This course explores the development of the Tejano Healthy Walking Trails in Austin’s East Cesar Chavez neighborhood, offering actionable strategies for creating culturally significant and equitable urban trails. Initiated by the East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood Planning Team in response to gentrification displacing low-income Mexican American families and iconic businesses, the Tejano Healthy Walking Trails project highlights 38 key community assets to preserve cultural identity and promote physical activity in underserved communities. Over three years, five volunteers researched 50 sites, published 5,000 Trail Guides with a 2010 City grant, and secured National Recreation Trail status with support from the City’s Urban Trails staff and a 2012 National Park Service grant. A 2016 City grant funded wayfinding markers, interpretive signs, video documentaries, solar-powered audio boxes, and a website, with a current Heritage Tourism Grant enhancing the trail for tourists. Participants learn how to engage communities, leverage partnerships, and use innovative tools like QR codes to preserve cultural heritage while fostering inclusive public spaces.

The course draws on lessons from the Tejano Healthy Walking Trails to address challenges such as political opposition, bureaucratic silos, and gentrification pressures. Lori Renteria will share critical insights, including the pivotal mistake of initially focusing on preserving structures rather than community stories, emphasizing the importance of early community engagement to ensure ownership and sustainability. Through case studies, attendees will explore how to design trails that honor local history, promote equitable outcomes, and avoid common pitfalls, ensuring trails serve as tools for cultural preservation and community resilience.

Learning Objectives

1. Develop Community-Centered Trail Planning Strategies: Learn to prioritize community stories and engage stakeholders early to create culturally relevant urban trails that foster ownership and resist gentrification.
2. Leverage Partnerships and Funding Opportunities: Understand how to collaborate with local governments, nonprofits, and preservation societies to secure grants and technical assistance for trail development.
3. Incorporate Technology for Enhanced Accessibility: Explore the use of QR codes, websites, and multimedia tools to make trails interactive and accessible to diverse audiences, including tourists and local youth.
4. Navigate Political and Bureaucratic Challenges: Gain strategies to overcome political opposition and bureaucratic silos to ensure sustained support for trail projects.
5. Promote Equitable Urban Design: Apply lessons from the Tejano Healthy Walking Trails to design public spaces that preserve cultural heritage and promote physical activity in underserved communities.