Public Input Needed for the Shoal Creek Audio Walking Tour

Shoal Creek Conservancy (SCC), the environmental nonprofit championing Shoal Creek and its surrounding urban watershed, in partnership with Austin Parks and Recreation, is creating an Audio Walking Tour that will be accessible by smartphone. This free, self-guided tour will educate listeners on significant cultural spaces and events that have occurred along Shoal Creek, which has had an incredibly long and rich history. Each tour stop will include a short recording, voiced by members of the Austin community. The audio tour has been made possible by funding from the Heritage Tourism Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department. SCC is seeking input from the public to determine which stories to tell.
Ivey Kaiser, SCC's Executive Director says 'We have heard lots of requests for an audio walking tour along Shoal Creek, and with the limitations of organizing group tours over the past year, we decided that it's a great time to create this free, digital resource for folks who want to see and learn about the historically significant spaces along Shoal Creek without necessarily attending a group event.' Regarding the public input survey, Kaiser says 'We want this tour to represent the diversity of the communities who lived along Shoal Creek and tell stories of the events that happened long before our time. Input from the Austin community will be critical for an interesting, well-rounded tour that amplifies all voices.'
The Shoal Creek Audio Walking Tour will inform and lay the groundwork for a larger interpretive plan along Shoal Creek. Historic Preservation and Heritage Tourism Program Manager Kim McKnight says, 'The Shoal Creek watershed has so many stories to tell and represents defining moments in Austin's history. These stories range from the lives of Indigenous People and early Freedom Colonies to New Deal bridges and historic flood events. We look forward to working with the Shoal Creek Conservancy to bring the stories to our community.'
Please provide feedback and share your interests with SCC via the Public Input Survey now through June 7. The survey will give Austinites an opportunity to share untold stories and voice their support for the themes and topics that resonate most.
To find out more information and to get involved with projects like this, please visit www.shoalcreekconservancy.org or contact SCC via [email protected].

About Shoal Creek Conservancy
Shoal Creek Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that champions the 13-square-mile Shoal Creek watershed and the creek and trail running through it. The Conservancy engages in thoughtful public-private partnerships, leads fun and meaningful educational programming, and spearheads on-the-ground improvements that make Shoal Creek and the Shoal Creek Trail safer, more accessible, and more inspiring places to be. Learn more at www.shoalcreekconservancy.org
About Austin Parks and Recreation
Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) seeks to inspire our community to learn, play, protect and connect by creating diverse programs and experiences in sustainable natural spaces and public places. PARD protects and maintains parkland, urban forest, and trails as well as offering sports, recreation, educational enrichment, arts programs, cultural opportunities, and nature and aquatic activities for Austinites. For more information visit AustinTexas.gov/Parks.