The Hays County Commissioners Court has awarded $100,000 from the 2007 voter-approved Parks Bond fund to Hays County Water Control and Improvement District #2 for its Bear Creek Greenbelt Trail Extension and Neighborhood Park project.

The fund had $100,000 available that was uncommitted and the award effectively depletes the fund. The project was one that was highly rated by the Parks & Open Space Advisory Board, which ranked and made recommendations to the Commissioners Court on projects submitted for Parks Bond dollars.

With the money, HCWCID#2 plans to add three miles of trail to its existing trail system and ultimately build a neighborhood park with a playscape and other features. The trail extension, which will begin near Rooster Springs Elementary School in the Belterra subdivision, is designed to follow Bear Creek and its tributaries and connect to neighborhood parks in neighboring HCWCID#1, providing educational signage and outdoor seating along the way. The project is located in northeast Hays County near U.S. Highway 290.  

HCWCID#2 was previously awarded a National Recreational Trails grant by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission which will be used to match the County grant. The District plans to complete the project within three years.