It was reported today in the Austin American-Statesman that the owner of Windy Point Park on Lake Travis, is for sale. Money talks - the asking price is $15,000,000. The owner can't afford to donate the park to Travis County (nor should he have to) - and, and 78, he wants to retire to Fiji - and who can blame him?
Bob Barstow put together the land from several parcels in the 1970's and 1980's, and the public has been enjoying it ever since. (As an old hippy, I can attest that the public was likely enjoying it even before then.) It adjoins Travis County's Bob Wentz Park.
Mr. Barstow would prefer not to sell to a developer. As he says, he cares about the land and he'd like to be proud of it when he comes back through Austin, not see it torn up into individual homesites. I'm sure all the thousands of people who have enjoyed the park in the last few decades would prefer that that not happen, as well. The county says they can't afford to buy the park. Maybe a fundraiser - could we have enough bake sales to come up with a significant chunk of the needed 15 million? Maybe make and sell neck coolers? There's gotta be a way to save the park! I mean, after all, no more playing in Lake Travis at Windy Point? No more trips to the Oasis after a day at the park?
In the meantime, all of you who have played on the lake at Windy Point Park, take advantage of it while you can. This may be the end of an era (or two).
James, that's one idea - but the question is, could it be done in time?
Gary, I, too, hope it can be saved. We're losing so many of these places to development - if we're not careful, we'll lose all the reasons that people want to live here/move here in the first place. As someone who loves the Austin area, AND as a real estate agent, I know that's a very bad thing.