Eight years in the making, Bee Cave's new primitive park, Greenway Primitive Trails at Bee Cave, opened June 8.

"It's the only park in the area that offers primitive trails for hiking and enjoying nature," Bee Cave City Councilwoman Zelda Auslander said. "It's a completely unimproved park left in its natural state for the purpose of preserving open space and enjoying the outdoors."

Falconhead West subdivision developer Don Walden said he conceptualized the park, located off Hwy. 71 near the entrance to Falconhead West, as a quiet haven for community members wanting a respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

"It's the crown jewel of the Bee Cave park system," Walden said of the new trails.

The tract was originally owned by a partnership of Drees Custom Homes, Taylor Morrison Homes and Ryland Homes, which bought the approximately 160 acres from a family estate for about $4.8 million in 2005, Walden said.

"Our vision was to always leave it in its undeveloped state and gift it to the city of Bee Cave," he said.

Walden was directed to design the park to facilitate walking, running, hiking and mountain biking, he said. In constructing the five trail routes traversing the park, Walden said he looked for areas with the least amount of vegetation to clear.

Walden said he used GPS to color-code and number the 6-mile trail system for the ease of its users and constructed a box at the trailhead with colored maps of the area. He also added directional signs throughout the trails.

"By 2010, the partnership was ready to wrap up the park and give it to the city of Bee Cave," Walden said.

However, he said that after many lengthy debates, city officials declined to accept the park.

On June 8, the park was given to the Falconhead West Homeowners Association, which leased the site for 20 years to the city of Bee Cave Economic Development Board for the benefit of the community, Walden said.

"The original intent [of the park gift] is to eventually convey [the park] to the city," said Bonnie Carlisle, CEO of Southwest Management Services. Southwest Management oversees the Falconhead West HOA and is responsible for various aspects of the park's maintenance. The city of Bee Cave Police Department patrols the area for security and locks the park gates at night.

The Bee Cave EDB uses a portion of its $0.375 in sales tax to fund the parkland's management, Auslander said. Auslander, who is also a director of the Bee Cave EDB, said the board accepted the primitive park in as is condition.

"The ED board is better suited to own and operate the park," board President Michael Murphy said. "We have a dedicated sales tax, which can only be used for specific purposes, and parks is one of those. We can build [parks], and we can operate them."

A city ordinance does not allow camping in the park. The site, because it is not an improved park, does not fall under Americans with Disabilities Act rules, Auslander said.

The park is only available during daylight hours, has a small parking lot for 10 vehicles and does not have restrooms, she said.

Auslander said no additions are planned for the primitive park.

"I'm excited [that] we're able to offer this to the community," Auslander said. "It's a win-win for all sides, including the environment."