64 Rainey Street Park Planning

Updates:

The Parks and Recreation Department presented to the MACC Board on October 4, 2023, with the following updates of what has taken place since October 1, 2022: 

• PARD Planning began the formal process of an alley vacation for the area between 64 Rainey and the ESB-MACC parking lot. This process can take 7-9 months before it goes before City Council.
• PARD completed a new survey of the property at its own expense.
• ESB-MACC completed historical research by Marta Cotera at its own expense.
• CANVUS donated all park furniture.
• AIPP approved re-creation of historic mural by Raul Valdez from MACC Phase 2 AIPP funds.
• No funds have been expended from Rainey Street Heritage fund.
• City Council approved a contract with artist Raul Valdez to re-create his historic mural that was destroyed when the Juarez-Lincoln University was demolished. The mural will be featured full-scale in the park at 64 Rainey Street.

View full presentation here (PDF)

View Frequently Asked Questions below

Project Background

The lot at 64 Rainey Street was acquired by the City of Austin in 2003 and dedicated as parkland in 2014. The lot is approximately 6000 square feet. For years, the lot was leased for staging for the high-rise at 70 Rainey Street.

In 2011, community engagement began to explore transportation and infrastructure issues on Rainey Street and consider options for 64 Rainey Street. After passing a recommendation to City Council that 64 Rainey Street be a pocket park recognizing the historical Rainey Street community, the MACC Board formed the Rainey Visioning Working Group in late 2013. Between 2015 and 2019, community engagement and placemaking engagement took place, leading to the 2022 City Council Resolution.

Project Description

Under the guidance of City Council Resolution no. 20220609-123, the Parks and Recreation Department is collaborating with the MACC Board to conduct a community meeting to receive feedback on what should be included in the future development of the parkland at 64 Rainey Street. In addition to creating the community meeting for feedback, this community engagement plan will outline the process for developing the community meeting outline and run of show, outreach to community, and the materials after the meeting.

Elements Identified in the Resolution

The list of elements in the Resolution identified outcomes from previous community feedback, including the following:

• Historic markers;
• Family stories narrated through sidewalk panels;
• Metal papel picado artwork that could be affixed to lampposts;
• Mural(s) possibly recreating some of Raul Valdez’s murals destroyed with the demolition of the Juarez Lincoln Building;
• Art and storytelling elements in the 64 Rainey Street park space; and
• A grand entrance (gran entrada) for the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC).

Anticipated Timeline

• Community Engagement: Fall 2022
• Park Plan Development: 2023
• Interim Park Improvements: Early 2024 to late 2024
• Permanent Park Improvements: Construction anticipated to begin in late 2024, completed in Fall 2025

Community Engagement

64 Rainey Street Plática (Community Meeting) 
ESB-MACC, 600 River St., Austin, TX 78701
Thursday, September 29, 6 to 8:30 p.m.

• Presentation slides (PDF)
• Community Sketches (PDF): The attached drawings are from the mini-charette that took place during the plática. These drawings were created by community members.

Pop-ups:

• Pop-up Table at ESB-MACC for Viva Mexico, September 17, 2022, 5 to 8 p.m.
• Pop-up Table at ESB-MACC for Austin Museum Day, September 18, noon to 3 p.m.

64 Rainey Street Priorities and Stories: View results

Presentation to the MACC Board, October 4, 2023 (View full presentation, pdf)

Funding and Resources

The lot is zoned as Central Business District (CBD) and is within the Waller Creek Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Zone.

By ordinance, all permit and right-of-way fees for new construction benefit the Rainey Historic District. June 9, 2022 City Council passes Resolution No. 20220609-123 directing the City Manager to include in the draft budget for Council consideration and approval an appropriation

of $500,000 in the 2022-23 City budget to fund placemaking and place keeping projects in the Rainey Historic District. Every year, the fund increases by $200,000. As of October 2023, there is $1,000,000 allocated to the project.

Contact Information

For questions, please contact Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Manager of Culture and Arts, by email or phone at 512-974-3772.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following questions and answers have been put together for quick reference for community members.

What is the background of 64 Rainey Street? How did it become a pocket park?

The lot at 64 Rainey Street was acquired by the City of Austin in 2003 and dedicated as parkland in 2014. The lot is approximately 6000 square feet. For years, the lot was leased for staging for the high-rise at 70 Rainey Street.
In 2011, community engagement began to explore transportation and infrastructure issues on Rainey Street and consider options for 64 Rainey Street. After City Council passed a resolution determining that 64 Rainey Street should be a pocket park recognizing the historic Rainey Street community, the MACC Board formed the Rainey Visioning Working Group in late 2013. Between 2015 and 2019, community engagement and placemaking engagement took place, leading to the 2022 City Council Resolution no. 20220609-123. 

What features will the park have?

The list of elements in the Resolution identified outcomes from previous community feedback, including the following:

• Historic markers;
• Family stories narrated through sidewalk panels;
• Metal papel picado artwork that could be affixed to lampposts;
• Mural(s) possibly recreating some of Raul Valdez’s murals destroyed with the demolition of the Juarez Lincoln Building;
• Art and storytelling elements in the 64 Rainey Street park space; and
• A grand entrance (gran entrada) for the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC).

These are all anticipated to be in the final pocket park. There will be an interim park improvement at 64 Rainey in early 2024. The park improvement will be in place until construction can get started on the Park design. It will feature donated park furniture from Canvus that Caminos students will cover in murals.

Possible opening date will be the Fall of 2025.

How has the community been a part of the process so far?

Under the guidance of City Council Resolution no. 20220609-123, the Parks and Recreation Department continues to collaborate with the MACC Board. In Fall 2022, the MACC Board and PARD held a community meeting to receive feedback on what should be included in the future development of the parkland at 64 Rainey Street in September 2022. In addition, multiple pop-ups were hosted at MACC events. The MACC Board voted to create a 64 Rainey Working Group that will advise on the project. 

Where will the funding for the park come from?

The lot is zoned as Central Business District (CBD) and is within the Waller Creek Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Zone.

By ordinance, all permit and right-of-way fees for new construction benefit the Rainey Historic District. June 9, 2022 City Council passes Resolution No. 20220609-123 directing the City Manager to include in the draft budget for Council consideration and approval an appropriation
of $500,000 in the 2022-23 City budget to fund placemaking and place keeping projects in the Rainey Historic District. Every year, the fund increases by $200,000. As of October 2023, $1,000,000 is allocated to the project.

Does the park have an official name? What is the process of naming the park? 

Currently the park and project are referred to by the address. An official name for the pocket park has not been determined. Austin City Code Sections 14-1-37 and 39 outline the process by which a park facility can be named or renamed. The naming process for a new park ("new feature" in the ordinance) typically occurs before construction begins. The MACC Board Work Group anticipates being involved with this process.

What has happened since community engagement ended in 2022?

The Parks and Recreation Department continues to work on the project. Between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023, the following has happened:

• PARD Planning began the formal process of an alley vacation for the area between 64 Rainey and the ESB-MACC parking lot. This process can take 7-9 months before it goes before City Council.
• PARD completed a new survey of the property at its own expense.
• ESB-MACC completed historical research by Marta Cotera at its own expense.
• CANVUS donated all park furniture.
• AIPP approved re-creation of historic mural by Raul Valdez from MACC Phase 2 AIPP funds.
• No funds have been expended from Rainey Street Heritage fund.
• City Council approved a contract with artist Raul Valdez to re-create his historic mural that was destroyed when the Juarez-Lincoln University was demolished. The mural will be featured full-scale in the park at 64 Rainey Street.

What happens next at 64 Rainey Street?

There will be an interim park improvement at 64 Rainey in early 2024. It will feature donated park furniture from Canvus that Caminos students will cover in murals. The park improvement will be in place until construction can get started on the Park design.

Possible opening date will be the Fall of 2025.