Red Bud Isle is an off-leash dog park on a small man-made island in Ladybird Lake (Town Lake), just below Tom Miller Dam in Austin, Texas. There are numerous open play areas, lots of shade and plenty of paths to the water where dogs can access the lake to swim. Strolls through the woods are common, along with dogs running, people kayaking and fishing. NO SWIMMING BY PEOPLE IS ALLOWED. Red Bud Isle is located at 3401 Redbud Trail and is a park within the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department. Google map of Red Bud Isle
Friends of Red Bud Isle is a collaborative volunteer effort between individuals, organizations and the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) with the common goal of preservation and improvement of Red Bud Isle. Friends of Red Bud Isle provides a platform to discuss and implement improvements.
UPCOMING Red Bud Isle Workday
Sat, Oct 29 and Sun, 30 8-11?
Poison Ivy removal and trail work at the point
Contact Kyle Allen for info at
kyleallen21@hotmail.com
NEWS UPDATES:
Oct 20th. 2011: PARD Forestry has Red Bud Isle on the list for more bare root seedling plantings this winter. They are in the planning phases.
Oct 17th, 2011: Newsletters and Meeting minutes are conveniently collected on a new Newsletter/Meetings page.
Oct 11th, 2011: We have PARD approval to manually control poison ivy along the trails. PARD requests an email letting them know when this is happening. PARD approval is posted on the kiosk.
Oct 7, 2011: We are working with PARD on a master restoration plan for Red Bud Isle. Some park users expressed interest in this topic. A couple of weeks ago a park user expressed interest in making Red Bud Isle tee-shirts as a fundraising project. If you want to get involved in either of these projects email Nadene at FORBIgroup@hotmail.com.
Oct 6, 2011: More parking! Two of the three curb spaces lost to red no parking area areas have been restored to white. We are checking on the status of the third.
Oct 4, 2011: Continued work by the city on invasive plant removal of giant cane is progressing. Information is posted on the kiosk and it does include some trail closings near the entrance. We are working on consolidating the Friends of Red Bud Isle distribution lists. You may get an email on this shortly. If you want to be added to the distribution list please send an email to Nadene at FORBIgroup@hotmail.com. PARD is currently reviewing a park survey to assess the parking situation. No word yet on the three lost curb spaces as we need the Fire Department to approve them.
Sept 21, 2011 - We are reviewing a project to help reduce the dust and mud the collects along the sidewalk by the handicapped spaces.
Sept 21, 2011 - PARD is reviewing a project for manual control of poison ivy along the trail. Proposal is for FORBI to pull up the plants manually or clip them back making a pass along the trails once a month.
Sept 8, 2011 - American Youthworks E-Corps started work on removing various stands of Arundo Domax (giant cane) at Red Bud Isle This project is driven by the Watershed Department with information posted in the kiosk.
Sept 8, 2011 - PARD staff met with volunteers at Red Bud to discuss various volunteer related topics. PARD wants a strong open dialogue with the FORBI. Parking was a topic and there are preliminary drawings for additional parking spaces (14-20). The estimated cost per space is between $8,000 and $10,000. That adds up fast and shows how expensive this project could be. PARD does not have funds for this and emphasized FORBI would need to obtain consensus for the project and obtain funding.
Sept 2, 2011 - Recent restriping of the parking changed three white curb parking spaces to red (no parking). PARD is looking in to this and hopefully the spaces will be painted white again soon, if they can be. A site review of the parking lot by the Fire Department has been requested by PARD to determine if the spaces are valid parking spaces.
Aug 30, 2011 - We had more mulch delivered, most of which has been spread around the base of trees near the parking lot. These trees get lots of use by dogs and need extra protection due the extreme drought conditions. Thanks go out to everyone who stopped by to help out! The remaining mulch is targeted for more trees.
Aug 23, 2011 - Summer Newsletter posted online. We are having problems with the FORBI distribution list and will send out an email once we get things sorted out.
Aug 17, 2011 Update: PARD is working on the trails at Red Bud
PARD has started work trimming the main trails and pruning trees in the dog play areas. Work is expected to take 1-2 weeks. They are also moving boulders to prevent parking on the grass and installing several NO SWIMMING signs. Swimming is not allowed due to safety.
Aug 2011 Update:
Friends of Red Bud has formed a core group to discuss Red Bud projects. If you are interested in joining this group please email Nadene at FORBIgroup@hotmail.com. To see projects submitted to PARD for review please check out the Red Bud Project List page.
Aug - Notes from OLAAC: Off Leash Area Advisory Committee call for volunteers:
Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is now excepting applications for positions on the Off-Leash Area Advisory Committee (OLAAC). Qualified candidates replace current committee members with expiring terms.
OLAAC is thirteen (13) member committee of community volunteers who advise PARD on matters associated with the city’s off-leash areas (OLA). This is a “working” advisory committee, working in concert with PARD to address issues associated with existing and proposed off-leash areas (OLA). The committee’s core working initiatives center on park adoption, volunteer activities, fund-raising, outreach and education. The committee is charged with bringing about owner/handler awareness in the off-leash areas, through stakeholder involvement. OLAAC committee members serve two (2) year terms.
To learn more about OLAAC, visit http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/offleashareascommittee.htm for the OLAAC mission and information on committee activities.
Click here to begin the application process: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OLAAC2012
Aug 2011 Red Bud Update: What is coming up at Red Bud?:
We are attempting to get another meeting with PARD to discuss the parking situation at Red Bud. This may be an on site meeting with PARD.
The trees are Red Bud need your help. There is a bucket at the park under a stressed tree. Fill it up and water the trees.
Red Bud Isle will be getting a new four sided kiosk thanks to the OLAAC and a grant from APF. With the new kiosk we will be working more closely with the OLAAC to display dog park related information. The dog parks in Austin have joined forces to be heard.
Friends of Red Bud is currently drafting a newsletter. And we welcome your involvement in the group. If you would like to get more involved or suggest an idea please email N Morning (FORBIgroup@hotmail.com)
And to answer that frequent question of what are volunteers watering at Red Bud - we are watering newly planted inland sea oats and beauty berry plants. Both are drought tolerant native plants that reseed nicely.
July 2011 Red Bud Update: July 22 and 23 Mulch and Meet update:
We reached our fundraising goal for our mulching workday - THANK YOU! Mulch was delivered and spread for our Mulch and Meet. We will be mulching again so donations are still welcome. Thanks go out to Advanced Organic Materials for giving us such a great price on the mulch!!
Highlights include:
The dogs had a great time rolling and playing in the mulch.
The large pile of mulch was easily spread as many people stopped by to help out, say hello and discuss Red Bud.
Bill Fraser of the Austin Off Leash Area Advisory Committee joined us to discuss what is going on with dog parks around Austin.
Kyle Allen also presented a survey to park users as we try to gather input on possible projects.
The parking was terrible - and is being discussed. There is no easy answer to the parking challenges at Red Bud.
Spring 2011 - APF It's My Park Day at Red Bud Isle is an annual event - here are the dogs!
Goldie
Rhoady
Spring 2011: Friends of Red Bud Isle leadership has shifted from Bern Abplanalp to Nadene Morning. We offer many thanks to Bern for years of support helping improve Red Bud Isle. Please be patient, these are busy times for everybody.
February 12th, 2011 Update - Tree Saplings were planted at Red Bud Isle
Bare root saplings are in the ground at Red Bud Isle thanks to Treefolks and PARD. These native trees replace the invasive species that had damaged areas and were removed. Those planted in flat areas are protected by a blue sleeve. Those planted along the water edge do not have the sleeve. They are small and not all will survive but we hope many will grow to help build up the urban forest. The trees species chosen are varieties that thrive in the Red Bud Isle environment.
Tree update - 6/20/11 - we started collecting blue sleeves from trees that did not survive the drought. The great news it that many of the bare root trees we planted in February are doing just fine!
Congratulations Friends of Red Bud Isle
2010 Keep Austin Beautiful Litter Abatement Award!
Cleaning up dog waste has always been a focus at Red Bud and the park is much cleaner thanks to the many people who help keep it that way. There are organized clean up days and many volunteers who clean up daily as part of their visit to the park. The goal is to set an example to park visitors so everyone pitches in. Keep Austin Beautiful recognized the Friends of Red Bud Poop Patrol with a 2010 KAB Litter Abatement Award! Congratulation Friends of Red Bud Poop Patrol and thanks to all those who help make Red Bud Isle a great park!
Poison Ivy Control
The summer of 2010 saw efforts to control poison ivy at Red Bud Isle. With PAPD approval E-Corps applied herbicide on poison ivy along the main trails and popular trails to the water. A couple of months later the Friends of Red Bud Isle clipped back what poison ivy remained in these areas. Thanks go out to those who donated funds. Support for this poison iv project was supported by many park visitors!
The
Scoop Sculpture at Red Bud Isle has moved on to
another dog park in Austim
This friendly sculpture will be placed in various dogparks for a period of time
as a reminder to clean up after the pets.
Giant Cane Update, March 17, 2010: Friends of Red Bud Isle is working with PARD to eradicate a section of giant cane (Arundo domax) in an area of Red Bud Isle. PARD approval and information are posted on the kiosk. PARD posting.
We continue our concentrated effort to clear up dog waste in the park. Volunteers pick up waste daily. Please, please, please - be good park stewards and clean up after your pet.
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Donations to help out Red Bud Isle are welcome:
APF special funds for CoA PARD Off-Leash Areas
To all the park visitors and Friends of Red Bud Isle who pick up after their dogs on a regular basis and that clean up after others dogs - We Thank You!
Page last updated on 10/20/2011