Friends of McKinney Falls State Park

2008 Neighborhood Beautification Grant Recipient

McKinney Falls is a State Park only 13 miles from downtown Austin and visited by an average of 13,000 to 20,000 visitors per year.  The Friends of McKinney Falls State Park is an all volunteer group dedicated to improving and preserving this wonderful resource.

Grant funds were used to enhance the Smith Visitors Center’s habitat garden and pond.  Three goals are reached in making upgrades to the pond and habitat garden:  give a superb example of a natural and beautiful setting for visitors, enhance the quality of a Backyard Habitat, and focus the energy of Austinites and the Friends of McKinney Falls in a project that gives a positive public example of cooperative effort.  

Visit www.MckinneyFalls.org for more information.

BEFORE

DURING/AFTER (Photos by Nancy Sheppard)

Volunteers came together on a Sunday morning, March 22nd 2009, for the pond restoration and beautification project at the McKinney Fall's State Park Smith Visitor Center.  Its transformation is a credit to their energy and love of our state park.  A special thanks to Bruce Bates and his son Eaton of Lone Star Ponds for their volunteer work and knowledge of pond restoration.

Volunteers included Wayne Hillman, Nancy Sheppard, Brenna Brock, Betty McCreary, Shane Riggs, Julia Osgood, Rob Newton, and Frank Esparza.