The Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan
Many of Austin’s favorite outdoor locations, activities, programs, and special events are located within the 351 acres of Zilker Metropolitan Park. As the city’s population increases, we must take measures to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy an ecologically healthy Zilker Park.
Zilker 351 and the Zilker Vision Plan
Zilker Park is being “loved to death.” Comprehensive planning and stewardship are needed to ensure the park’s long-term usability. To address this challenge, the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department contracted with Design Workshop to develop a community-driven Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan to guide the restoration and future development of Zilker Park.
Zilker 351 supported the goals and general direction of the Vision Plan, which included treating the park as an ecological treasure and providing a welcoming park culture with equitable access for all.
UPDATE: On August 7, Mayor Watson announced that the Zilker Park Vision planning process has been suspended, and the plan will not be presented to City Council at this time.
Protecting Zilker’s Unique Ecology
Located at the juncture of Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake, Zilker Park is incredibly rich and diverse in terms of its ecological features and the animal and plant life it supports. In 2021, the Barton Springs Conservancy commissioned the Siglo Group’s Zilker Park Natural Resource Inventory & Management Guidelines to provide the Vision Plan design team with a foundation for design decisions to ensure the long-term ecological health of Zilker Park. It catalogs the park’s natural resources and offers management strategies to address increased park visitation. Read the Siglo Group’s Inventory to learn more about the ecology of Zilker Park.
The Stories and History of Zilker Park
Zilker Park is Austin’s oldest metropolitan park, with a rich history, yet many Austinites are not aware of its stories or even of all its public amenities. Zilker 351 supported the Vision Plan goal to “tell the stories of the people and the history of the park.” Zilker Park has a long history as a contested landscape and of discrimination against non-whites and lower-income citizens. The Vision Plan included an interpretive plan to provide visitor education throughout the park, inform visitors about the environment, culture, and history of Zilker Park and the surrounding watershed. Learn more about the Austin Parks and Recreation Department’s goals for storytelling, equity, and inclusion.