WILLIAMSON COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

 

NEWS RELEASE

  

WILLIAMSON COUNTY BREAKS GROUND ON

BERRY SPRINGS PARK AND PRESERVE

 

            July 9, 2004 (Georgetown, TX) – Williamson County’s Berry Springs Park and Preserve took its first step to becoming a reality with the formal groundbreaking of the park today.  The park is located on 300-acres along Berry Springs between I.H. 35 and C.R. 152 with the main entrance off of C.R. 152.  Berry Springs Park and Preserve will be utilized for passive recreational uses including camping, hiking and fishing.  The park will feature a 2.5 mile hike/bike trail that will eventually connect to Georgetown Parks and Recreation trails.  Hall Bargainer is the landscape architect for the project, and Keystone Construction, Inc. is the contractor.

The anticipated completion date is January 2005 with a projected construction budget of $1.7 million.  This park is one of the parks created after Williamson County voters approved a $25 million bond for the creation of parks in 2000.  It also has received a grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife. The Texas Recreation and Parks Account (TRPA) is funded through a portion of sales tax on select sporting good items.           

            Berry Springs Park and Preserve is named after John Berry, an early settler to Williamson County.  Berry was born in 1786 in Kentucky and was a veteran of the War of 1812.  He settled three miles northeast of Georgetown in 1846 in the location of the new Berry Springs Park and Preserve.  He opened a blacksmith and gun shop and spring-driven grist mill near what is now called Berry Creek.  Berry had 18 children by his three wives.  Berry’s great-grandson was Audie Murphy, the most decorated solider in American History. A family cemetery is located on the land and holds the remains of John Berry who died in 1866 and three other family members.  The land historically has been used for farming and a dairy.   - 30 -

 

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