Lady Bird Johnson was widely known for her beautification campaign. As first lady, she fought to clean up many cities in America by adding park benches and planting trees.
She also played a huge role in beautifying what has now become one of Austin's treasures -- the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail.
"It's really laid back and really beautiful and natural," visitor Shelly Green said.
Town Lake wasn't always one of Austin's crown jewels.
"What many people don't realize is that Town Lake and the park land around it used to be not such an attractive part of Austin," Town Lake Trail Foundation president Griffin Davis said.
In the 1960s, lake levels were not controlled and neither was Town Lake. So Town Lake was a flood zone for much of the year.
"No one understood the potential of having a trail here because it was so unattractive," Davis said.
Johnson saw more than muddy trails.
"A few people, especially Mrs. Johnson, said, 'You know, we shouldn't turn our backs on this lake,' " Mayor Will Wynn said.
Austin's Town Lake was one of many places across America Lady Bird Johnson worked to beautify.
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Austin's heart
Austin's crown jewel owes its current existence to former first lady Lady Bird Johnson.
 
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With the help of then-Mayor Roy Butler and other visionaries, Lady Bird spearheaded the Town Lake Beautification Project in 1971.
"We planted hundreds, literally hundreds of trees which now you can see around the lake 36 years later, they are beautiful," former Austin Mayor Roy Butler said.
The city moved the project forward and Lady Bird helped them come up with the money.
"We funded it by a big party. The first at the LBJ Ranch. Due to her reputation and image across the United States we had tremendous support. People like Laurence Rockefellar and Henry Ford came down and helped us," Butler said.
Lady Bird believed a little beauty could go a long way. She was once quoted saying, "It can help create harmony which will lessen tensions."
Davis said that's exactly what's happening at Town Lake.
"It's accessible to all people. It bridges the gap between East and West and serves a function here providing a free recreational resource," Davis said.
The kind of words Butler said Lady Bird Johnson would've loved to hear.
