McKinney Roughs Nature Park reopened today following a weekend fire that closed the popular park on Highway 71 between Austin and Bastrop.

The fire burned three acres. Fire department officials said the fire was started by a cigarette discarded along Highway 71.

The west side of the park will be open at the Pope Bend Road entrance on Highway 71. Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“The trails on the west side of the park were not affected by this fire, so we are ready for hikers and equestrian riders to return to the west side,” said Carolyn Nelson, manager of LCRA’s natural science centers.

Meanwhile, the park’s summer camp is operating at full capacity.

This is the second fire to damage McKinney Roughs since a brushfire started June 1. That fire burned close to 200 acres and caused the shut down of the 1,100-acre park’s east side. That area remains closed to visitors.

Information updates about park access are made frequently on the McKinney Roughs hotline at 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 7427. For general park and program information, call (512) 303-5073 or go to www.lcra.org/parks.