Update: Controversial Zilker Park Vision Plan halted indefinitely, Austin mayor says

Ella McCarthy, Austin American-Statesman
Updated ·2 min read

The Zilker Park Vision Plan will no longer be considered by the Austin City Council, according to Mayor Kirk Watson, possibly killing the controversial $200 million proposal.

Watson wrote that the plan would be "shelved" in his email newsletter Monday, sent after three council members shared earlier in the day that they wouldn't support it.

Many community members rallied against some of the more controversial items in the plan, including the construction of parking garages and the restoration or possible relocation of the old Zilker Hillside Theatre.

"My recommendation is that we cool off for a spell," Watson wrote. "We could all benefit from a little time and perspective. And then, we can start working together on the recommendations in the plan that have consensus."

Council Members Paige Ellis (District 8), Ryan Alter (District 5) and Zo Qadri (District 9) affirmed some of the needs for park improvements in a joint statement but said they couldn't support the plan as a whole.

"We know that the Zilker Park Vision Plan proposes many improvements that have community consensus, such as additional green space, shade trees, erosion control and bathrooms," the statement said. "Other elements, however, seem to be flash points of irreconcilable differences."

More: Austin parks department says there’s confusion about Zilker Park vision plan after criticism

Many community members rallied against some of the more controversial items in the Zilker Park Vision Plan, including construction of parking garages and restoration or relocation of the old Zilker Hillside Theatre.
Many community members rallied against some of the more controversial items in the Zilker Park Vision Plan, including construction of parking garages and restoration or relocation of the old Zilker Hillside Theatre.

"As the plan is shelved, we should recognize that really good people can often disagree," Watson wrote. "A lot of people and groups worked hard to do something big and positive for our community."

Nearly three years in the making, the vision plan was developed by the city "because the growth in our community is placing critical stress on the park and its future," a city spokesperson said in a statement.

The plan claimed that "Zilker Metropolitan Park is a park in crisis," saying it is facing "increased ecological degradation, accessibility stresses due to a lack of connected circulation and overuse in certain areas due to growing visitation and no significant changes to how the park is operated in decades."

The city paid a design firm called Design Workshop $600,000 to draft the plan, which was published in May. Design Workshop declined to comment on the recent decision to pull the item from the council agenda, instead referring all questions to the city.

"We appreciate the community feedback we received over the years and hope together we can determine a path forward that preserves and protects Zilker Park, ensures equitable access for all who visit, and is embraced by our broader community," the city spokesperson said.

To view the full Zilker Park Vision Plan, visit the Austin Parks and Recreation website.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Some Austin City Council members oppose $200M Zilker Park Vision Plan