Austin Parks and Recreation Holiday Season Closures
Most Parks and Recreation facilities will be closed for the Christmas holiday on Tuesday, December 24, and Wednesday, December 25, and also will be closed for New Year’s Day on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. There are a few exceptions noted below.
- Bartholomew, Big Stacy, Deep Eddy and Springwoods Pools will close at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 24, and will reopen on Thursday, December 26. Barton Springs Pool will remain open on December 24 and 25. Bartholomew, Big Stacy, Deep Eddy and Springwoods Pools will close at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31. All pools except for Barton Springs Pool will be closed on January 1, 2025. Please note that Barton Springs Pool is “swim at your own risk” pool when the other year-round pools are closed.
- Golf ATX courses will take final reservation and issue carts at noon on Tuesday, December 24. Golf ATX driving ranges will close at 1:30 p.m., and pro shops and concessions will close at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 24. Golf ATX courses will be closed on Wednesday, December 25. Golf ATX courses will operate regular hours with holiday rates on January 1, 2025.
- City of Austin cemetery gates will remain open every day throughout the holiday season from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Austin Parks and Recreation facility hours vary by location so please call ahead or visit AustinTexas.gov/Parks for hours.
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 2024
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 2024
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.
Zilker Metropolitan Park – Great Lawn and Lou Neff Rd.
Date of closure: October 25, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Description: Lou Neff Rd. will remain closed through December 31, 2024. On November 12, 2024, the Trail of Lights will set up perimeter fencing on the Great Lawn area typically associated with the Trail of Lights event along Lou Neff Rd. A portion of the Great Lawn, Stratford Rd., and the gravel parking lot will remain open.
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.
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.
Ann & Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail Detour along W. Cesar Chavez St.
Date of detour: October 28, 2024 – November 2024
Description: The Austin Transportation and Public Works Dept. will be installing a new concrete shared use path between Sandra Muraida Way and San Antonio St. Trail users will be rerouted slightly south of the Trail through the parkland.
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.
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 31, 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.
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.
Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metro Park Parking Lot
Date of closure: July 15, 2024 – TBD
Description: The Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metro Park parking lot for disc golf and soccer fields will be closed for an emergency repair to a potable water line starting on Monday, July 15, 2024. The parking lot will remain closed until the emergency repairs are completed.
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