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Walnut Creek Metro Park Playground

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park Playground replacement will provide inclusive, accessible playground equipment that meets today’s playground safety standards. The Austin Parks and Recreation Department's goal is to improve the quality of play experiences at the park for children of ages and abilities. PARD will be partnering with Earth Native Wilderness School to offer programs during summer 2020. This nature-play expansion is supported by a grant from St. David's Foundation.

Playground equipment at Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park

Park History

Walnut Creek Metro Park is a 293-acre public park in Northeast Austin. The park was mostly developed in the 1960s and '70s, with the current playground installed in the early 2000s. The metropolitan park serves citizens across Austin.

Project Description

This project will focus on providing a new, enjoyable playground in Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park that meets and exceeds accessibility and playground standards, while providing improved play opportunities for park visitors. The playground will likely remain in its current location, but the new design will be expanded to incorporate nature discovery opportunities throughout the space.

The park project is expected to be complete by late 2020. We believe this park will create a more inclusive, comfortable space for many years to come.

Project Objectives

  • Improve accessibility and inclusivity for children of all ages and abilities
  • Limit risk to playground safety hazards including low branches and nearby parking lot
  • Provide new play features to allow maximum enjoyment of the area
  • Provide nature play opportunities

Proposed Schedule

  • January to March 2020: Community engagement process
  • March to April 2020: Develop and design a park plan based on community input
  • May 2020: Construction begins
  • Summer 2020: Loose parts and creative building area opens to the public; partnership with Earth Native Wilderness School begins
  • November 2020: Anticipated opening of playground

Community Engagement

Throughout the project, PARD staff will provide several opportunities for citizen input on the type and style of proposed playground equipment. An online survey will be available in January of 2020.

Community Meeting #1
Walnut Creek Metro Park at the Playground
12138 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78753
January 18, 2020, 10 a.m. to noon
(In case of bad weather, we will meet at Little Walnut Creek Branch Library)

Funding and Resources

The playground replacement project is funded through the 2018 Bond. The nature play expansion is funded through the St. David’s Foundation Parks with Purpose grant.

Contact

For questions regarding this project, please contact Patrick Beyer at (512) 874-9476. Media inquiries, please call (512) 974-6723.

 

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