Highland Neighborhood Park and Reznicek Fields
Austin Parks Foundation in partnership with Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment and Austin Parks and Recreation came together at Highland Neighborhood Park, 401 W. St. Johns Ave., to celebrate a new pedestrian bridge connecting the park to nearby trails, as well as help dedicate "The Gathering Place," a new Art in Public Places sculpture by artist Samara Barks on the morning of Monday, September 8, 2025.
The new pedestrian bridge, which was funded and implemented by Austin Parks Foundation, provides access to the Highland neighborhood and natural and accessible trails. The Highland Neighborhood Association secured $150,000 through an Austin Parks Foundation ACL Music Festival Community Impact Grant to fund the connectivity project, which had a total project cost of $295,000. These Community Impact Grants support large-scale, community-initiated park improvement projects from $5,000 and up, offered twice yearly through a competitive process with 24-month grant periods.
The new public art installation by Barks, unveiled in Highland Neighborhood Park, celebrates three years of community collaboration. The interactive piece combines murals, a custom shadow box and ADA-accessible seating to honor the park's 50-year history of youth sports and cultural diversity. The artwork pays tribute to Edward Reznicek, a retired architect who helped establish the park in the 1970s with the University Hills Optimist Club. Located near the playground, the installation features the word "welcome" in three languages and includes anti-graffiti coating for durability. This marks Barks' first public art commission through the City of Austin's Art in Public Places program, which commissions original artwork to reflect the city's culture and enhance community connections.
Austin Parks and Recreation completed the renovation of Highland Neighborhood Park and Reznicek Fields in 2024. Work included two 125’ ball fields with lighting, a new site irrigation system, a loop walking trail, benches, a new drinking fountain, parking lot improvements, utilities for a future restroom/community building and 25 additional trees. The design reflects sensitivity for the Waller Creek watershed and provides green infrastructure opportunities in collaboration with Austin’s Watershed Protection Department.
