Travis County Parks plans to conduct multiple prescribed burns at East Metropolitan Park the week of June 13, 2022. The prescribed burns are planned for Monday and Tuesday. The prescribed burns will occur between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and will take approximately three to six hours to complete.
Travis County Parks is conducting the prescribed burns in cooperation with personnel from the local fire departments and natural resource agencies.
The prescribed burns are intended to reduce wildfire danger and improve ecosystem health by removing invading shrubs, consuming dead and downed vegetation, reducing the number of exotic species, and enhancing the health and diversity of the native plant community.
Southerly winds are expected which will carry the smoke to the north across the park, Taylor Lane, and communities to the north. Smoke will be present for much of the day but it is expected to be relatively light.
The Park will remain open during the prescribed burn; however, some portions of the park will be closed. We anticipate closing the entire southern portion of the park, the soccer fields, the disc golf course, the basketball parking area, as well as portions of the paved trail. Other areas within the park that are not closed may be impacted by smoke from the prescribed burn.
Travis County is currently under a burn ban. Burn bans limit certain types of fire use in order to minimize the potential for accidental fires and to reduce the impact fires have on emergency responders. Burn bans do not limit all fire use (cooking, welding, etc.), and many activities are allowed with certain restrictions. Prescribed burn managers conduct prescribed burns during burn bans because conditions are favorable for meeting established objectives. Land managers, regulators and emergency responders coordinate the implementation of the prescribed burns.
East Metropolitan Park is located at 18706 Blake Manor Road, Manor, TX 78653.
Media note: The Park will remain open. There may be a PIO or staff available for interviews. Please call the Park Supervisor (contact listed above) for more information.
- Hector Nieto, Travis County PIO, 956-251-2902
- Glen Gillman, Park Land Manager, 512-844-7480
