You made history on National Trails Day!
Through your continued support, the newest portion of The Violet Crown Trail (VCT) opened at Slaughter Lane, completing yet another section of what is on track to become the longest trail of its kind in Central Texas. Now you, your family, and your furry friends have a beautiful new ADA-compliant trail to enjoy—forever. That is a milestone worthy of celebration, and celebrate we did!
June 1, 2019 was a beautiful day on the trail. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, the wildflowers were in full bloom, and the air was festive. One hundred and thirty-nine members of the community joined us at the Slaughter Lane trailhead to commemorate this momentous occasion. Rather than the traditional ribbon cutting, Hill Country Conservancy and REI Co-op co-hosted an inaugural 5k ribbon run and a 1k walk-and-talk to immediately put the trail into action. Our partners at REI kicked off the morning by leading an invigorating stretch and warm-up session for all the runners and walkers. 
Joining in the fun was District 8 City Councilwoman Paige Ellis who, along with HCC Board Chair Ashley Kegley-Whitehead and Sendera Neighborhood HOA President Angie Flores, spoke in a brief ceremony expressing sincere appreciation for the donors and community partners whose support made the trail possible. Following the ceremony, participants readied and, at the sound of the starting gun, broke through a violet sash to officially open the trail. Some ran the trail and some walked, but all had a great time! The festivities concluded at the nearby Sendera Mesa Neighborhood Park, where REI treated attendees to breakfast tacos and coffee. Thank you to everyone who came out to share this special day with us. For more photos of the event, visit the Violet Crown Trail Facebook page, and feel free to tag yourself!
Your support realized this new section of trail which will be yours to enjoy—forever. We are grateful for everything you have done to accomplish this milestone. However, the work is not done. To keep the trail safe after heavy rains, free of invasive species, and to ensure a well-kept trail surface, we need your continued help. Please consider a monthly donation to provide ongoing maintenance, keeping the VCT in tip-top shape for all of your future runs or walks.
