Corporate Partnerships 2

Corporate
Partnerships

Become a Great Springs Project Partner.

Levels of Corporate Partnerships

Springs Supporter

$5,000

More that 5,000 people are estimated to walk or run on the Great Springs Trail everyday.

Aquifer Advocate

$7,500

The Great Springs Trail will bring new transportation options to the 75,000 households without cars in the four-county corridor.

Trailblazer

$10,000

There are at least 10 endangered species located in the four-county corridor, including species living on land identified by GSP for conservation.

Watershed Hero

$20,000

20,000 metric tons of carbon are projected to be sequestered each year through GSP land conservation projects.

Preservation Partner

$30,000

50% of GSP conserved land will be located on flood plane, with one acre of conserved floodplain holding up to 330,000 gallons of rain water.

Conservation Champion

$50,000

By 2036, GSP will conserve 50,000 acres of Hill Country land between San Antonio and Austin.

Thank you to our Sponsors

Great Springs Trails Plan

Click on image above to download the full Trails Plan pdf.

Great Springs Trails Plan

Thanks to the expert guidance of Alta Planning + Design, Great Springs Project is pleased to present the Great Springs Trails Plan for the proposed 100+ mile spring-to-spring network of trails from the Alamo to the Capitol. This plan is a living document that serves as a resource for the completion of the trail network by the Texas Bicentennial in 2036. Sections of the trail will likely be built in phases, with the order of phases depending on key factors such as funding, landowner negotiation, establishing right-of-way, permitting, design, and construction. This plan represents a major step forward on the path to implementation.

Guiding Principles for the Great Springs Trail

The Trail Network should be accessible to people of all ages and abilities.

The Trail Network should be economically viable.

The Trail Network should be equitable.

The Trail Network should be safe.

Navigating the Trail Network should be easy.

Trails should connect to places people want to go.

Trails should be built for longevity with a sustained commitment to maintenance.

The Trail Network should exhibit a high standard if design.

The Trail development process should demonstrate respect for landowners.

The Trail Network should help protect the springs while enhancing community livability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is this project important?

We still have an opportunity to conserve land over the Edwards Aquifer and the life-sustaining waters that run through it. As one of the fastest growing regions in the U.S., those opportunities will become fewer and further between as residential and commercial development fills the open spaces between Austin and San Antonio. Establishing this protected green corridor will also allow for a trail system connecting people to nature, offering a vital community resource for community health, active transportation, outdoor recreation, and economic development.

Where will the trail go?

The trail will go from Austin to San Antonio, connecting to Barton Springs, San Marcos Springs, Comal Springs, and San Antonio Springs. In some places, the trail is already built, like sections of the Violet Crown Trail. In other places, trail alignments have been planned by local communities or have alignments that are still to be determined.

When will it get built?

This depends on many factors, but the overall goal is to have the approximately 100-mile trail system built and contiguously connected by 2036, with sections of trail along the route being built in phases. The order of phases will depend on key factors such as funding, establishing right-of-way, permitting, design, and construction.

Who will pay for the Great Springs Trail?

Any project of this magnitude requires many sources of investment. Similar long-distance regional trail systems in other parts of the country have had success in leveraging local, state, and federal funding with private investment. These types of projects also generate high annual economic returns on investment, creating continued value for local communities. A similar approach is envisioned for Great Springs Project.

How will this project affect private landowners?

A core value of Great Springs Project is respect for land and landowners. We encourage our partner communities along the corridor to engage with willing landowners who participate in this process on a voluntary basis. We do not endorse the use of eminent domain, except for rare cases in which it is preferred by the landowner. While GSP can facilitate connections between landowners and other stakeholders, we envision most actual land-related transactions to occur between landowners, land trusts, and local community trail operators and managers.

More specific landowner concerns for this type of project can include privacy, trespassing, protection of livestock, and liability. These are all valid concerns. In other similar trail projects, these concerns have been addressed through a combination of written agreements; an understanding of recreational use statutes that help protect landowners from liability; and most importantly through careful design of the trail, trail alignment, vegetative screening, buffers, and fencing. Participating landowners should drive these types of site-level trail alignment and design decisions.

How can I get involved?

When available, we encourage you to participate in GSP public surveys, webinars, and events, and by helping us spread the word about these engagement opportunities via social media and word of mouth. There will also be opportunities in the coming months and years when voicing your support for the project with your elected officials will be welcomed and encouraged.

If you have other ideas about how you can help, or if you represent an organization, business, or landowner that is interested in becoming a project partner, please contact us at info@greatspringsproject.org

Where can I hike/bike right now?

Several local community websites provide great information on the many places you can hike and bike today:

Austin, TX
Buda, TX
Kyle, TX
San Marcos, TX
New Braunfels, TX
San Antonio, TX

What our Community Members are saying...

“As the Central Texas region grows together, the Great Springs project is absolutely the best hope for a permanent, unifying, and essential greenspace that demonstrates our respect for our land, our natural resources, our history, our outdoor spirit, and our commitment to the common good.” – The Honorable Henry Cisneros

“So important to not only preserve open spaces but give access to them and allow us as citizens to put our taxpayer money to work where our values are.”

“Such a fantastic concept. Been needed for a long time but after Covid, access to quality spaces like this has never been more important for health and wellness for everyone.“

“I feel this is such an important project to help preserve and conserve the natural area in such a densely populated area.“

Springs Supporter

$5,000

More that 5,000 people are estimated to walk or run on the Great Springs Trail everyday.

Aquifer Advocate

$7,500

The Great Springs Trail will bring new transportation options to the 75,000 households without cars in the four-county corridor.

Trailblazer

$10,000

There are at least 10 endangered species located in the four-county corridor, including species living on land identified by GSP for conservation.

Watershed Hero

$20,000

20,000 metric tons of carbon are projected to be sequestered each year through GSP land conservation projects.

Preservation Partner

$30,000

50% of GSP conserved land will be located on flood plane, with one acre of conserved floodplain holding up to 330,000 gallons of rain water.

Conservation Champion

$50,000

By 2036, GSP will conserve 50,000 acres of Hill Country land between San Antonio and Austin.

Levels of Corporate Partnerships

Springs Supporter

$5,000

More that 5,000 people are estimated to walk or run on the Great Springs Trail everyday.

Aquifer Advocate

$7,500

The Great Springs Trail will bring new transportation options to the 75,000 households without cars in the four-county corridor.

Trailblazer

$10,000

There are at least 10 endangered species located in the four-county corridor, including species living on land identified by GSP for conservation.

Watershed Hero

$20,000

20,000 metric tons of carbon are projected to be sequestered each year through GSP land conservation projects.

Preservation Partner

$30,000

50% of GSP conserved land will be located on flood plane, with one acre of conserved floodplain holding up to 330,000 gallons of rain water.

Conservation Champion

$50,000

By 2036, GSP will conserve 50,000 acres of Hill Country land between San Antonio and Austin.

Levels of Corporate Partnerships

Springs Supporter

$5,000

Aquifer Advocate

$7,500

Trailblazer

$10,000

Watershed Hero

$20,000

Preservation Partner

$30,000

Conservation Champion

$50,000

Thank you to our Sponsors

Great Springs Trails Plan

Great Springs Trails Plan

Guiding Principles for the Great Springs Trail

Frequently Asked Questions

What our Community Members are saying...

Levels of Corporate Partnerships

Springs Supporter

$5,000

Aquifer Advocate

$7,500

Trailblazer

$10,000

Watershed Hero

$20,000

Preservation Partner

$30,000

Conservation Champion

$50,000

Levels of Corporate Partnerships

Springs Supporter

$5,000

Aquifer Advocate

$7,500

Trailblazer

$10,000

Watershed Hero

$20,000

Preservation Partner

$30,000

Conservation Champion

$50,000

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