New Rainey Street Trailhead Enhances Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail

The Trail Conservancy unveiled the Rainey Street Trailhead at the end of Rainey Street between Cummings Street and East Avenue in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, July 12. This new two-acre park aims to enhance the connectivity and accessibility of Austin’s trail system, offering several new amenities for the community.

With the rapid development of the Rainey Street District, the connection between this area and the trail has become increasingly important. The Rainey Street Trailhead is intended to serve as a vital gateway, improving ecological functions, expanding recreational opportunities, and providing various amenities for neighborhood residents and trail users. 

The new trailhead includes a nature-based playscape and children’s stage designed for kids to explore and engage with nature, an open lawn for picnics, relaxation, and community events, and a multi-use floating dock for fishing, enjoying lake views, and launching kayaks and paddleboards. Additionally, there are shaded seating areas with lounge chairs, café tables, community picnic tables, and trail-side benches, a bike repair station for quick repairs and maintenance, and enhanced lighting along the park path and trail for improved safety and visibility.

Addressing the needs of a growing district

Ryan Alter, Council Member for District 5, highlighted the extensive safety enhancements: “$800,000 worth of safety enhancements, including pedestrian scale lighting along East Ave and the trail, a camera at the corner of Rainey Street and Cummings Street and split rail fencing extended along Lady Bird Lake. Sidewalk extensions along East Avenue will also be completed in August, providing an alternate means of travel after park curfew hours.”

“I’m excited to open the Rainey Street Trailhead as one of my first projects with The Trail Conservancy,” said Kimberly McNeely, CEO of The Trail Conservancy. “It’s wonderful to see our efforts come to life, creating more opportunities for Austinites to connect with nature and each other.

The Trail Conservancy, which aims to protect, enhance, and connect the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake, collaborated with landscape architecture firm dwg. to develop the space. Construction began in the summer of 2023, and the park officially opens this weekend.

Community celebration on Saturday, July 13

A community celebration is scheduled for Saturday, July 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the new park. The event will feature family-friendly games and activities provided by the Mexican American Cultural Center, UT Football athletes engaging with attendees, discussions on cycling with the Ghisallo Cycling Initiative, and music by Bidi Bidi Banda. UrbanSpace has announced that 10% of proceeds from Tomalo Taqueria and Bacalar (brunch and happy hour) will be donated to The Trail Conservancy for ongoing maintenance of the area.

The Rainey Street Trailhead represents a notable enhancement to Austin’s trail system, providing new opportunities for recreation and community engagement. For more information about the Rainey Street Trailhead and other projects, visit The Trail Conservancy’s website.