Moody Center
Perturbed on Parking
RECEIVED Mon., May 24, 2021
Dear Editor,
I would like to congratulate the city of Austin for its new amenities at the Hill of Life Trailhead to the Barton Creek Greenbelt. The educational displays and other signage represent money well spent.
However, to placate a handful of neighbors, the city also declared the entire neighborhood off limits for parking except for those holding special permits available only to residents.
That means more than 99% of Austinites can’t access the trailhead.
How do you balance the interests of the handful of affected residents who had to suffer the indignity of someone parking in front of their house with the many hundreds of hikers and bikers who regularly used that access to the greenbelt? Does the trailhead’s being in existence since the neighborhood was developed matter? The trailhead’s preceding homebuilding in the neighborhood means those moving close to the trailhead were, or should have been, aware of the amenity.
I would like to congratulate the city of Austin for its new amenities at the Hill of Life Trailhead to the Barton Creek Greenbelt. The educational displays and other signage represent money well spent.
However, to placate a handful of neighbors, the city also declared the entire neighborhood off limits for parking except for those holding special permits available only to residents.
That means more than 99% of Austinites can’t access the trailhead.
How do you balance the interests of the handful of affected residents who had to suffer the indignity of someone parking in front of their house with the many hundreds of hikers and bikers who regularly used that access to the greenbelt? Does the trailhead’s being in existence since the neighborhood was developed matter? The trailhead’s preceding homebuilding in the neighborhood means those moving close to the trailhead were, or should have been, aware of the amenity.
Philip Russell