If you've ever wondered about how Austin came to value its natural outdoor recreational assets like Barton Springs, tune into KLRU-TV when the PBS-affiliate airs Origins of a Green Identity, an hour-long documentary exploring Austin's earliest efforts to preserve Barton Springs and Barton Creek, and ultimately create a city with publicly-accessible green spaces along its waterways. Produced by longtime friend to AHCA, Karen Kocher, Origins of a Green Identity focuses on two primary architects at the center of efforts to protect both Barton Springs and Barton Creek, and to clean up and develop Ladybird Lake: Chairman of the Austin Parks Board, Roberta Crenshaw and Director of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Beverly Sheffield. The documentary features abundant source material and images from the Austin History Center. It's narrated by Texas novelist, Sarah Bird and features original music from Austin’s Graham Reynolds and guitarist, David Murray.
Origins of a Green Identity airs on KLRU-TV twice the week of April 18:
Sunday, April 18 at 1 p.m.
Thursday, April 22 at 10 p.m.
You can view the documentary anytime on KLRU's Austin PBS website.
In 2006 Kocher completed Austin Past and Present, Austin’s first interactive digital history that was featured in kiosks in local buildings and integrated into Austin Independent School District classrooms. All funds from the sales of the original DVD-ROM were donated to the AHCA, which honored Kocher with the 2003 Katherine Drake Hart Award. She is the creator of Living Springs, an on-going multi-platform documentary series chronicling the history, science and culture of Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer.
