The San Marcos River Walkers Club
invites you to a 10K walk beginning at Texas Rivers Center (located at the
former Aquarena Springs Hotel) on January 12, 2013. The Texas Rivers Center (951
Aquarena Springs Drive), home of the Meadows Institute for Water and the
Environment, is an education and research project of Texas State University and
partners with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and a branch of the
National Park Service. It is devoted to the study and protection of Texas waters
and is located at Spring Lake, the source of the San Marcos River.
Edwin Brister reads the Golden Cheek Warbler poster |
The walk consists of two 5K loops. The
first loop is a gradual climb on an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) trail
through the Spring Lake Preserve, a wooded area with typical hill country
terrain covered with cedar, live oak, cactus, and Mexican buckeye. Once the
proposed site of a large hotel and conference center, this scenic area was saved
from development by the outcry of San Marcos citizens and conservationists. In
2007 the Greenbelt Alliance successfully campaigned for purchase of the land by
the city. Subsequent grants were obtained from Hays County, Texas Parks and
Wildlife, the U. S. Department of the Interior, various non profit agencies, and
individuals.
The second 5K loop winds past part of
Texas State University and through the downtown San Marcos area, passing several
well-known restaurants and stores. It is mainly flat with no steep hills or
rough terrain. The walk is suitable for strollers. Start time for the walk is 8
to noon, finish by 3. Point of contact is Barbara Piersol at bpiersol@grandecom.net..