in April. The $50,000 grant from the National Association of City and County Health Officials aims to help build capacity for rural health departments. The specifics The funding will help prepare the Bas- trop County Public Health Department for an infectious disease outbreak similar to COVID-19. Looking ahead The health department will establish a cooperative agreement to provide resources for the effort when the grant expires in July.
9 new sculpture locations approved
Future Mayfest Park trail
Bird statue locations
Future trail
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21
New bird statues are coming to Chestnut Street and downtown as part of the Bastrop Cultural Arts Commission’s Bastrop Bird Junction Project. City Council accepted nine sculpture locations and plans to complete one of the first artworks, the “Red-Tailed Hawk,” in November. Four statues—including a woodpecker along Chestnut Street—will be located at the Bastrop Convention and Exhibit Center. A 10-foot barred owl in front of Film Alley is also planned. “The whole idea of a bird junction is to show physically with sculpture the migration that goes through Bastrop in a very permanent form, which is sculptures,” said Maria Montoya, Bastrop Cultural Arts Commission chair. The details The project will unfold in three phases, Montoya explained. Phases 1 and 2 will introduce statues
WALNUT ST.
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ARENA DR.
CHESTNUT ST.
MAYFEST PARK
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Bastrop Gateway development
WALNUT ST.
AMERICAN LEGION DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING DR.
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JACKSON ST.
SOURCE: CITY OF BASTROP/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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MAP NOT TO SCALE
along Chestnut Street and downtown Bastrop, followed by Phase 3—a bird-themed playscape along Fisherman’s Park. What else? The Bastrop Cultural Arts Commission will select the remaining statue designs from artist applications. Hotel occupancy tax funds as well as citizen donations or grants will fund the $25,000-$50,000 statues, Montoya said.
SOURCE: BASTROP PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE PLAN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
The big picture According to the Bastrop Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan, 71.6 more acres of park space are needed by 2030 to meet the National Recreation and Park Association’s standard based on Bastrop’s projected growth. The planned trails connecting to Mayfest Park will add to the city’s 3,956 acres of linear trail parks.
BASTROP 739 State Hwy 71 (512) 308-0250
ELGIN 1100 US-290 (512) 285-2741
GIDDINGS 1920 E Austin St (979) 212-4031
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