Gateway beautification project begun

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The two-year highway beautification project for the intersection of US 281 and Texas 71 began with a groundbreaking Tuesday, Dec. 27.

The site has been called the Gateway to the Hill Country and Highland Lakes Region and described as a “welcome mat” at the threshold of traffic from seasonal visitors from within Texas and from far beyond Texas borders.

As such, it was endorsed during the spring and summer by the Burnet and Llano County Commissioners Courts, the cities of Marble Falls, Granite Shoals and Burnet, along with most of the area's cities and counties. The project was proposed by Citizens for Scenic Texas Highways (CSTH) in a landscape partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Adopt-A-Highway program.

Tuesday marked the beginning of phase one of the project, professional arborist services donated by Mills Services of Kingsland. Bradlee Mills, the company's owner and operator, agreed to provide services in excess of $9,770 in November, making him one of the first on the growing list of businesses to join in. The work includes care for free-standing and clusters of native oak trees. Unhealthy and invasive vegetation will be removed under the supervision of TxDOT Johnson City Maintenance District.

Phase two will take place in the wildflower planting seasons of 2017 and 2018, when 56 acres of grassy medians, easements and cloverleaf sections of the project will be planted in $62,000-worth of native annuals and perennials to bloom from spring – early summer.

Native American Seed of Junction Texas serves as consultant and supplier for the project. The trademarked Lady Bird Legacy Wildflower Mix has been selected for this project qualifying a portion of seed purchases to be dedicated to The University of Texas- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s “Seed Grants to Texas Schools.”

Lyndon Baines Johnson championed scores of environmental bills during his presidency of the United States. With his wife, Lady Bird, at his side, the two worked tirelessly to clean up America’s highways, promote conservation and preserve the country’s natural landscapes.

Volunteer Shanon Heep quickly raised a sign Tuesday proclaiming, “Be an environmentalist #belikeladybird.”

“That's what I want to be,” she said.

“Our volunteers share the vision of restoring and preserving the natural landscapes of the Hill County,” said volunteer Soc Gonzalez.

The Llano County resident had brought his grandson, Isaac Pittenger along.

“He wanted to turn a shovel of dirt, too,” said Gonzalez. “He's what this is about: the future, generations to come.”

To learn more about the project, to volunteer or to donate to the fund held in the Highland Lakes Legacy Fund, visit www.ScenicTexasHighways.com or email scenictxhwys@gmail.com.

Partners and sponsors in the project so far are: