
Site History
In 1922, local developer Ollie O. Norwood and his wife, Calie Norwood built a small bungalow on the bluffs above the south bank of the Colorado River just west of the area where Interstate 35 now crosses Lady Bird Lake. The Norwood House occupied a 3-acre estate that included a rose garden, a greenhouse, a decorative fountain, a gazebo/teahouse and the first geothermal fed swimming pool in Austin.
The City of Austin purchased the Norwood Estate, including the house in 1985. The City recognized the historic significance of the house and has been designated at a City of Austin historic landmark.

The Norwood House circa 1920s, classic Arts & Crafts bungalow in the California Craftsman style. Photo credit: Austin History Center, Austin Public Library C01463a
In 2013 the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department entered into an agreement with the Norwood Park Foundation for the stabilization and rehabilitation of the house and grounds to support programming of the space for community meetings and events for potential revenue for the maintenance and operations of the site. In 2015 The Norwood Park Foundation completed the removal of hazardous materials from the house, adjusted of the siting of the house to its original placement and stabilized the structure. Since then the Foundation has been working on conceptual plans for the rehabilitation and improvements to the park to support the proposed programming.

Photo credit: Austin History Center, Austin Public Library PICH 06754a
Preliminary Concept

Timeline
The Norwood Park Foundation expects to submit an application for a site development permit in early summer of 2018. Construction is anticipated to begin late summer 2020 with completion of the improvements in the Fall of 2021.
Funding and Resources
Rehabilitation of the Norwood Estate has been made possible in part by funding from the Heritage Tourism Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.
