Long story short
Laurie Mason, the outreach manager with Pines and Prairies Land Trust, asked Bastrop City Council in early July for continued funding toward their efforts with the Colorado River Refuge—a 65-acre nature preserve established in 2004 in the Tahitian Village neighborhood.
The site is open to the public.
“It really reflects the values of our community,” Mason told Bastrop City Council. “It’s home to our most popular programs where we provide volunteer opportunities, outdoor learning and special events like night hikes or birding excursions.”
The Colorado River Refuge also offers a variety of other amenities, including:
- Three-plus miles of hiking trails
- Riverside picnic areas
- Nature play spaces
The Pines and Prairies Land Trust, considered a community support organization by the city of Bastrop, requested $8,000 in funding from the city of Bastrop for fiscal year 2026, according to a city staff report document.
“That will support our staff time and programs, our upkeep and safe parking, as well as improvements like professional tree work, new climbing structures and resource protection,” Mason said. “These services directly benefit the citizens of Bastrop by keeping the Colorado River Refuge clean, safe and welcoming.”
The background
Mason highlighted how the $8,337 in funding the city of Bastrop awarded the nonprofit organization for fiscal year 2025 proved beneficial.
“We provided over 630 hours of outdoor learning, which included reaching 30 new families through our nature classes, and completed almost 600 hours of community volunteering,” she said. “We also formed a partnership with the Bastrop ISD Peer Assistance and Leadership program where students can fulfill their community service hours through us and contribute to special projects.”
This year, students in the Bastrop Peer Assistance and Leadership program designed and installed features for a new “naturescape”—a children’s play area that Mason noted encourages physical activity, imaginative play and connection to the natural world.
“These spaces combat nature deficit, and have been requested by local families for years," she said.
Also of note
Area residents can contribute to the Pines and Prairies Land Trust by donating or exploring volunteer opportunities online.
