I remember the first time I visited the Barton Creek Greenbelt and the lasting impression it left on me. I grew up in a small town in Iowa, AKA “God’s Country”, our home engulfed by a forest with a small creek winding through it. It’s where I learned to love nature, and the unimaginable possibilities it opens up. My brothers and I spent hours back there, and it left me equating home, and belonging, with the woods.

Zilker Park belongs to all the people of Austin. And every memory made and every story told contributes to its legacy. To celebrate the many voices that make Zilker Park so special, Zilker 351 is launching a Guest Blogger Series. We begin with Holly Hawk, Executive Director of the Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy, whose story reflects the deep connection so many of us feel for Austin’s most beloved park.