Zilker Park Priorities by Zone

Beginning with questions on desires around each of the zones identified on the Zilker Interactive Map, please identify your overall preferences for each area identified below.

Zilker Park map with Zones A to G

(A) Nature Preserve Zone: What options are you most interested in exploring?

New trail entrance(s) to the Preserve
45%
Access to the lake in this zone
37%
Leave it as it is. Don't change anything.
29%
New entrance to the Austin Nature and Science Center in this zone
25%
Options with Stratford Drive in this zone
7%
Other ideas
6%
Closed to responses | 774 Responses

(B) MoPac Zone: What options are you most interested in exploring?

Non-vehicular/active transportation paths
41%
Improvements on and around Roberta Crenshaw Bridge and Butler Hike and Bike Trail connections
40%
Managing invasive plant species under MoPac
38%
Formalizing parking in the area north of Stratford Drive
25%
Activating southern area next to Nature Center Drive with park programming, parking, lighting, or other elements
21%
Formal or informal gateway as visitors and commuters enter park area from MoPac feeder road
19%
Entrance to the Austin Nature and Science Center
16%
Leave it as it is. Don't change anything.
10%
Other ideas
5%
Closed to responses | 768 Responses

(C) ZBG Zone: What options are you most interested in exploring?

Changes to landfill area by removing waste materials or adding soil
49%
Non-vehicular/active transportation paths
39%
Formalizing parking in this area
23%
Formal or informal gateway as people enter the park from Stratford Drive or Roberta Crenshaw Bridge
18%
Leave it as it is. Don't change anything.
11%
Traffic options on Stratford Drive
11%
Other ideas
9%
Closed to responses | 714 Responses

(D) Great Lawn Zone: What options are you most interested in exploring?

Non-vehicular/active transportation paths
34%
New active transportation/non-vehicular connection across Lady Bird Lake
30%
Eliminating or changing vehicular traffic and parking on Lou Neff Road
30%
Leave it as it is. Don't change anything.
27%
New active transportation/non-vehicular extending Toomey Road across Barton Creek
23%
Visitor Hub options between Great Lawn and Barton Springs Road
18%
Increasing parking in this area.
10%
Other ideas
9%
Closed to responses | 722 Responses

(E) Polo Field Zone (including Barton Springs Road): What options are you most interested in exploring?

Additional safe crossings on, under, or over Barton Springs Road
46%
Creating a field area for active or passive recreation like the Great Lawn
44%
Naturalizing Polo Field area
30%
Non-vehicular/active transportation paths
27%
Decreasing parking in this zone
23%
Formal or informal gateway as visitors enter Zilker Park on Barton Springs Road
16%
Options for vehicular and active transportation traffic on Barton Springs Road
11%
Leave it as it is. Don't change anything.
10%
Increasing parking in this zone
8%
Other ideas
5%
Closed to responses | 715 Responses

(F) Barton Springs Zone: What options are you most interested in exploring?

Ways for increasing ecological function
51%
Improving banks of Barton Creek in Barton Creek overflow ("Barking Springs") area
49%
Non-vehicular/active transportation paths.
30%
Decreasing parking in this zone.
18%
Visitor hub options at Zilker Cottage or Quonset Hut or new space nearby
16%
Formal or informal gateway on south side of Barton Springs Pool near Azie Morton Rd.
16%
Leave it as it is. Don't change anything.
10%
Increasing parking in this zone.
9%
Vehicular and active transportation traffic options on William Barton Dr. and Andrew Zilker Rd.
8%
Other ideas
7%
Closed to responses | 710 Responses

(G) Trailhead Zone: What options are you most interested in exploring?

Increasing ecological function
61%
Non-vehicular/active transportation paths
34%
Leave it as it is. Don't change anything.
16%
Visitor hub options in this area including the Girl Scout Hut as an option
16%
Reducing parking in this area.
15%
Formal or informal gateway near western entrance on Columbus Dr.
13%
Increasing parking in this area.
9%
Vehicular and active transportation traffic options on Andrew Zilker Rd. and Columbus Dr.
7%
Other ideas
5%
Closed to responses | 641 Responses

Gateways and Visitor Hub

Would you like food and vendor options at Zilker?

Yes, but limited to 1 or 2 areas
46%
No
29%
Yes, multiple options throughout the park
21%
Unsure
3%
Other
1%
Closed to responses | 870 Responses

A visitor hub is a point of orientation for visitors to the park. A hub can contain educational or interpretive displays or be a staging area for recreational or educational programming for youth, seniors, or visitors of all ages. This could be a new structure or buidling or an existing building such as the Zilker Clubhouse, Quonset Hut, Caretakers Cottage, or Girl Scout Hut. The questions below will provide guidance for a possible visitor hub.

Would you like to see a visitor hub that fulfills the goals mentioned above?

No, Zilker does not need a visitor hub.
48%
Yes. I prefer to explore options at existing structures in the park.
24%
Yes. I am open to either option (A or B).
19%
Yes. I prefer to explore options for a new structure.
9%
Closed to responses | 598 Responses

If you would like to see a visitor hub at Zilker, what elements would you like to see at a visitor hub? (select all that apply)

Restrooms
78%
Environmental Interpretation
56%
Park Orientation
52%
Historical Interpretation
48%
Food and Beverage
27%
Sports, Educational, Events Desk
21%
Park Offices
15%
Meeting Rooms
9%
Other
8%
Closed to responses | 414 Responses

Where would you like to see gateways into Zilker provided? (Select all that apply)

Gateways: Locations
Near Barton Springs Road bridge
45%
Frontage Road transition to Barton Springs Road near existing disc golf area
34%
None of the above
29%
Near Nature and Science Center and Botanical Garden
27%
South of Barton Springs Pool off of Azie Morton Drive
23%
Near Toomey Road extension
14%
Near Girl Scout Hut
9%
Other
3%
Closed to responses | 507 Responses

Ecology and Nature

What should the Vision Plan team explore regarding the banks of Barton Creek?

Create specific points where people can get in the water, protecting planting areas and tree roots from compaction
52%
Restore the natural ecology along the banks of the creek
34%
Leave access as is with minimal necessary restoration
12%
Other ideas
2%
Closed to responses | 494 Responses

Landfill Site: The 17 acres next to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail and Lady Bird Lake are currently being used as a gravel parking area. The area is also an old landfill that may need mitigation and improvements. Below are three scenarios of what could happen besides leaving it like it is.

  1. Excavate the entire landfill.  
  2. Maintain the cap to state standards and add soil so that additional plans or programs could be possible. 
  3. Minor improvements, which would limit future options.

Overall, which option would you prefer for the 17 acres of the landfill site?

Update cap and cover site with soil
53%
Excavate the entire landfill, removing liner and landfill material
19%
Leave it as it is: Gravel temporary parking and staging area
12%
Other ideas, including combination of the above options
9%
Make minor improvements
7%
Closed to responses | 490 Responses

If the landfill material remains and the cap is maintained or updated, what would you like to see happen to the Landfill site?

Add soil over landfill cap and plant with native plantings, including trees if possible
32%
Ecologically restore the area to a native woodland or savanna if possible
25%
Add soil over landfill cap and create active or passive recreation area such as Great Lawn
17%
Leave as is: temporary gravel parking and event setup area
12%
Formalize as a surface parking lot
10%
Other ideas, including desired combinations of above options
6%
Closed to responses | 490 Responses

If the landfill material is removed, what would you like to see happen to the landfill site?

Ecologically restore the area to a native woodland
36%
Plant with native plants and trees
22%
Create active or passive recreation area such as the Great Lawn
21%
Formalize as a surface parking lot
9%
Other ideas, including desired combinations of above options
6%
Build parking structure/garage
6%
Closed to responses | 478 Responses

Ecological Uplift is the process or enhancing ecological systems where they may not exist, are impaired, or simply can be improved.

For the questions below, please refer to the following definitions:

  • Current Maintenance includes contininuing the current levels of mowing (regular, seasonal, no mowing) and ongoing care of trees with active management, which occurs mostly in mowed areas.
  • More Mowed Park includes more shade and stormwater management to create a better user experience and increase ecological function in active park areas. Unused mowed areas are ecologically restored.
  • Ecological Uplift Plus prioritizes enhancing ecological systems, building further on Ecological Uplift. This scenario expands ecological restoration into some active park areas where those activities can be accommodated in other parts of the park or other parks.

What is your preferred ecological plan for Zilker Park as a whole?

Ecological Uplift Plus
42%
Ecological Uplift
37%
Current Maintenance
14%
Mowed More
7%
Closed to responses | 508 Responses

(D) Great Lawn Zone: What ecological plan would you like to see for areas of this zone?

Zilker Park Great Lawn Zone image
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(E) Polo Field Zone: What ecological plan would you like to see for areas of this zone?

Overhead image of Zilker Park Polo Field and Barton Springs Road zone
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(F) Barton Springs Zone: What ecological plan would you like to see for areas of this zone?

Overhead image of Zilker Park Barton Springs Zone
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City Council has directed the Parks and Recreation Department to remove parking from the Polo Field area. Currently this area is mowed seasonally.

Please rank your preferred options for the future plans for the Polo Field area.

Closed to responses | 431 Responses

Connectivity, Accessibility, and Mobility

Exploring Safe Crossings: Currently, non-vehicular traffic can cross under the Barton Springs Road Bridge or at crosswalks between the Great Lawn/William Barton Rd or near MoPac. To provide greater connection between the north and south sides of Zilker, which non-vehicular crossing(s) would you prefer across Barton Springs?

Create land bridge over Barton Springs Road
53%
Add additional painted crosswalks on Barton Springs Road
16%
Create underpass under Barton Springs Road
13%
Leave it as is
11%
Other ideas, including combinations of above ideas
6%
Closed to responses | 445 Responses

Exploring active transportation through the park: Paths for non-vehicular traffic through the park are limited to nature trails or shared use with vehicular traffic. What options should the Zilker Vision team explore for safer active transportation through the park?

Additional unpaved trails through park
54%
Leave it as it is
16%
Additional designated bike lanes
13%
Additional paved sidewalks through park
10%
Other ideas, including combinations of above options
7%
Closed to responses | 459 Responses

Currently there are two pedestrian and bicycle connections, 1.2 miles apart, crossing Lady Bird Lake near Zilker: Roberta Crenshaw Bridge and Pfluger Bridge. Would you like Vision Plan team to explore an additional pedestrian/bicycle point of connection between Crenshaw and Pfluger bridges?

Overhead image showing distance between bridges over Lady Bird Lake
No, it is not needed
48%
Yes
38%
I'm not sure
14%
Closed to responses | 463 Responses

Do you think there should be specified pick-up and drop-off zones for ride share options?

Yes
75%
Unsure
13%
No
12%
Closed to responses | 476 Responses

Do you think there should be a circulator within and/or to Zilker Park to move people around different destinations within the Park and from the future light rail stop?

Yes, I would like to see this happen
47%
I need more information
36%
No, I do not want to see this happen
17%
Closed to responses | 478 Responses

The Zilker mini-train is set to return as the Zilker Eagle this year. Traditionally the route has included one location for pick-up and drop-off. Other parks use mini-trains as park circulators with expanded routes and multiple stops.

Should the Zilker Eagle be further explored as a circulator throughout the park with multiple stops?

Yes
73%
No
15%
Unsure
12%
Closed to responses | 481 Responses

Exploring Barton Springs Road: What should the Vision Plan team explore for the future of Barton Springs Road through Zilker Park?

Create a land bridge for non-vehicular traffic over Barton Springs to connect the north and south sides of the park
59%
Decreasing vehicular travel lanes and adding bike lanes and/or median plantings
27%
Turn Barton Springs Road into a boulevard, removing lane(s) and adding a planted median in the middle of the road
23%
Create underpass for non-vehicular traffic to connect the north and south side of the park
20%
Keep current alignment and provide traffic calming measures, like painted crosswalks, stop signs and other speed-slowing measures
18%
Temporarily close Barton Springs Road on certain days of the week, times of day, to allow for safer pedestrian and bicycle crossing
13%
Keep as is
10%
Other ideas, including combinations of above options
8%
Closed to responses | 440 Responses

Exploring Stratford Drive possibilities: What would you like the Vision Plan team to explore for the future of Stratford Drive?

Don't do anything with Stratford. Allow cars to drive on it and keep the current alignment.
45%
Reroute Stratford Drive vehicular traffic to the west side of MoPac (near Nature and Science Center), close it to vehicular traffic, but still allow pedestrians, bicycles and service vehicles
35%
Reroute Stratford Drive vehicular traffic to the east side of MoPac (near Botanical Garden), close it to vehicular traffic, but still allow pedestrians, bicycles and service vehicles
20%
Other ideas, including combination of above options
12%
Closed to responses | 392 Responses

Exploring Lou Neff Road: What should PARD explore for the future of Lou Neff Road (loop road around the Great Lawn)?

Vehicle Network: Lou Neff Road
Leave it as is, allowing vehicular traffic and parking
41%
Close to vehicles and parking and convert to pedestrian and bicycles only
28%
Close it to vehicles and parking and convert to green space
13%
Close it only on certain days or times to vehicles and parking
10%
Other ideas, including combinations of above options
4%
Allow vehicles but remove parking
3%
Closed to responses | 427 Responses

What parking strategies would you like to see in the Zilker Park Vision Plan? (select all that apply)

Utilize shared use parking with off-site garages and a shuttle system to move people into the park
58%
Parking garage under MoPac
45%
Consolidate parking spaces within Zilker Park to create more green space
32%
None of these
9%
Create on-street parking on Barton Springs Road
6%
Other
5%
Closed to responses | 376 Responses

What would you like to see happen the area under MoPac between Barton Springs Road, Stratford Drive, and Lady Bird Lake (near Roberta Crenshaw Bridge)?

Parking garage underneath
40%
Formalized surface parking lot underneath
30%
Remove all parking and plant with native plantings
24%
Other ideas, including combinations of above options
7%
Closed to responses | 424 Responses

Additional Thoughts
Please share any comments for Zilker Park overall. (Additional comment opportunities available on the following pages)

Closed for Comments