SAN MARCOS GREENBELT ALLIANCE
HCA speaker highlights new trails, conservation
Katherine Romans, Executive Director of the Hill Country Alliance, addressed a full house at the annual meeting of the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance, held in the Pauline Espinosa Community Hall on Feb. 28. In her remarks, Romans highlighted the main areas of concern for the HCA, including land conservation and stewardship, the protection of water resources, and the preservation of dark skies.
Founded in 2004, the nonprofit HCA describes itself as “dedicated to ensuring current and future generations have the opportunity to experience, enjoy and benefit from the remarkable beauty of the Hill Country we know and love.” Through education, leadership development, conservation initiatives, and advocacy, it cooperates with partner organizations in a 17-county region to achieve this goal.
Romans acknowledged and praised the work the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance has done in developing and maintaining its more than 30 miles of trails within the city’s natural areas.
In his report later in the program, SMGA Stewardship Chair Cameron Herber described the organization’s accomplishments in this vein in more detail. During the last year, he noted, SMGA has completed a trail in the new Limestone Link natural area, a first cooperative effort with Hays County; created a trail in the Cottonwood Creek neighborhood; and planned and prepared for a new trail along Purgatory Creek. Known as “HunDun,” this trail will run from Hunter Road to the Dunbar neighborhood. This project is being funded by a grant awarded to the San Marcos River Foundation, which will use the money to purchase necessary equipment, and carried out by SMGA.
“Together the members of our teams are doing great things for the community and the environment we live in, leaving a great legacy for the upcoming generations to benefit from natural areas with trails, and a river that flows with good water,” said SMGA President Jon Cradit.
In addition to hearing reports on trail crew activities and SMGA business, attendees at the annual meeting also voted to accept a slate of board members: Pat Egan and Emma Parsley, who will be serving their first three-year terms, and Melani Howard and Olivia Kouba, serving their second three-year terms.
As always, a highlight of the meeting was the presentation of awards. Selected as Volunteer of the Year was former board member and president Diane Phelan. Named Community Partner of the Year was Middleton Brewery, which has supplied beer for successive annual meetings. Receiving this honor were owners Calvin and Olivia Kouba. Winners of both awards were also given walking sticks handcrafted by SMGA member Kenneth Dees. Founded in 1998, the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance is dedicated to creating and conserving an interconnected system of parks and natural areas for the current community and future generations. SMGA envisions a network of accessible natural areas that enrich daily life, support wildlife, and strengthen human connections to the outdoors.
A totally volunteer organization, SMGA maintains a regular weekly schedule of trail building and maintenance. In 2025, volunteers, both on the trails and in other capacities — serving at community events or tending to organizational tasks — contributed at least 3,000 hours, which have been valued at more than $103k.
Diane Phelan receiving Volunteer of the Year award from board member Ben Peck. Photo courtesy of Susan Hanson
Katherine Romans, Executive Director of the Hill Country Alliance, discussed land conservation and stewardship during the annual SMGA meeting. Photo courtesy of Susan Hanson
Newly elected SMGA board members: Olivia Kouba, Emma Parsley, Pat Egan, and Melani Howard. Photo courtesy of Susan Hanson
