Parks and Recreation Closures Information

 

 

Inclement Weather Related Closures

INCLEMENT WEATHER UPDATE 9:30 p.m., 01/21/25: Most City of Austin Parks and Recreation (PARD) facilities will resume regular operating hours on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. However, City recreation centers and activity centers will open at 12:00 p.m. Additionally, outdoor year-round pools and golf courses will remain closed until they can open safely. Barton Springs Pool will be “swim at your own risk” until temperatures rise above freezing. All other pools will resume operations when temperatures rise above freezing.  

GolfATX Courses
Date of closure: January 18, 2025 – January 22, 2025
Description: GOLFATX will deploy putting greens covers beginning Saturday, January 18, 2025, at Jimmy Clay, Roy Kizer, and Morris Williams golf courses as well as the Joe Balander Short Course due to the current weather forecasts. The Jimmy Clay course will be available to play until 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning when green covers are deployed. Lions and Hancock golf courses and the practice ranges will be unaffected on Saturday. Green covers are anticipated to be in place through Wednesday, January 22, 2025. Lions and Hancock courses will be open Saturday, January 18, 2025, and Sunday, January 19, 2025. Please note that the course situations could change based on weather developments. Check GolfATX's Facebook page or X.com page for the most up-to-date information.

City of Austin Parks Restrooms and Drinking Fountains  
Date of closure: January 18, 2025 – January 23, 2025
Description: All City of Austin Parks Restrooms and Drinking Fountains will be winterized and closed Saturday mid-morning, January 18, 2025, and reopened by Thursday, January 23, 2025, due to inclement weather. 

City of Austin Pools 
Date of closure: January 20, 2025 – January 21, 2025
Description: City of Austin Pools will be closed Monday, January 20, 2025, and Tuesday, January 21, 2025, due to the inclement weather for winterization and public safety. Barton Springs Pool will be "swim at your own risk" on Monday, January 20, 2025. Barton Springs Pool toilets will be available but showers will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025. All pools including Barton Springs Pool will be closed on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, for public safety. All year-round pools will reopen on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, when temperatures are above freezing.

Austin Nature & Science Center   
Date of closure: January 20, 2025 – TBD
Description: The Austin Nature & Science Center will close at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow, Monday, January 20, 2025, due to the expected inclement weather conditions. 

Zilker Botanical Garden
Date of closure: January 20, 2025 – TBD
Description: The Zilker Botanical Garden will close at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow, Monday, January 20, 2025, due to the expected inclement weather conditions. 

City of Austin Cemeteries
Date of closure: January 21, 2025 – TBD 
Description: Due to inclement weather conditions, City of Austin Cemeteries will not open on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. Funeral homes will be contacted regarding any scheduled committal services and interments. . 

 

Park Projects

Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse Rehabilitation at Barton Springs Pool
Date of closure: February 15, 2024 – Spring 2025
Description: Closed for construction starting on February 15, 2024 with substantial completion anticipated in spring 2025. As with any construction project, schedules may change as the work progresses. Temporary restroom and shower facilities will be provided next to the bathhouse while it is under construction. 

Pedestrian Bridge at Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metropolitan Park
Date of closure: May 28, 2015 – 2024
Description: The pedestrian bridge is closed due to flood damage until further notice. 

Highland Neighborhood Park
Date of closure: December 12, 2022 – Winter 2025
Description: Highland Neighborhood Park is closed for construction.  Austin Parks and Recreation Department is working with the contractor to provide safe access to the existing playground after construction sequencing is complete. Please view the project website for more information.

Brownie Neighborhood Park
Date of closure: December 12, 2022 – Winter 2025
Description: Brownie Neighborhood Park is closed for construction. The existing playground and developing orchard at the north end of the park will remain open through construction. Please view project website for more information. 

Dick Nichols Park Beckett Meadows Pond Rehabilitation
Date of work: Fall 2024 (work duration approximately 6 months)
Description:  Repair work on the Beckett Meadows stormwater control pond. 

West Austin Neighborhood Park Dog Park
Date of closure: January 22, 2025 – January 23, 2025 
Description: The Dog Park at the West Austin Neighborhood Park will be closed for maintenance on Wednesday January 22, 2025, and Thursday January 23, 2025.  

Pease Park Treehouse 
Date of closure: January 16, 2025 – TBD
Description: The Treehouse at Pease Park is closed for maintenance. A reopening date will be announced in the future.  

 

POOLS & SPLASH PADS   

Ricky Guerrero Splash Pad
Date of closure: October 5, 2024 – TBD
Description: The Ricky Guerrero Splash Pad is closed for emergency repairs.  

Liz Carpenter Splash Pad
Date of closure: November 21, 2024 – TBD
Description: The Liz Carpenter Splash Pad is closed until further notice for repairs.

 

TRAILS

Shoal Creek Trail (24th to 29th of Lamar)
Date of closure: Closed Indefinitely
Description: Damaged by landslide. Austin Parks and Recreation Department is working with Public Works and the Austin Transportation Department to plan, design and implement improvements to the trail detour route east of the creek.

Trail Access Closed at Willow Street
Date of closure: September, 2021 – 2026
Description: Trail access at Willow Street is temporarily closed due to construction. See map for the nearest trail access point. The trail access will be closed throughout construction of 98 Red River for an approximate duration of 64 months.

Roy and Ann Butler Hike and Bike Trail Detour at the Wishbone Bridge/Longhorn Dam 
Date of detour: July 15, 2024 – January 2026
Description: The Wishbone Bridge/Longhorn Dam construction project begins July 1, 2024. The construction project will involve a detour route for pedestrians and cyclists. The project time line is  July 1, 2024 – construction begins, July 8, 2024 – Closures start, July 15, 2024 – Trail detour begins, January 2026 (approximately 18 months) – Detour ends.
Get more project information.

Butler Trail Longhorn Dam Detour Map

 

Ann & Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail Detour at Waterloo Greenway - Confluence Project
Date of detour: September 2024 January 2025
Description: A series of detours near the Waller Creek area on the Butler Trail begin on July 22. . All trail users are urged to slow down and be prepared to stop when approaching Waller Creek. Bicyclists and pedestrians should continue to take special care near the detour. The trail will remain open throughout. The work is part of the Waterloo Greenway Confluence construction project. 

Map of Butler Trail Detour Route

 

Ann & Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail Detour along Barton Creek Streambank
Date of detour: November 4, 2024 Summer 2025
Description: There is a trail detour along Barton Creek rerouting trail users through Toomey Rd. and baseball diamonds. The Watershed Protection Department is managing a project to repair the streambank failure that occurred in May 2018 during a flooding event. The streambank repair begins on November 4, 2024 and is expected to continue until Summer 2025. 

Butler Trail Detour Map for Barton Creek

 

FACILITIES 

Asian American Resource Center - Ballroom
Date of closure: July 22, 2024 TBA
Description: The Ballroom at the Asian American Resource Center (AARC) will be closed temporarily for interior renovations. The Ballroom will be unavailable for rentals until construction is complete. The rest of the AARC will remain open and operational.

Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC)
Date of closure: January 2023 – TBA
Description: The ESB-MACC will be closed for its Phase 2 expansion and renovation project starting in January 2023. Programs and events will be held at other sites. Check ESB-MACC website for locations of our 2023 programs. The ESB-MACC main office will be at the Dougherty Arts Center and the number will remain the same: 512-974-3772.

Elisabet Ney Museum
Date of closure: December 30, 2024 – Summer 2026
Description: The Elisabet Ney Museum will be closed on December 31, 2024, for extensive interior and exterior renovations to the facility and grounds. Read more about the the museum improvements project

 

PLAYGROUNDS

Davis White Northwest Neighborhood Park Playground
Dates of closure: October 8, 2024 – February 2025
Description: The Davis White Northwest Neighborhood Park Playground will be closed from October 8, 2024 to February 2025 due to construction work for a playscape replacement. The playground replacement will  provide new playground equipment and surfacing while ensuring compliance with ADA standards for amenities and walkways. Read more about the  Davis White Northwest Neighborhood Park Playground replacement project. 
 

ROAD/PARKING LOT CLOSURES

Barton Springs Pool, North Parking Lot
Date of closure: February 15, 2024 – Spring 2025
Description: Starting on Thursday, February 15 and continuing through spring 2025, public parking on the north side of Barton Springs Pool will not be available, and William Barton Drive will be limited to emergency vehicles and construction deliveries. For more information, visit the Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse Rehabilitation project page.

Parking Lot Closure Map for Barton Springs Bathhouse Rehabilitation Project

 

Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Parking Lot
Date of closure: March 10, 2023 – 2025
Description: The parking lot will be closed to the public for the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Phase 2 Improvement Project. All vehicles remaining in the lot at this time will be towed at the owner's expense. Construction is anticipated to be complete in early 2025.

 

PARTIAL CLOSURE

Boat Ramps at Lake Walter E. Long
Date of closure: October 16, 2024 – TBD
Description: The boat ramps at Lake Walter E. Long are closed until further notice as water levels levels are too low for boaters to safely enter and exit the lake. Lake access will remain available for shore-launched watercraft such as canoes and kayaks. All other park amenities, including volleyball courts, picnic sites, grills, and walking trails, will remain available. Austin Energy will be upgrading Decker Dam's nearly 60-year-old infrastructure. In preparation for upcoming equipment upgrades, the lake level will be gradually lowered through natural evaporation and the boat ramps will remain closed for the duration of the project for the safety of boaters. The boat ramps will reopen when water levels once again allow boaters to safely enter and exit. For more information on the repairs to Decker Dam, visit PublicInput.com/DeckerDam

 

The following PARD facilities are CLOSED to the public:

  • Girl Scout Cabin indoor space 
  • Sunshine Camp indoor space 
  • Zilker Caretaker House