Friends of Red Bud Isle

 Austin, Texas
Red Bud Isle is an off leash dog park on a small Town Lake island, just below Tom Miller Dam.   There are numerous open play areas, lots of shade and plenty of paths to the water where dogs can access the lake to swim.   Strolls through the woods are common, along with dogs running, people kayaking and fishing.  Red Bud Isle in located at 3401 Redbud Trail and is a City of Austin park.

Google Earth view of Red Bud Isle

Get on the Friends of Red Bud Isle Distribution List
Friends of Red Bud Isle is a collaborative volunteer effort between individuals and organizations and the Parks and Recreation Department  (PARD) with the common goal of preservation and improvement of Red Bud Isle.  Friends of Red Bud Isle provides a platform to discuss and implement improvements.

Red Bud Isle Workdays are planned on a regular basis and are dog and kid friendly events!
 

October Workdays!

We were given the green light for another pass at ligustrum removal at Red Bud Isle.  We have finished the cutting/treating stage.  All the brush needs to be placed near the parking lot so the big brush truck can haul it away. 

As you walk the park grab a branch and drag it there please!

 

Second Shoreline Repair Project at the Point is complete!

Both shoreline projects were made possible by a grant from Austin Parks Foundation, PARD, community and business support and Friends of Red Bud Isle. 

The following companies donated towards this project - THANK YOU!:

Please considering helping with Red Bud Isle projects by donating. A fiduciary account dedicated to Red Bud Isle improvements has been set up at Austin Parks Foundation for donations (tax deductible).   Send checks (with a note on the check directing the donation to Red Bud Isle) to:

 Austin Parks Foundation,  
701 Brazos Street, Suite 170,
Austin, TX 78701.

 

First Shoreline Repair Project at the Point.


Erosion work by E-Corps and PARD on an water access path located at the point.   

 

Notes on invasive plant removal at Red Bud Isle: 

Invasive plant removal update, 8-03:  Another pass at ligustrum removal was made in July and involved hiring E-Corps to cut and treat the old stumps from previous workdays.   The wooded areas of the park are looking more natural without these unsightly stumps.  We are working with PARD to determine the next phase.  Minimizing brush piles will be a priority.

Ligustum and chinaberry trees, the two invasive tree types we are targeting at Red Bud Isle, are very fast growing trees and are very adaptable.  Left unchecked they will quickly become established in areas, take over and choke out native plants.  As you walk through the park you can see the effect they have had in areas. Here are a few problems these plants create:

  • Invasive plants shade out understory plants, leaving bare dirt that erodes quickly. 

  • Invasive plants grow quickly, out-competing native plants that feed and shelter wildlife.

  • Invasive plants produce astronomical quantities of seed, allowing them to spread rapidly throughout the area.

Native plants will rebound quickly in areas where invasive plants have been removed and we will be planting native species in specific areas to help with the recovery.

Here is our strategy:

1.   Volunteers are cutting ligustrum and chinaberry a couple of feet from the ground with hand saws.  The smaller ligustrum are removed using a weed wrench (removes the roots).

2.   PARD will cut stumps at ground level with a chain saw and apply the appropriate treatment to prevent re-growth.  We have the option of hiring E-Corps for this service also.

3.   PARD will also cut down the larger ligustrum and chinaberry trees, or we can hire E-Corps to do this also. 

4.   PARD will haul off the brush piles. 

5.  We have also been cutting back specific vines that are invasive or causing problems (pepper vine, poison ivy, honeysuckle, and vines that are choking trees).  PARD will be treating the poison ivy re-growth to kill it.

We greatly appreciate your patience through this process. 
The park will recover beautifully.

 

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Note: PARD have started work on killing the poison ivy in the park.  Multiple passes are planned.
 

Workday summary so far:
2007 - March 10th, April 14th, May 20th, June and July (grant/planning), Aug 11th, Sept 29th and Oct 6th (Eagle Scout project), Nov 3rd, Dec 1st.

2008:

  • Jan 20th,
  • Feb 9th
  • Feb 19-29 shoreline project
  • March cane root removal efforts
  • April 12th APF It's My Park Day
  • April 22nd Earth Day with Starbucks volunteers
  • June fundraising
  • July 6th (sandbagging)
  • July 24 (granite and brush).


Total volunteer hours logged for Red Bud Isle in 2007:  1004
Total volunteer hours logged for Red Bud Isle in 2008 (to 3/31):  518
Grand Total Volunteer Hours at Red Bud Isle - 1522

 

Thanks Austin Parks Foundation! (8-03-08)

Friends of Red Bud Isle was awarded grant money from Austin Parks Foundation  in the summer of 2007 to make specific improvements to Red Bud Isle.  The grant totaled more than $16,000.  Thanks go to Austin Parks Foundation and the Austin City Limits Music Festival who dedicated funds for park projects!  The following projects were completed with the help of this grant:

  • Improved water access (for dogs) and erosion control - two new erosion stairways to the water -done
  • Park kiosk - done
  • 4 Benches- done
  • Erosion control fencing - split rail cedar fence - done

And many thanks to everyone who donated funds for these projects.

 

Projects and Participation:   Please email Bern Abplanalp at berna@austin.rr.com  (or phone 347-8955) about how to get involved or to suggest a Red Bud Isle improvement.  Friends of Red Bud Isle rely on volunteers interested in this park. 

Red Bud Isle Project List
Note: PARD approval is needed for all park projects.
 
What volunteers/PARD have done so far ( 8/08):
  • Installed an additional Mutt Mitt station near the entrance.
  • Completed the first shoreline repair project at the point in Feb 2008.
  • Completed the second shoreline repair project at the point in July 2008.
  • Started - removal of giant cane root (pick ax, bag for haul off) - some areas are done.
  • Started - removal of invasive plants throughout the park.  A first pass throughout the park has been completed.  This is an ongoing project that spans months.
  • CTTT worked to repair the erosion problem on a water access point near the point.
  • Installed two more mutt mitt stations.
  • Installed four benches for the large dog play area (scout project).
  • Installed a kiosk at the park entrance (scout project).
  • Installed a split rail cedar fence to help with an erosion problem (scout project).
  • Started - dead brush clean up throughout the park
  • Removed glass bottles  (over a hundred) deep in the woods area (accumulated over many years) and picked up damaged dog  toys and trash from the water.
  • Removed unused tree stakes (30-40 so far!)
  • Poison ivy control (keeping it clipped down) and pulled up ragweed.
  • Poison ivy - PARD is continuing to make passes through the park to treat/kill it.
  • Spread over 60 loads of mulch in areas worn by dog traffic.
  • Created this website.
 
Longer term projects:
  • Repair the boat ramp
  • Other erosion areas?
  • Tree plantings
  • Grass seeding
  • Various dog-related upgrades (small dog play area, etc.)
  • Drinking faucet - there is no water line to Red Bud Isle so the expense of a water faucet is too great for us to consider at this time.

 

 
Red Bud Isle Photo Gallery:

A beautiful view from the boat ramp.

Cactus blooms add beauty to the park.

Large play area for dogs.

A typical trail at Red Bud Isle.

 
Native Trees vs Invasive Plants at Red Bud Isle:
  • Red Bud Isle is filled with the following native trees:

American Elm, Acacia, Cedar Elm, Cottonwood, Cypress, Flameleaf Sumac, Live Oak, Mexican Plum, Mountain Laurel, Mustang Grape, Pecan, Red Oak, Redbud, Roughleaf Dogwood, Sycamore, Texas Ash... and we may have a missed a few.

  • Red Bud Isle also has an overabundance of the following invasive plants. We are working with PARD to remove these plants from the park.

Giant Cane (arundo donax), Chinaberry, Japanese Honeysuckle, Ligustrum, Pepper vine, Poison Ivy

 
Wildlife at Red Bud Isle:
  • Please respect the abundance of wildlife that share the park with us.  The following wildlife have been spotted at Red Bud Isle:

Great horned owls, ospreys, wood ducks, blue herons, grebes, baby turtles and turtles laying eggs, swans and baby swans, raccoons, various snakes, squirrels... and others.

  • Note on snakes:  Diamond-back and big blotched water snakes (two different snakes in the same family of snakes) have been observed in the water and on land at Red Bud Isle. These are non-poisonous snakes, although, they are commonly mistaken for poisonous snakes.  It is rumored that they may help keep water moccasins away.   Water moccasins, which are poisonous, have also been observed on land and in the water at Red Bud Isle although these sightings are infrequent.  Non-poisonous green snakes have also been observed on the island.  It may be helpful to look up pictures of these various snakes at various ages to become familiar with them.  Visitors of Red Bud Isle should respect the various snakes' wilderness and not disturb them or allow children to get close to them.  The following website is one of many that have pictures of Texas snakes:  http://www.texassnakes.net/pictures.html
     
  • Have an interesting wildlife sighting?  Let us know by sending us an email.

 
General Dog park Etiquette Info:
  • Section updated soon, although first on the list is to keep the park clean and healthy by cleaning up after your dog. This will be appreciated by all park visitors!

 
History of Red Bud Isle: 

Red Bud Isle got its start on April 7th, 1900 when the original dam, called the “Great Dam”, burst due to excessive rainfall.  Many parts of the dam, including the large granite blocks you see in the park today, washed downstream a short distance and provided the foundation for what would become Red Bud Isle.  Over the years the island filled in with sediment and greenery as plants and trees found a foothold on the new island.  Cypress and Red Bud trees were early residents, which you can enjoy throughout the park. 

In 1949 the island was officially given to the City of Austin from the State of Texas.  Over the years, Red Bud became overgrown and few people, with the exception of a handful of hearty fishermen, used the island.  Improvements began in 1986 when the area was closed to vehicles.  Shortly thereafter, in 1987, Austin officially declared Red Bud Isle a city park.  As a city park, Red Bud Isle received a face-lift, including the installation of various facilities and came under the maintenance umbrella of the Parks and Recreation Department.  Most recently, in 2001, Red Bud Isle became an off-leash dog park. 

For more information about the history of Red Bud Isle and its evolution with Austin, visit the Austin History Center.

 
General Information:

 

  • Spencer Bench completed his Eagle Scout project at Red Bud Isle consisting of the installation of 4 benches, a kiosk and the split rail cedar fence in the fall of 2007.

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Site last updated on 10/04/2008