| Canopy. That's a great word and a comforting | | | | campsites along the creeks and streams. It's |
| thought when shade is what you need on a hot | | | | easy to imagine that these people also |
| day. When it's canopy provided by trees, the | | | | appreciated the shade of the thickly forested |
| word and the comfort loom refreshingly larger | | | | hills. |
| in the mind of any summer sun-smitten shade | | | | |
| seeker. No man made shade offers quite the | | | | The first European/American settlers founded |
| appeal of the dark and dappled shade of a | | | | a series of small towns along the banks of |
| live oak tree on a sun-baked lawn. | | | | the Colorado River here. One was called |
| | | | Waterloo. Mirabeau B. Lamar, one of the |
| Austin has a rich urban canopy and, although | | | | presidents of the Republic of Texas |
| trees can cause problems with utility lines | | | | discovered the area during a buffalo hunt and |
| above ground and roots that break sewer and | | | | was so impressed by its beauty and its |
| water lines below, their benefit to the | | | | resources that he decided it should become |
| community is undisputable. There are more | | | | the capital of the new republic. Despite |
| than 100 species of Hill Country trees and | | | | stiff opposition from many people, including |
| they provide a satisfying and soothing | | | | Sam Houston, Lamar prevailed and renamed |
| aesthetic component to the urban | | | | Waterloo Austin, after Stephen F. Austin, the |
| landscape-basically by hiding it! They also | | | | Father of Texas. |
| provide significant savings to the city and | | | | |
| its residents by reducing air pollution and | | | | That beauty and those resources have |
| storm water runoff and by saving electricity | | | | attracted people to Austin ever since and |
| by shading homes and businesses which | | | | have inspired its residents to preserve it so |
| consequently use less power for cooling. | | | | that it can continue to be enjoyed. The city |
| | | | has more than 16,000 acres of parkland in |
| Austin's urban forest and hilly terrain work | | | | more than 200 parks, 12 preserves and 26 |
| together to provide city dwellers with a | | | | greenbelts. The Town Lake Corridor offers |
| feeling that they are never far from the | | | | hiking and biking trails that draw thousands |
| country. Many home and business owners in | | | | of residents daily to enjoy the natural |
| the city incorporate these environmental | | | | beauty that the setting along the river bank |
| features into the design of their dwellings | | | | affords. |
| and buildings to preserve and accentuate the | | | | |
| illusion of an out-of-city experience. Of | | | | Zilker park is another hugely popular green |
| course, the increased seclusion, privacy and | | | | area that attracts tens of thousands of |
| noise reduction afforded by such natural | | | | visitors, especially those who come in the |
| barriers are far from illusory, and provide | | | | summer to escape the heat in the ice cold |
| welcome relief from the expanses of concrete | | | | waters of the Barton Springs pool. |
| and asphalt that assail the senses in most | | | | |
| other cities in Texas and, indeed, in some | | | | The trees preserved in this extensive park |
| parts of Austin itself. | | | | system and in the older neighborhoods of |
| | | | Austin are important to the quality of life |
| The thick woods, green hills and spring-fed | | | | that this city has been recognized and |
| streams that grace the area have attracted | | | | honored for. As the city and private groups |
| people to the area since way before the | | | | and foundations continue to support the |
| arrival of Europeans and their descendants. | | | | preservation of old trees and the planting of |
| For hundreds of years, nomadic indigenous | | | | new ones, its urban canopy will continue to |
| tribes such as the Tonkawa, Comanche and | | | | grow and provide shade for generations to |
| Kiowa Apaches visited the area, attracted by | | | | come. |
| plentiful water, abundant game and reliable | | | | |