Austin Parks Foundation (APF), in partnership with the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) and the Amigos de Parque Zaragoza, received funding in 2024 from Project for Public Spaces to implement a unique, community-led pilot placemaking project at Parque Zaragoza. The initiative transformed an underutilized parking lot into an inviting public space that expands recreational opportunities for the community and complements existing programs at the Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center, including Therapeutic Recreation Services. This project is complete. City Council District 3
Background
Since its establishment in 1931, Parque Zaragoza has served as a gathering place for Mexican Americans in Austin to enjoy recreational opportunities and celebrate their cultural heritage. Today, Parque Zaragoza spans 15 acres of parkland and is home to a 17,500 sq. ft recreation center. Additional park amenities include a swimming pool, a multi-purpose field, outdoor basketball and sand volleyball courts, a playground and outdoor stage.
Project Description
Austin Parks Foundation (APF) was granted funding in 2024 from Project for Public Spaces to implement a unique, community-led pilot placemaking project at Parque Zaragoza.
The Adopt-a-Park group, the Amigos de Parque Zaragoza, were specifically looking for ways to activate the underutilized parking lot to promote community cohesion and positive recreational activities. At the same time, Austin Parks and Recreation began offering Therapeutic Recreation Services at Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center, in addition to its myriad other child and family programs.
With the support of Project for Public Spaces, APF, the Amigos and the Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center facilitated community engagement opportunities to gather input from community members on what activities were most desired. With a limited budget and scope, the final concept plan identified a bicycle traffic garden as the most desired amenity, which is a scaled-down street network where children and new riders practice biking and road safety in a car-free space. The traffic garden was designed to accommodate multiple stakeholders, such as community members, after-school and summer camp children from the Recreation Center, and the Therapeutic Recreation participants. In addition to the traffic garden, the project incorporates benches, picnic tables, and an ADA accessible sidewalk and ramp. Lastly, games and activities were painted onto the parking lot to allow for both structured and unstructured play.
Project Timeline
- Spring 2024: Project Kickoff
- Summer 2024: Concept Development
- Fall 2024: Community Engagement
- Spring 2025: Construction Start
- Summer 2025: Construction Complete
Community Engagement
On May 8, 2024, Project for Public Spaces and APF held a workshop to gather input from community members on how to turn the parking lot into an active and vibrant public space.
In December 2024 and January 2025, a survey was distributed, and three pop-up community engagement activities were held at the Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center to ask what elements of the concept plan they preferred.
Funding
This project is funded by Project for Public Spaces and Austin Parks Foundation.
Contact Information
For more information or to provide feedback, please contact Charles Mabry by email or phone at (512) 974-9481.
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