Zilker Metropolitan Park, located 2100 Barton Springs Road, is Austin’s oldest metropolitan park and is named after Andrew Jackson Zilker who donated parcels of land to the city starting in 1917. The park is located at the juncture of Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake and comprises more than 350 acres of publicly owned land. City Council Districts 5 and 8.
Updates:
- Barton Springs Spillway South Project begins January 21, 2026.
Background
A major era of park development took place in the 1930s through New Deal programs such as the Civil Works Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1997, Zilker Metropolitan Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the park includes many resources of historical, architectural, and archeological significance.
Today, the park serves as a hub for many recreational activities and includes major facilities and amenities including Barton Springs Pool, Zilker Botanical Garden, Austin Nature and Science Center, Zilker Clubhouse, Girl Scout Lodge, Sunshine Camp, Zilker Hillside Theater, Zilker Caretaker Lodge, Umlauf Sculpture Gardens, McBeth Recreation Center, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail, and Barton Creek Trail. The park is home to large-scale events such as the Austin City Limits Music Festival, the Trail of Lights, and ABC Kite Festival.
As a beloved treasure of Austin, Zilker Park is visited by more than a million people each year. The impact of usage and age of amenities requires ongoing improvement projects throughout the park. Upcoming, active, completed, and projects on hold can be reviewed below.
Upcoming and Current Projects
- Barton Creek Streambank Erosion
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In May 2018, a slope failure occurred during a flooding event on a section of the Barton Creek streambank adjacent to the Ann and Roy Butler Trail, opposite from Lou Neff Point. Approximately 230 lineal feet of the streambank slope was affected. The Watershed Protection, Parks and Recreation Departments, and The Trail Conservancy are working together to provide solutions to stabilize the slope and protect the Ann and Roy Butler Trail at this location. This project is under construction. City Council District 9.
- Barton Springs Skimmer Project
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Barton Springs Pool contains two principal infrastructure elements that address creek flow from Barton Creek known as "bypass" features. Due to decades of flood events impacting the flow of Barton Creek, the decommissioned 1940s bypass infrastructure has created safety and environmental concerns, which this project will address by removing the 1940s bypass. This project is entering the demolition phase. City Council Districts 5 and 8.
- Barton Springs Spillway South Project: Safety, Site Lines, Ecological Restoration and Erosion Repair
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Background
The Barton Springs Spillway (often called "Barking Springs") faces significant challenges from over usage. This site remains popular year-round, adding to the challenges of environmental damage. This project aims to address these concerns.
Project Summary
The Barton Springs Spillway South Safety, Sight Lines, Ecological Restoration, and Erosion Repair Project addresses long‑standing safety concerns, impaired sight lines, erosion issues, and ecological degradation at Barking Springs South. Work includes selective hazard‑related tree trimming, removal of invasive species, installation of erosion‑control check steps, and restoration plantings. All actions are designed to stabilize the landscape, improve water access visibility for emergency response, and support native habitat recovery. Community communication and volunteer participation are integrated throughout to ensure shared stewardship. Each step is designed to protect the site’s cultural and environmental value while minimizing disruption to community use.
Objectives:
- Improve visitor safety and emergency visibility through selective vegetation management;
- Restore ecological function by removing invasive species and supporting native plant communities;
- Stabilize eroded slopes and pathways using naturalistic erosion‑control methods;
- Engage the community through volunteer stewardship; and
- Protect sensitive cultural and environmental resources while minimizing disruption to public use.
Anticipated Schedule
- Winter 2026: Hazard-related tree trimming, invasive species removal, vertical mulching
- Spring 2026: Texas Conservation Corps (TxCC) installs erosion control check steps and selective exclusion fencing, volunteers remove nandina, cut back grapevine and other vines, mulch and brushing eroded gullies
- Fall 2026: Volunteers mulch exclusion fenced areas, plant saplings, plugs, and seed
Funding and Resources
This project will be funded by the 2025 Urban Forestry Budget Allocation.
- Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse at Barton Springs Pool Rehabilitation Project
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The Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse Rehabilitation at Barton Springs Pool is a major task identified in the Barton Springs Master Plan (PDF, 24 MB) (completed in 2009) and further outlined in the Zilker Bathhouse Zone Feasibility Study (completed in 2016). Major elements of work will include access improvements, replacement of the plumbing systems, structural repairs and restoration of critical parts of the entry rotunda and the changing rooms. Improvements to the Aquatic facilities and the Sheffield Education Center are also a part of this project. City Council District 8.
- Sunken Gardens Rehabilitation
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The Sunken Gardens Rehabilitation Project will address ongoing erosion and bank stabilization issues, rehabilitate historic masonry walls, improve habitat for endangered salamanders, and better interpret the site through educational panels. The Sunken Gardens is located downstream of the Barton Springs pool spillway, just east of the south lawn of Barton Springs Pool. The project is currently in the design phase. City Council District 5.
- Violet Crown Trail Projects
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The City of Austin and the Hill Country Conservancy have partnered to develop the Violet Crown Trail system. Violet Crown Trail begins at the Barton Creek Greenbelt entrance at Zilker Park and, once complete, will extend 30 miles south into Hays County. The Mile Zero Trailhead at Zilker Park is now open! The next project is a 13-mile trail extension from the new trail in Circle C Park to Hays County, currently under construction. City Council District 8.
- Zilker Clubhouse Rehabilitation
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The Zilker Park Clubhouse Rehabilitation project will focus on general preservation and restoration of the building’s character-defining features, prioritizing the flexibility of the site to host many types of groups and events, from weddings and parties to corporate or non-profit group events/retreats. A possible future-phased portion of the work includes plans to restore the historic structural elements framing the view from nearby Lookout Point. This project is in the bidding phase. City Council District 8.
- Zilker Maintenance Barn Replacement
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Austin Parks and Recreation's existing maintenance barn is undersized and in extremely poor condition for Zilker Metropolitan Park maintenance staff’s current needs. The existing facility is also located within the Barton Creek Watershed in very close proximity to Barton Springs Pool. The renovation will update and relocate the building out of the Barton Creek Watershed. This project is in the construction phase. City Council District 8.
Completed Projects
- UMLAUF Historic Preservation, Expansion, and Unification Plan
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The UMLAUF Historic Preservation, Expansion, and Unification Plan is a project to improve access to and expand the use of UMLAUF’s sculpture garden, museum, and grounds, while preserving and incorporating an adjacent site that includes the home of Angeline and Charles Umlauf, their private sculpture garden, and the artist’s studio. The plan was approved by Council in October 2024. City Council District 5.
- Zilker Park Pecan Grove Tree Planting
Background
The Pecan Grove at Zilker Metropolitan Park was impacted by severe drought and freezes from 2018 to 2021 which resulted in the loss of several mature trees in the project area. This loss of canopy contributed to the erosion of soil and compaction of the lawn areas near the east entry of Zilker Park.
Project Description
Tree planting, light earthwork, and drainage improvements were performed to slow and capture water to reduce erosion and re-establish a forested canopy in the Pecan Grove area. An assortment of twelve native tree species was selected to provide shade and understory canopy, and provide a variety of biological functions for surrounding wildlife. Tree location and size were selected to provide shade to park visitors, which compliments the existing circulation pattern of users approaching the Zilker Park, Barton Springs Pool, and the watercraft rental area at Barton Creek.
Project Schedule
- Winter 2024/2025: Planning and design
- March 2025: Start of construction activities
- Late spring 2025: Project complete
Community Engagement
PARD provided signs on-site advance of the work starting for public notification. Project contacts and direction to the project webpage were provided on signage and the webpage was updated periodically through construction.
Funding
The project was funded by the Urban Forest Replenishment Fund.
Contact Information
For questions or more information, please contact Lindsey Machamer by email.