As the City of Austin system continues to grow, the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) creates and updates plans across the city by engaging the community to identify needs and preferences. Once the plan is completed, the PARD Development divisions are guided by the plan as the park or facility is turned from a plan into a reality. The plans on this page have been completed and are in the process of being developed.
The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is a major contributor to the high quality of life that Austinites and visitors enjoy. PARD strives to ensure its facilities, programs, and services are accessible, inclusionary, and welcoming to all. This webpage provides information on the Austin Parks and Recreation Department's ADA Transition Plan.
In 2019, the Austin City Council adopted the updated 2019 Vision Plan for the Asian American Resource Center, which outlined a Phase 2 expansion to enhance the center’s offerings. While the original plan included a live performance theater and art gallery, funding challenges led to a shift in early 2024 toward a new component of the plan: a pavilion. This pavilion aims to offer a flexible, year-round space for Austin's Asian American communities to share culture and engage in diverse programs.
In May 2018, a slope failure occurred during a flooding event on a section of the Barton Creek streambank adjacent to the Ann and Roy Butler Trail, opposite from Lou Neff Point. Approximately 230 lineal feet of the streambank slope was affected. The Watershed Protection, Parks and Recreation Departments, and The Trail Conservancy are working together to provide solutions to stabilize the slope and protect the Ann and Roy Butler Trail at this location. The Watershed Protection Department is managing and funding the project. Construction is anticipated to begin in early November 2024.
After and old water bypass pipe developed two holes causing water to be pulled into the now abandoned pipe below the pool's dam, Barton Springs Pool was temporarily closed for assessment and repairs. Watershed Protection staff conducted dye testing to ensure that there are no additional leaks. Repairs were completed in September and Barton Springs Pool reopened on September 19, 2024.
Barton Springs Pool contains two principal infrastructure elements that address creek flow from Barton Creek known as "bypass" features. Due to decades of flood events impacting the flow of Barton Creek, the decommissioned 1940s bypass infrastructure has created safety and environmental concerns, which this project will address by removing the 1940s bypass. This project is in the demolition planning phase. City Council Districts 5 and 8
The aquatic facility at Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park originally opened in 1956. Updating the facility started with community engagement in 2022, culminating in an updated plan to ensure this site will continue to be a gem of the community and complement the future vision of Northwest District Park. The project is in the construction document and permitting phase. City Council District 7
The Parks and Recreation and Watershed Protection Departments are developing a feasibility study for the former Youth Hostel site at 2200 S Lakeshore Blvd. as the only viable site for the relocation of the Waller Creek boathouse facility currently located at 74 Trinity St. This is a step toward fulfilling Council Resolution 20220901-085 and will include environmental, engineering, and architectural services, resulting in preliminary design options and cost estimates.
Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is in the process of developing the Bolm District Park Vision Plan. The Vision Plan process included a review of park needs and priorities, property analysis, and community engagement. The final draft of the plan is complete and in review. City Council District 3
The Parks and Recreation Department finalized the Brownie Neighborhood Park Concept Plan in 2018 after community engagement with nearby residents who provided the vision for the future development of the park. The current phase of implementation includes a picnic pavilion, irrigation system expansion, a loop walking trail, solar security lighting, benches, picnic tables, a new playground, a new drinking fountain, a basketball court, and a vehicular turnaround with ADA parking spaces. This project is in the construction phase. City Council District 4
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is partnering with The Trail Conservancy (TTC) to analyze and review the signage along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake. This project is in the plan development stage. City Council Districts 3, 8, 9
Colony Park Pool began construction in May 2023. This new aquatic facility's pool classification has been identified as a Community Pool. It will complement the recently completed Colony Park District Park amenities. This project is in the construction phase with anticipated completion and soft opening in January 2025. City Council District 1
Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is planning to replace the existing play equipment at Davis White Northeast Neighborhood Park. The goal of this project is to provide new playground equipment and surfacing while ensuring compliance with ADA standards for amenities and walkways. The project is in the construction phase. City Council District 1.
The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is exploring a temporary, fenced Dogs Off-Leash Area (DOLA). This project will help PARD to understand the benefits and drawbacks of a DOLA within identified parks. PARD monitors the use of this DOLA and collects community feedback. City Council Districts 5
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is taking the next steps toward moving the Dougherty Arts Center out of the beloved naval center and into a newly envisioned building to be constructed on Butler Shores Park. This project is in the construction document phase. District 9
The Preliminary Plan for Duncan Neighborhood Park was completed in May 2017 in partnership with Shoal Creek Conservancy. Park improvements are substantially complete and this project is open to the public. District 9
In 2019, the concept plan for Earl J. Pomerleau Pocket Park was adopted and developed in partnership with the Austin Parks Foundation and the Parks and Recreation Department. The first phase of construction began in Fall 2022 and was completed in Summer 2023. This park is open to the public. City Council District 4
The Elisabet Ney Museum, 304 East 44th St., will close to the public on December 30, 2024, for much needed renovations. The 3,700-square-foot museum, the 19th century art studio and residence of sculptor Elisabet Ney, receives 21,000 local, national, and international visitors each year and holds federal, state and local historic landmark designations. The museum anticipates reopening in the summer of 2026. City Council District 9
The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC), located at 600 River Street on Lady Bird Lake, in the Rainey Street Historical District, has entered Phase 2 of the 2018 Facility Expansion Plan (2018 Plan) approved by Austin City Council. Phase 2 includes expansion and renovation of the facility in addition to site improvements to meet the growing needs of the community. The completed project will support programs which foster meaningful understanding and appreciation of Mexican American, Native American, Chicano and other Latinx Cultures.
The Fiesta Gardens Complex Rehabilitation project will focus primarily on preserving and restoring the character-defining architectural features of the historic buildings and structures while providing rehabilitation to meet current codes and enhance the use of the site. Programmatically the focus will remain unchanged: Fiesta Gardens will continue to provide a special events rental venue for family celebrations such as reunions, fiestas de quinceañera, parties, and weddings, as well as serve the area to the west during festival events. City Council District 3
Phase 1 improvements are identified in the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center Facility Expansion Plan approved by Council in 2021. Phase 1a will explore relocating the administrative area to a new upper level to expand the available area for community-centric programming near the main entry. Phase 1b focuses on outdoor spaces and site improvements that include outdoor classrooms, renovations of existing public restrooms, and a new flexible event lawn with a covered pavilion. This project is in the community engagement phase.
The Boyd Vance Theatre at the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center has been renovated. In addition to theater improvements, the project included the replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning controls, updated restroom plumbing fixtures, and improved lighting in certain areas. This project was substantially complete in late summer 2024 and is now open to the public! City Council District 1
Givens District Park is located east of Downtown Austin. After more than 50 years serving the community, the pool ended its tenure in 2019 and is due to be replaced. The project for the new aquatic facility is underway. Initial concepts were completed in August 2021. This project is in the construction phase. City Council District 1
Givens District Park has a long history of serving the community for gatherings of families and friends for sports, picnics, and having fun outside. As a place of great joy for generations of East Austin residents, Givens Park also faces challenges.
Givens District Park is a 40-acre park acquired by the City in 1957 and named after Dr. Everrett H. Givens, dentist, World War I veteran, and beloved civic leader in 1962. Since 1979, the recreation center has served this vibrant and historic community of East Austin. The Givens District Park Vision Plan was approved in January 2019 to provide a framework for improvements to the park. Using 2018 bond funding, the first phase of implementing the plan is complete. City Council District 1
Grand Meadow is an undeveloped neighborhood park in southeast Austin. Eager to develop this park, a local stewardship organization applied for and was awarded a design grant by Austin Parks Foundation. The concept plan has been approved and adopted by the Parks and Recreation Department. This project is complete. City Council District 2
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department is partnering with Ecology Action of Texas to convert an old road into an accessible trail at Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metropolitan Park. Ecology Action owns the adjacent Circle Acres Nature Preserve, a former City of Austin landfill, illegal dump, and brownfield. The organization has spent 15 years converting Montopolis' most polluted tract to one of Austin's most biodiverse 10 acres of land. District 3
The Henry G. Madison Cabin was built in approximately 1863 by pioneering Austin civic leader Henry Green Madison (1843-1912), who is notable for being Austin’s first African American City Council member. The cabin was relocated to historic Rosewood Park in the early 1970s and was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1974 and a City of Austin Landmark in 1976. Austin Parks Foundation, in partnership with the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department, is leading a restoration effort of the historic log cabin structure.
The concept plan for Highland Neighborhood Park was completed in 2017 through input from community members and provides a vision for future development. Phase 1 of implementation was completed in 2019 and included the installation of a new playground. Phase 2 of implementation began with community input to further the park design and prioritize the improvements for the next phase. As of July 2024, Phase 2 is complete and open to the public. City Council District 4
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department is partnering with The Trail Conservancy (TTC) to implement elements proposed in the Holly Shores/Edward Rendon Sr. Park at Festival Beach Master Plan and improve the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail and its connection in this area. City Council District 3
The Holly Shores/Edward Rendon Sr. Park at Festival Beach Vision Plan was approved by City Council on August 28, 2014. Improvements to the park based on the vision plan continue to be phased in. City Council District 3
Jamestown Neighborhood Park is an undeveloped park in north Austin. It was awarded design services by Austin Parks Foundation, which will help the community in creating a concept plan. This project is in the community engagement phase. City Council District 4
The Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse Rehabilitation at Barton Springs Pool is a major task identified in the Barton Springs Master Plan (PDF, 24 MB) (completed in 2009) and further outlined in the Zilker Bathhouse Zone Feasibility Study (completed in 2016).
The vision plan for John Treviño Jr. Metropolitan Park at Morrison Ranch was adopted by Austin City Council on October 15, 2020. John Treviño Jr. was the first Mexican-American elected to City Council who went on to serve 14 years. This metropolitan park was named to honor his work for the East Austin community and Austin as a whole. Phase 1 Implementation of the vision plan is in design. City Council Districts 1 and 2
Little Walnut Creek Greenbelt is an undeveloped park in East Austin that went through a significant vision planning process in 2018, which was approved in January 2019. Through that planning process, priority projects were identified, with trails and play space being high on the list of community desired amenities. Austin Parks Foundation is partnering with PARD to develop a trailhead and improve existing trails. This project is in the construction phase. City Council District 1
The Transportation and Public Works Department has partnered with the Parks and Recreation Department and Capital Delivery Services to develop a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Lady Bird Lake near the Longhorn Dam. Through community engagement, a "wishbone" shaped bridge was chosen to connect the Ann and Roy Butler Trail at Longhorn Shores, Canterbury and the Holly Peninsula in Town Lake Metropolitan Park. The bridge will provide an alternate option to the sidewalk on Pleasant Valley Road and fill a gap on the Butler Trail.
After years of leasing the space for staging for the high-rise at 70 Rainey Street, the lot at 64 Rainey Street, or the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Pocket Park (MACC Pocket Park), is now available to develop into a meaningful park space for visitors. Under the guidance of City Council Resolution no.
Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) will replace the existing playscape at Metz Neighborhood Park to provide enhanced opportunities for play. The new playscape will be situated in the same location as the existing playscape. Increased shade and play elements are planned opportunities. This project is currently in the Design Development, Construction Documentation & Permitting Phase. City Council District 3
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is exploring future options for the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex (MYEC). The current contract between the City of Austin, Austin Rosewood Community Development Corporation (ARCDC), and ASM Global, the company managing MYEC is set to expire in 2024. PARD is seeking to break down barriers and build trust among the various stakeholders and community members around MYEC as PARD explores how to proceed beyond 2023. City Council District 1
After the City of Austin acquired the Montopolis Negro School in 2019, the Parks and Recreation Department initiated formal protective efforts and completed a hazardous material abatement in preparation for visioning efforts for the historic school building. The Montopolis community spearheaded the advocacy efforts that led to the City’s acquisition of the building and PARD recognizes and commends the community’s efforts to ensure that this significant historic site is preserved and looks forward to collaboration on the future of the site. This project is in the preliminary planning phase.
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department is partnering with Austin Parks Foundation to renovate the Montopolis Neighborhood Park playground. This project is in the planning phase. City Council District 3
In 2018 City of Austin voters approved a General Obligation Bond that included funding for the renovation of the beloved Montopolis Pool in Southeast Austin. The aquatic facility at Montopolis Neighborhood Park will continue to provide a special community gathering place in Southeast Austin. The project will begin the construction process next month. City Council District 3
The Nash Hernandez Building is in the heart of the Holly Shores / Edward Rendon Sr. Metropolitan Park at Festival Beach. The building was built in 1966 and formerly housed the AFD Arson Division and a museum. It has been empty since 2009 when AFD moved locations. The Nash Hernandez Building is a part of the Holly Shores / Edward Rendon Sr. Metropolitan Park at Festival Beach Master Plan. District 3
The 1922 Norwood House sits on Town Lake Metropolitan Park atop a bluff on the southern side of Lady Bird Lake, west of I-35, at 1012 Edgecliff Terrace. Recently, efforts by a nonprofit partner to reconstruct the historic house and site features were halted and the Parks and Recreation Department is evaluating whether to continue with the project or propose an alternative improvement at the site. City Council District 9
The historic Oakwood Cemetery Chapel suffered from uneven foundation settlement and deferred maintenance. During the rehabilitation of the Chapel in 2016, archeologists monitoring construction discovered human remains below where the chapel was built. The rehabilitation of the Chapel is complete, reinterment of the displaced remains was completed in the fall of 2021, and further DNA and isotopic analysis of the remains is ongoing. City Council District 1
Oertli Neighborhood Park is a six-acre park located at 1238 Pearl Retreat Lane, near the intersection of Dessau Road and East Parmer Lane in Northeast Austin. The neighborhood park will include a loop trail, picnic tables and benches, shade trees, play features, and additional amenities in line with the community's needs. The project will provide ADA-accessible open space and amenities to the adjacent neighborhoods. City Council District 1
The City of Austin Parks & Recreation Department's Old Bakery & Artisan Emporium partnered with the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation to transform Old Bakery Park with the first mural on the historic building.
The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD), in collaboration with Austin Parks Foundation (APF), is preparing to design and develop an All Abilities Playground at Onion Creek Metropolitan Park, a priority identified in the 2015 Onion Creek Metropolitan Park Master Plan. The purpose of the project is to create a destination public playground that would serve residents of all ages and all abilities.
Onion Creek Metropolitan Park is a 517-acre regional park located in Southeast Austin. The park is divided into north and south sections which are connected through the 250-acre Onion Creek Greenbelt which primarily lies on the north side of Onion Creek. The southern section of Onion Creek was purchased by the City of Austin in the late 1990s, while the northern section, which is part of the Lower Onion Creek Flood Buyout, was added in 2019. The metropolitan park is mostly undeveloped but does contain nature and groomed trails, pavilions, restroom, and open play fields.
Conditional Use Permits (CUP) amend zoning classifications on a discretionary and conditional basis. A conditional use permit is governed by Section 25 of the Austin Land Development Code (LDC). According to the LDC, a CUP is required to allow the sale of beer and wine on land zoned as Public (P). When concerning parks and recreation services, the CUP application process usually takes about 6 months and undergoes a full review within the Development Services Department (DSD) culminating in review and approval by both the Parks and Recreation Board (PARB) and the Planning Commission.
The Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center project will focus on the restoration of the existing masonry building to support the existing pool facility and the Parks and Recreation Aquatic Division's needs. The existing building currently includes gender-specific restrooms and enclosed recreational and office spaces. This project is in the construction phase. City Council District 3
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is constantly working to maintain and improve the parks system. Much of this happens through planning and development projects. Below are common terms and definitions PARD uses in planning projects. For more information and approval processes, please see the Memorandum to City Council from August 3, 2020.
With the growth of the Rainey Street District, the connection between the Ann & Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake and Rainey Street is more vital for transportation and access to nature. The Austin Parks and Recreation Department partnered with The Trail Conservancy to identify park improvements south of Cummings Street between Rainey and East Ave. This project is complete and open to the public. City Council District 9
The concept plan for Ridgeline Neighborhood Park was formally adopted by the Parks Department on August 30, 2022. To begin the next phase of design, staff will work with engineering consultants to complete flood modeling and permit drawings before construction. The project will provide visible and safe access to the park and install amenities that align with community needs and environmental constraints. Ridgeline Neighborhood Park is in the design and permitting phase. City Council District 6
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department is partnering with Austin Parks Foundation to renovate the Rosewood Neighborhood Park playground. The existing playground does not have shade or many playing options. The project team is seeking community input to develop a new playscape.
During the 2015 Memorial Day rain event and flooding, the concrete bridge at Country Club Creek sustained major structural damage and collapsed when the concrete footings supporting the bridge sections were undermined by flood waters surging downstream through the channel. Severe erosion occurred all along the drainage channel. The Parks Department has been working closely with the Watershed Protection Department to provide a permanent solution to stabilizing the channel and replacing the bridge crossing of the creek.
Scenic Brook Pocket Park is a small neighborhood park in southwest Austin. The park received a concept plan in 2019, and the first phase of development is currently in the construction phase. City Council District 8
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) relies on shared-use courts throughout the park system to allow for flexibility of desires sports at various locations. With the increased popularity of sports such as pickleball, PARD has developed initial guidelines for outdoor courts used for multiple sports. The initial guidelines have been implemented for a pilot period at 4 locations: Pan American Neighborhood Park, Rosewood Neighborhood Park, South Austin Neighborhood Park, and Dick Nichols District Park. City Council Districts 1, 2, 8
On May 4, 2018, there was a landslide on a cliff overlooking Shoal Creek just south of the park parking lot on Shoal Creek Boulevard and north of 24th street. The debris from the landslide took out a portion of the greenbelt trail and a section of a wastewater line located under the trail. The area affected has been closed for public safety. The slope has begun to settle but is not in a condition that supports public access.
The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department is working in partnership with the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy (WGC) to restore Sir Swante Palm Neighborhood Park, located at 200 N. IH-35. This project is in the community engagement phase. City Council District 9
The Sunken Gardens Rehabilitation Project will address ongoing erosion and bank stabilization issues, rehabilitate historic masonry walls, improve habitat for endangered salamanders, and better interpret the site through educational panels. The Sunken Gardens is located downstream of the Barton Springs pool spillway, just east of the south lawn of Barton Springs Pool. The project is currently in the preliminary design phase.
The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department project will improve connectivity and bring traditional neighborhood park amenities that align with community needs and environmental constraints. Tillery Neighborhood Park is in the community engagement phase. City Council District 3.
The UMLAUF Historic Preservation, Expansion, and Unification Plan is a project to improve access to and expand the use of UMLAUF’s sculpture garden, museum, and grounds, while preserving and incorporating an adjacent site that includes the home of Angeline and Charles Umlauf, their private sculpture garden, and the artist’s studio. The plan is complete and is currently being reviewed by Boards and Commissions. City Council District 5
The City of Austin and the Hill Country Conservancy are working together to develop the Violet Crown Trail system. Violet Crown Trail begins at the Barton Creek Greenbelt entrance at Zilker Park and, once complete, will extend 30 miles south into Hays County. The new 1.7 miles of trail in Circle C Metropolitan Park, east of Mopac is now open! The next project is improvements to the Zilker Trailhead to begin construction in early 2025. City Council District 8
The Walnut Creek Regional Trail system was originally proposed by the Parks Department in the late 1990s as the city’s first regional trail system. The trail once complete will be approximately 20 miles long with bookend trailheads at Balcones District Park in northwest Austin and Govalle Park in southeast Austin. Implementation of the trail system has been divided into multiple phases/sections for planning and construction. Sections 2b and 3 to connect the Northern and Southern sections of trail is in the design phase.
The Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park improvements will center on the existing Lakeside Park area and emphasize the rehabilitation of the site's infrastructure. These improvements will help sustain park operations until implementation of vision plan elements can begin in the future. This project is in the Design Development Phase. City Council District 1
Donde Corre El Agua, or Where the Water Runs, is a community-initiated proposal to improve parkland in the Williamson Creek Greenbelt.
The Zilker Park Clubhouse Rehabilitation project will focus on general preservation and restoration of the building’s character-defining features, prioritizing the flexibility of the site to host many types of groups and events, from weddings and parties to corporate or non-profit group events/retreats. A possible future-phased portion of the work includes plans to restore the historic structural elements framing the view from nearby Lookout Point. This project is in the construction document phase. City Council District 8
The Parks and Recreation Department’s existing maintenance barn is undersized and in extremely poor condition for Zilker Metropolitan Park maintenance staff’s current needs. The existing facility is also located within the Barton Creek Watershed in very close proximity to Barton Springs Pool. The renovation is pursuing LEED Silver Certification. This project is on hold. City Council District 8
The Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan process was suspended prior to the final Austin City Council presentations.
