SAN SABA, Texas – A $10,315 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority will help pay for a beautification project in a beloved section of the city’s popular Mill Pond Park.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, paired with matching funds of $7,494, will allow Keep San Saba Beautiful to complete a series of terraces near the park’s much-used gazebo, lessening erosion and making the area safer for visitors. As part of the project, a series of steps will be built to connect to the park’s walking trail that circles Mill Pond.
Keep San Saba Beautiful, a commission created by the city, oversees beautification efforts within the community. Sarah Saldivar, the group’s executive director, said the ongoing project at Mill Pond Park is an essential one for San Saba.
“Completion of this project will provide safer measures for visitors enjoying recreational activities in the park,” Saldivar said. “KSSB’s goal is to assist the city in making the park more beautiful, greener and a safer place to visit. The LCRA CDPP grant will make the completion of this goal a faster reality.”
Work crews will break down jagged rocks to create terraces from Mill Pond to the gazebo, a popular site for family gatherings and weddings that can hold an estimated 200 people. Mill Pond, which is created by natural springs, cascades into a waterfall that flows into Mill Creek. A small wall will be constructed to deter runoff back into the pond, aiding in the prevention of landscaping erosion.
“Children will be children and jump off rocks when they shouldn’t; the proposed modifications will lessen the urge,” Saldivar said. “The steps and railing will aid everyone in stepping safely to and from the pond and walking trail.”
LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said the project to improve safety at a public venue such as Mill Pond Park is a good match for LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program grants, which help support communities throughout the LCRA service territory.
“LCRA is proud to support improvements at a park the San Saba community has enjoyed for more than a century,’’ Wilson said. “It’s easy to see why people love Mill Pond Park so much – it’s beautiful, and now, it’ll be a little safer, too.”
Wilson said he applauds the city for preserving the natural springs and pond to help ensure the park is available for future generations to enjoy as well.
“This park is popular with both tourists and local residents,” he said. “Working now to prevent erosion and improving access is an important step in making sure this park continues to be a gem for years to come.”
The community grant is one of 25 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. The City of San Saba is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.
Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations. For more information, visit lcra.org.
Media Contact
Clara Tuma
512–578–3292
clara.tuma@lcra.org
