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A 222-acre tract of riverfront land known as Rainbow Trout Farm in Blanco County was approved for purchase as a new LCRA park by the LCRA board at its Oct. 15 meeting. Closing on the $3.5 million property took place Nov. 7.

The tract has frontage on U.S. Highway 281 and the Pedernales River in Blanco County and Johnson City. It is near the Blanco County Fairgrounds and is only a 15-minute drive from Blanco. The new park will be easily accessible to all citizens of Blanco County.

LCRA staff anticipates that master planning for the property could begin as early as spring 2009. At that time, community input will be sought so that citizens will have the opportunity to have a say in determining the types of outdoor recreation facilities and activities they would like to see developed in their county. The parkland is centrally located in Blanco County and would help meet community needs for additional opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.

Staff also is exploring the feasibility of opening to the public limited day use — such as fishing and picnicking — by summer 2009.

“LCRA is proud to be creating a new park in Blanco County for all residents to enjoy,” said Brenda Adair, an LCRA director representing Blanco County. “With community input, we can create an outdoor experience along the river that will make special memories for families and friends for decades to come. We look forward to working with the community and watching this new park take shape together.”

LCRA owns 40 parks along the Colorado River Trail that runs 600 river miles from the Texas Hill Country to Matagorda Bay. More than 1 million people have access to the Colorado River and Highland Lakes annually through LCRA’s parks and recreation areas. The LCRA Colorado River Trail Master Plan, developed in 1991, envisions an LCRA park providing access to the river, lakes or a major tributary of the Colorado River in each of LCRA’s statutory counties along the river. The Pedernales River is a tributary of the Colorado River. The trail was intended to help conserve natural resources and provide recreational opportunities in the region.