Robert F. Smith, the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners (Vista), learned about the importance of giving back to your community at an early age – and the joy of outdoor experiences. During Smith’s childhood, family trips to national parks and other outdoor spaces in his home state of Colorado left an indelible mark on his life. These experiences continue to inspire him to contribute to outdoor-related philanthropic efforts.
Below, we discuss Smith’s work with The Trail Conservancy, a non-profit organization in Austin, TX, and his steadfast advocacy for recreational and outdoor areas throughout the U.S.
The Trail Conservancy
The Trail Conservancy, founded in 2003, connects the Austin community through the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, also known as the Butler Trail. The trail, which is protected, maintained and operated by the conservancy, is a 10-mile urban path surrounding Lady Bird Lake in the city’s downtown region. It was conceptualized by former U.S. First Lady Claudia Alta Taylor “Lady Bird” Johnson and former First Lady of Austin Ann Butler in the early 1970s.
The Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail
The Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail is a public park that takes visitors through a scenic route of the adjacent metropolitan area. The 10-mile trail features the Boardwalk at Lady Bird Lake, which was completed in 2014, and offers more than 300 piers and an art installation for sightseers.
Smith’s $1.25 million gift aimed to improve the infrastructure and safety of the Trail Bridge at Congress Avenue, a decades-old bridge in the trail area. The old bridge linked the trail east and west of Congress Avenue under the Ann Richards Bridge and posed a safety threat to visitors.
The new 14-foot wide bridge, completed in 2018, improved safety, made the area ADA-accessible and provided visitors with a way to see the famed Austin bats, among other benefits.
“Thousands of us are lucky to call Austin home and the many visitors to this city use the Butler Trail at Lady Bird Lake every day,” Smith said. “An investment in the Trail is an investment in Austin’s future — one that will keep our community’s most cherished outdoor asset safe, accessible and enjoyable for many years to come.”
As of 2022, the primary stewardship of the Butler Trail belongs to The Trail Conservancy via a park and operations maintenance agreement (POMA). The POMA also brings the organization’s stewardship to close to 200 acres of parkland on which the trail resides. Initiatives developed around the trail include an activity center, a new trailhead and an arts and culture program.
Smith’s Dedication to the Outdoors
In line with The Trail Conservancy’s stance on individuals having equitable access to the trail, Smith believes it is imperative for everyone to have access to outdoor spaces. Smith recalls stories from his grandmother about her time spent at Lincoln Hills Resort in Colorado, a vacation and outdoor leisure destination built for Black Americans during a time of legal racial segregation. Smith went on to co-found Lincoln Hills Cares with philanthropist Matthew Burkett. Lincoln Hills Cares is a leadership development program that empowers young participants through the exploration of cultural history, outdoor and environmental education and workforce advancement. It also seeks to make green spaces equally available to young adults and families facing barriers to those places.
Smith has helped fund access to outdoor spaces through his work as founding director and President of Fund II Foundation. The Foundation aims to mitigate the impact of historic environmental damage within Black communities to restore and build healthy spaces and communities for future generations. In addition, Fund II Foundation’s Restoration Retreat, a holistic development program, exposes young Black men and women from areas that lack access to opportunities to mentorship, financial literacy, horseback riding, coding and robotics and health and wellness. The Foundation also works to preserve Black historic sites in the U.S., including the Pullman National Monument and the birth and life homes of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Learn more about Smith’s philanthropy efforts and other interesting topics by following him on LinkedIn.
