High up on a hill in East Austin is the beautiful Red Bluff Vista. Often called the Mount Bonnell of East Austin, Red Bluff has long been ignored and neglected by the city. Together, a group of neighbors and environmental advocates are trying to change that. Over the past year, they’ve been working hard to clean up the site, begin building trails, and call attention to the land’s potential.

(You can learn more about the history of Red Bluff with the above video from V&M Productions)

As a result of this, they’ve been able to get on the agenda of an upcoming City of Austin Environmental Commission meeting. At the meeting, they’ll be asking for city support in permanently preserving and protecting Red Bluff from development. They’ll also be asking for a robust community engagement process and neighborhood participation in the creation of a future Red Bluff nature preserve or park.

The addition of a permanent nature preserve in the area could do a lot to serve a neighborhood that traditionally has had limited access to nearby parkland. Protecting Red Bluff would provide walkable park access for over 300 households, including 160 low-income households and about 350 children.

The Environmental Commission meeting is on Saturday, March 25th from 2pm to 3:30pm at the Austin Community College Eastview Campus. At the meeting, there will be an opportunity for the public to share their thoughts about Red Bluff with the city. Organizers from the Springdale-Airport Neighborhood Association, the Sierra Club’s Austin Environmental Justice Team (ATXEJ), and the Save Red Bluff Coalition will all be in attendance and are inviting the community to join them in solidarity and support. More info>>