Plans progress for $15.97M in park projects From the cover
In a nutshell
Machamer said PARD is “putting a lot of thought” into what comes next for park development across the city. “The priorities continue to be equitable development, increasing access to park amenities, reinvesting in aging infrastructure like pools and playground replacements, and also a focus on our maintenance facilities,” Machamer said.
Neighborhood Park, slated to open in 2025. The project was conceptualized in 2018 and will include a new playground, picnic pavilion, basketball court, loop walking trail and more. Another new project, Jamestown Neighborhood Park, has already been identified as one of PARD’s top priorities for its parkland improvement program ahead of potential 2026 bond funding.
PARD completed a handful of projects in Northwest Austin just last year, such as basketball court improvements at Balcones District Park; increasing trail accessibility at Bull Creek District Park; installing a new playground at Highland Neighborhood Park; and installing fitness equipment at TA Brown Neighborhood Park. One of the newest projects is Brownie In progress 1 Beverly S. She eld Northwest District Park • Project scope: aquatic center renovation • Phase: construction • Cost and funding source: $12.4M from 2018 bond and parkland dedication • Estimated completion: spring 2026 2 Walnut Creek Metro Park • Project scope: softball field light replacements • Phase: bid/award/execution • Cost and funding source: $772K from 2018 bond and Deferred Maintenance Fund • Estimated completion: TBD 3 Jamestown Neighborhood Park • Project scope: concept plan for undeveloped park • Phase: design • Cost and funding source: TBD by Austin Parks Foundation • Estimated completion: TBD; concept plan adoption anticipated in early 2025 4 Northern Walnut Creek Trail • Project scope: trail connection from Oakbrook Drive to I-35, trail connection to Southern Walnut Creek Trail • Phase: design/permitting • Cost: $1.5M from 2016 and 2020 mobility bonds • Estimated completion: summer 2026 5 Upper Bull Creek Greenbelt • Project scope: trailhead development • Phase: design • Cost and funding source: $1.3M from 2018 bond and parkland dedication • Estimated completion: TBD
TOPRIDGE DR.
EVENING PRIMROSE PATH
5
SCOTLAND WELL DR.
Balcones District Park • Completed summer 2024
WALNUT CREEK
SPICEWOOD SPRINGS RD.
183
2
MOPAC
WALNUT CREEK TRAIL
4
BULL CREEK
LAKEWOOD DR.
35
360
Bull Creek District Park • Completed summer 2024
BROWNIE DR.
Brownie Neighborhood Park • Opening 2025
JAMESTOWN DR.
1
3
TA Brown Neighborhood Park • Completed January 2024
ARDATH ST.
PEGRAM AVE.
NORTHWAY DR.
2222
GUADALUPE ST.
COLORADO RIVER
Highland Neighborhood Park • Completed summer 2024
N
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Northwest Austin parks and trails, 2020-present
Project funding
payment of parkland dedication fees shifted, which could result in a yearslong delay in fee collection. Other entities work to support PARD, such as Austin Parks Foundation, which has invested over $80 million into Austin’s parks through private fundraising. APF has helped fund over $400,000 for projects in Northwest Austin, said Katie Kennedy, APF’s director of marketing and communications.
Machamer said PARD relies mostly on bond fund- ing to complete projects but also utilizes parkland dedication fees, where developers choose to pay the city instead of allocating parkland in their plans, as a funding source. However, House Bill 1526—signed into law in 2023—capped parkland dedication at 10% of the site area citywide, down from a 15% cap in the urban core and no cap in suburban areas. Additionally,
22 projects completed or in progress
$7.2M invested
1,060 acres of land covered
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
22
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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