San Gabriel River Trail Project: Connecting Academics and the Community

The Trail 8.2 mile hike and bike trail that connects downtown Georgetown with Lake Georgetown connects with 16 mile Good Water Trail around Lake Georgetown

San Gabriel River Trail Unnamed Spring

San Gabriel River Trail

Good Water Trail Trailhead Near Cedar Breaks Austin Explorer:

Good Water Trail

Good Water Trail Crockett Gardens

Good Water Trail Crockett Gardens Spring Austin Explorer:

Good Water Trail Near Tejas Camp Austin Explorer:

Good Water Trail Near Russell Park Austin Explorer:

From the dam looking east

3M Foundation Vision Grants helping liberal arts colleges and universities make connections between academics and the community

Southwestern University awarded a 3M Vision Grant in June 2006 focuses on research and creative projects that benefit the San Gabriel River Trail $50,000 over three years multidisciplinary projects students and faculty apply for funding

University/Community Partnership Southwestern University City of Georgetown US Army Corps of Engineers

SGRT Project Steering Committee Kimberly Garrett Director, Parks and Recreation City of Georgetown, Texas Laura Hobgood-Oster Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy and Chair, Environmental Studies Southwestern University Ben Johnson Student Southwestern University Michael Kamen Associate Professor of Education and Chair Southwestern University Ben Pierce Professor of Biology Southwestern University Vicente Villa Community Leader City of Georgetown Carey Weber Park Manager, Lake Georgetown US Army Corps of Engineers

Application for Funding Project Narrative (limit entire narrative to no more than 4 pages) 1. Background (provide context and reason for conducting this research/creative works project) 2. Goals of Project (briefly list the major goals and objectives of the project) 3. Project Methodology (describe how the project will be carried out, including any specific methods used) 4. Project Participants (list or briefly describe who will participate in the project) 5. Project Schedule (give a brief schedule for major milestones of the project) 6. Community Involvement (briefly describe how members of the local community will be involved in the project) 7. Use of the San Gabriel River Trail (explain how the project will utilize and/or benefit the San Gabriel River Trail and its users) 8. Evaluation (Briefly describe how you will assess the goals of the project, including reflection by student participants on the role of community in research projects and creative works) 9. Dissemination (describe how the results of the project will be disseminated to members of the academic and local communities)

Requirements for Funding From SU 3M Vision Grant must be a research or creative project that involves students – class projects – student research projects – faculty/student collaborative research projects must focus on or benefit the San Gabriel River Trail or trail users must have a community component

Funding Levels for Projects typically $500 - $1500, but will consider larger and smaller amounts

Application Procedure short application form on web site talk to one of faculty coordinators – Laura Hopgood-Oster – Michael Kamen – Ben Pierce may need to visit with City of Georgetown or Corps of Engineers fill out application applications considered by Steering Committee

Web Site San Gabriel River Trail Project Funded through a grant from the 3M Corporation

Ideas for Potential Trail Projects