By Sahar Chmais
DRIPPING SPRINGS — The city of Dripping Springs received a 300-acre land donation, adjacent to Headwater Subdivision, from Dick Rathgeber and Rathgeber Investment Company LTD. The property was appraised at about $5.7 million and will be dedicated to the city as Rathgeber Natural Resource Park.
This land donation has more than doubled the city’s parkland to 571 acres.
“The city of Dripping Springs is extremely grateful to Dick Rathgeber for his generosity and incredible contribution to the city’s current park system,” Mayor Bill Foulds, Jr. said. “As Dripping Springs continues to grapple with high rates of growth, access to, as well as conservation and proper management of public land becomes vitally important to the health of the Texas Hill Country. The Rathgeber Natural Resource Park will not only protect and improve an indispensable piece of Hill Country habitat and watershed, it will also provide the Dripping Springs community with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience and learn from this majestic and endangered landscape.”
Not only will this protect 300 acres of land, but it will also provide public access to passively recreate, immerse in nature and explore the Texas Night Sky, according to the city’s press release.
Further, the deed’s Use Agreement includes 66 acres for seasonal use by the Capital Area Boy Scouts of America Council in Dripping Springs.
“While the Dripping Springs community is the biggest beneficiary of this gift,” said Kelly Schmidt, Drippings Springs Parks & Community Services Director, “through the contemplated Use Agreement, the Capital Area Boy Scouts will be able to provide seasonal Boy Scout programs for generations to come. It’s exciting to think about the many community connections and improved quality of life experiences the park will serve as a catalyst for.”
Others have also reached out with letters of support, including the Dripping Springs Independent School District, Destination Dripping Springs and Hays County Master Naturalist organizations.
Before the park is open to the public, Dripping Springs will create a plan to protect the land and make sure it is meeting the highest standards. There are four guiding principles the city will work from:
• To protect and improve water quality, including efforts to keep the two creeks pristine as possible.
• To create a nature education program, putting up informational signage throughout the park and having an educational center on site.
• To make a conservation plan for long-term land management for the protection of nature.
• To create responsible outdoor recreation for unobtrusive trails, gathering spaces, camping sites and more.
It will take two to four years to develop the master plan and complete the Rathgeber Natural Resource park. The city expects to receive partial funding from the Hays County Parks and Open Spaces $75 million bond, which was approved in the last election.
“I’m extremely pleased with the plans that the city of Dripping Springs has for the park because it is about as close to nature as you can get,” Rathgeber said.
