Zilker Park Vision Plan Map

Zilker Park Vision Plan draft map showing improvements across park

Central Area

Draft map of Zilker Park Vision Plan - Central area

Southern Area

Draft map of Zilker Park Vision Plan - south area

Eastern Area

Draft map of Zilker Park Vision Plan - Eastern area

Northern Area

Draft map of Zilker Park Vision Plan - Northern area

Western Area

Draft map of Zilker Park Vision Plan - Western area

Question title

After viewing the Zilker Park draft plan map, what is your immediate reaction?

Closed to responses
I don't know if we need a sports field and playscapes on the south side. I think they will fall into disrepair quickly and one of the cool things about Zilker is that it's open and natural. It doesn't need to be built up for people to enjoy it. 's just natural and open.
Reply275 Agree2 years ago
Zilker Park isn't intended to be a "sports field." It's intended to be a wild green space for folks to escape the city energy. If you want to play your sports in fields, there are already plenty around town in which to do so. Please don't turn Zilker Park into a sports arena for ...See More
109 Agree2 years ago
A lot of people us it to play sports. The city is extremely limited on sports space, while it has a generous amount of natural space like the green belt. I think this is your bias because you don't use the park that way.
43 Agree2 years ago
Agree. We definitely need more sports field at our largest park. The "park for all" needs to have programming for all. I also wouldn't worry about long-term maintenance, as part of this the city will work through that.
19 Agree2 years ago
We don't need any denouement on that large field. This is a money grab and creates its own problems that are drafted with solutions of parking garages and bike trails.
8 Agree2 years ago
It would also be pointless to try and get to that amenity during a large event. The investment would be better spent in expanding alliance childrens garden.
4 Agree2 years ago
Barton Springs road is already extremely congested at times. Reducing lanes will only increase the problem. There isn’t a good alternative for the Barton Springs neighborhood to get to Mopac and the west side. 360 is worse! Azie Morton gets backed up and there isn’t even a long e...See More
Reply121 Agree2 years ago
PLEASE DON'T DESTROY ANY OF THE DISC GOLF COURSE. It's the now famous, John Houck's first design.
Reply113 Agree2 years ago
I come to Zilker park at least once a week for DISC GOLF. I don't love that there seems to be a parking lot on the course. What if it went towards the polo lawn? Disc golf is a free, family friendly, inclusive sport and Zilker is one of the oldest and most beginner friendly cour...See More
Reply99 Agree2 years ago
I would change where your putting the baseball fields/sports area over to the Monkey tree area of the park. The disc golf course is the most popular disc golf courses in Austin and also beginner friendly. This means there are a lot of discs flying and not always very accurate. Pu...See More
Reply84 Agree2 years ago

Question title

What 2 or 3 spaces are you most excited about?

Land Bridge
55%
Reestablished banks of Barton Creek
49%
New pedestrian/bike bridges: west of Barton Springs Pool, connecting to Welcome Plaza, and new entrance from Toomey in eastern part
39%
Bridge across Lady Bird Lake
37%
Zilker Hillside Theater
18%
Zilker Eagle extended route
12%
More spaces to play on south side near Azie Morton Road
10%
Sports Area
9%
Welcome Plaza
4%
Closed to responses | 888 Responses

Question title

Do you see any potential challenges for using the new or updated spaces?

Yes
85%
No
15%
Closed to responses | 991 Responses
Hundreds of people play the Zilker Disc Golf Course everyday. I think that you will upset a whole bunch of people by taking out part of the course, trees, and open space to tear things out and pour a bunch of concrete for a sports complex.
Reply156 Agree2 years ago
In 2021 zilker park had 24,098 rounds tracked on u disc. The third most played course in the entire country. And this does not count all those that do not track their rounds on u disc. Removing disc golf seems like a very poor decision strictly based on the sheer amount of player...See More
68 Agree2 years ago
100-200 is conservative. Weekends routinely have waits from 9a-5p (assuming 4 people per group for 18 holes, and 1.5 hours/round, that's roughly 400 people during high times). Weekdays are regularly busy during lunch and after work hours, not to mention the regular tournaments (2...See More
33 Agree2 years ago
Deborah LatimerI must have missed that Sports Complex. I totally agree. We really need as many informal places to gather and Disc Golf is hugely popular among those trees. I am NOT in favor of a sports complex. There are plenty of other land opportunities for that so it doesn't ruin Zilker Park...See More
9 Agree2 years ago
Hundreds? Do you have supporting data for that?
1 Agree2 years ago
By adding parking you're degrading from the whole experience.
Reply85 Agree2 years ago
Without a strong public transportation system--and austin does not have one--removing parking limits access to the park to the wealthy who can live close to it. I wish it weren't the case but parking is a necessary evil and this plan shows a reduction in surface parking.
33 Agree2 years ago
Taking out part of the disc golf course for a sports arena is really terrible. It is a highly used course and you guys spent tons of money not long ago updating it. If there is a plan to add more holes like the new 3,4 somewhere I have failed to see this anywhere. I think it’s a...See More
Reply48 Agree2 years ago
The parking garages run counter to the city's established environmental goals.
Reply41 Agree2 years ago
Billy Hplease don’t mess with the historic disc golf course.
Reply36 Agree2 years ago

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.

Nature and Ecology Highlights:

  • Ecological Uplift: Restoring nature through an active management practice.
  • Reduction of impervious cover throughout park: To aid in drainage and ecological uplift processes.
  • Drainage enhancement: To address erosion and reduce pollutants from draining into Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake.
  • Butler Landfill: Transform area to natural area that may include woodland and savanna.
  • Barton Creek Access Points: To reduce erosion and control human impact to allow environment to recover.

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.

History and Culture Highlights:

  • Interpretive storylines
  • Increased representation of indigenous peoples roles in the Park and emphasis on pre-European history
  • Preserving historical sites and structures and increasing educational programming

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.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Highlights:

  • Interpretive storylines
  • Expanded programming opportunities through enhanced areas and education opportunities
  • Guidance on including diversity of vendors and concessionaires
  • More inclusive playground options and picnic spaces

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.

Accessibility Highlights:

  • Increased pedestrian and bike paths
  • Centralized parking with internal shuttle route and extended Zilker Eagle line for moving within the park
  • External shuttle options and ongoing conversations for increased public transit
  • Additional restrooms
  • Increased circulation and entryways into the park

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.

Sustainability Highlights:

  • Active management for ecological uplift and drainage enhancement to reduce pollutants entering the water
  • Balanced approach to nature and overuse through multiple programming nodes
  • Guidance on future concessions and partnerships

Question title

Please identify to what level the draft Zilker Park Vision Plan fulfills the Guiding Principles and Goals.

654 responses

Question title

Please share additional comments about the draft Zilker Park Vision Plan for the planning team to consider.

Closed for Comments
I worry that the inclusion of multiple parking garages still reflects a car-centric approach to planning what should be an urban gem. We should do everything possible to reduce vehicular access to the park and instead encourage access by public transit, bike, rideshare, and foot....See More
Reply217 Agree2 years ago
Agreed, public transit allows everyone, even people without cars, to visit the park. We're in a climate crisis, we shouldn't be trying to expand car usage, especially at the large cost of building parking garages.
115 Agree2 years ago
Not many of us can afford to live in the "URBAN" areas of this city. Most of us live at the edges. Cars are vital in how we get from one destination to another in the city. I'm not going to wait 30 minutes for a bus with my kids, all of our gear, then 30 minutes to get to the par...See More
89 Agree2 years ago
I want all of Austin to enjoy the park, not just the rich neighborhoods who live nearby and think the park is theirs to make decisions about. If the city had bus lines stopping at the park from all over town, then yes, we should try to encourage folks to use those. But what this ...See More
67 Agree2 years ago
FYI, if you look on pg. 157, you'll see that the impervious cover for parking will actually DECREASE by over 8 acres. Parking is not actually increasing by much, it's just consolidated so that there's a reduced environmental impact. Those informal landfill gravel parking lots tak...See More
33 Agree2 years ago
You certainly wouldn't want to make it easy to access the park...it should be more of a challenge
2 Agree2 years ago
I oppose the inclusion of multiple parking garages to subsidize vehicle travel to the park. It's 2022, the climate crisis has begun, let's not be pouring concrete to house cars at our beloved parks. Improve bus lines, bike routes, and other alternative transportation, shrink car ...See More
Reply54 Agree2 years ago
How in the world is two lane Azie Morton going to support increased traffic from a parking garage??!! It's already a nightmare!
Reply49 Agree2 years ago
Monkey Tree lawn already seems small. I think it would be a HUGE HUGE loss if we lost any part of the Monkey Tree Lawn. The parking garage on Azie morton is disgusting. That is not Austin and it does not reflect what values Barton Springs or Zilker have.
Reply41 Agree2 years ago
The way to let the land rest and restore Zilker park is to MOVE THE ACL FESTIVAL to a more appropriate venue, not have 80,000 people trampling the grounds for 6 days and trucks and stages stressing the park!!!!!
Reply39 Agree2 years ago