Foreverland PBS Premier

Foreverland, a new documentary exploring one of Austin’s most ambitious grassroots conservation efforts, premieres April 15 at 9 p.m. on Austin PBS, with an encore broadcast April 20 at 10 p.m.

The 7-mile Barton Creek Greenbelt is beloved by all who visit. Its deep canyon flanked by rugged trails and framed by limestone cliffs provides a respite from the hectic pace of daily life just minutes from downtown. Prior to 1970, the entire area was privately owned. That it exists today as public open space is the result of determined civic action—largely unknown to those who enjoy it.

In 1991, while the grassroots Save Our Springs movement drew national attention for landmark water-quality protections along Barton Creek, a smaller coalition pursued a parallel strategy: purchasing private land to secure it permanently for public use.

Some within the environmental community opposed this approach, labeling it a“developer buyout.” But supporters believed that preservation of this environmentally sensitive resource—home to rare flora and fauna and critical to the aquifer that feedsBartonSprings—could only be guaranteed through outright acquisition. The group recruited a City Council sponsor, secured a place on the 1992 bond ballot, and painstakingly negotiated land deals parcel by parcel, ultimately assembling nearly 1,000acres of protected public space.

Featuring archival footage, original interviews, and meticulous historical research, Foreverland highlights the leadership and persistence of former City Council MemberBeverly Griffith; parks planner Butch Smith; conservation advocate Ted Siff; and George Cofer, co-founder of the Hill Country Conservancy.

Produced by Karen Kocher, creator of theLiving Springs documentary series, with marketing and communications professional and filmmaker Monica Flores, Foreverland is a sequel to the 2020 award-winningOrigins of a Green Identity, which reached more than 26,000 households. Free public screenings and educational materials for teachers and community organizations will accompany the broadcast.

Broadcast:April 15 at 9 p.m.; encore April 20 at 10 p.m. on Austin PBS

Streaming: April 23 via the Living Springs YouTube Channel