Zilker Park Vision Plan Community Survey #5
Zilker Park Vision Plan Community Survey #5
The Zilker Park Vision Plan presented 3 plan concepts on February 15. These plan concepts are below. To hear about each concept, you can watch the recording of Community Meeting #4 and review the presentation. Your input on each concept and preferred elements of each will help the project team to develop consolidated concept to present at the final meeting. If you haven't participated previously, now is a great time to participate.
Vision Plan Guiding Principles and Goals
The following guiding principles and goals were shared with the community to provide guidance in developing the vision for Zilker Park. Please consider these guiding principles and values as you respond to the questions below. To see the full test of the Guiding Principles and Goals, please visit the Project Webpage.
Nature and Ecology
The plan should treat Zilker Park as an ecological treasure. Recognize the park’s relation to water and explore opportunities for interaction with the lake without compromising environmental integrity.
History and Culture
Zilker Park is a metropolitan park which has a regional draw and focus. The plan should treat the park’s historic and cultural resources as a valued legacy to be celebrated for future generations.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Zilker Park should serve the entire community of Austin. The plan should align programs with community interest from all communities of Austin.
Accessibility
The plan should knit the segmented pieces of Zilker Park together, ensuring a more accessible, safe and connected park – north and south sides of Barton Springs Road, north and south shores of Lady Bird Lake, east and west sides of Barton Creek, east and west sides of MoPac. The park is a place you can arrive to by multiple travel options.
Sustainability
The plan should champion sustainability best-practices for Zilker Park. The park should serve as an example of sustainability, protecting and enhancing our natural spaces and assets.
The Plan Concepts
3 Alternatives
The final plan concept will likely share pieces from each concept presented. Your responses below will help identify which elements to piece together the final puzzle.
Elements Common to Each Plan Concept
- Barton Creek rehabilitation
- Green stormwater infrastructure
- Ecological Uplift
- Rehabilitation of the Butler Landfill
- Programming nodes that are connected with pathways/people mover
- Address Azie Morton Road
- Address southern part of park by Azie Morton Road – parking, access
- Water Budget
- Universal ADA accessibility
- Zilker Eagle and Internal Shuttle routes to move people within the park
- Off-leash use is currently planned to remain on the Great Lawn
Plan Concept A: Stitch
Key takeaways
- Land bridge
- Sports complex at Rugby Field
- Removal of vehicular traffic from Lou Neff
- Disconnection of Columbus Drive
- Ecological uplift of Butler Landfill with some surface lot parking
- Pedestrian bridge at Toomey Road extension
- Barton Springs Road (2 lanes of traffic each way, no on-street parking)
- Fenced off-leash areas in Polo Field Lawn and Rugby Field
- Additional pedestrian/bike bridge connections across Barton Creek
- New location of Zilker Hillside Theater (Great Lawn area)
- Stratford Drive realignment east of MoPac and closure of existing Stratford alignment to vehicular traffic
Plan Concept B: Edges
Key takeaways:
- Parking garages at the perimeter of the park
- Sports complex at Polo Field Lawn
- Barton Springs Road underpass for pedestrians and bikes
- Removal of vehicular traffic from Lou Neff
- Removal of vehicular traffic from Andrew Zilker Road
- Ecological uplift of Butler Landfill adjacent to parking garage and Zilker Hillside Theater
- Pedestrian bridge at Toomey Road extension
- Barton Springs Road (2 lanes of traffic each way, on-street parking)
- Pedestrian/bike bridge across Lady Bird Lake to connect to Austin High area
- Nature Playground and new trailhead on west side of MoPac in the Zilker Preserve
- Fenced off-leash areas in Polo Field and near Azie Morton Road / southern part of Zilker Park
- Playground in southern part of Zilker Park
- Additional pedestrian/bike bridge connections across Barton Creek
- New location of Zilker Hillside Theater (Landfill area)
- Stratford Drive realignment west of MoPac and closure of existing Stratford alignment to vehicular traffic
Plan Concept C: Regenerate
View the Plan Concept C overview (PDF)
Key takeaways:
- Repurposed Caretaker’s Cottage and Quonset Hut to Welcome Center
- Boardwalk on Lady Bird Lake
- Separated bike trail from Butler Hike and Bike Trail along Lady Bird Lake
- Lou Neff Point pedestrian and bike bridge
- Move Boat House and dock to be on east side of MoPac/near Butler Landfill
- Barton Springs Road improvements (one lane of travel in each direction and on-street parking)
- Stratford Road remains in its current alignment and open to vehicular traffic
- Ecological Uplift of Butler Landfill (meadow with some tree planting)
- Surface parking lots, no parking garages
- Azie Morton Road improvements
- Improved access points into water at Barton Creek (outside of Barton Springs Pool)