The largest park in downtown Austin is slated to open this spring.
With all the incoming companies, celebrities, and other Californians moving to Austin, it’s becoming abundantly clear that Austin is on a path to becoming the new LA – for better or worse. And while many Austinites cringe at the idea, there is at least one thing for the whole city to get behind this year, and that’s the opening of the new downtown Waterloo Park. [Featured image via waterloogreenway.org]
Over the past couple of years, the City of Austin and Waterloo Greenway have been steadily developing what is to become downtown Austin’s largest park between Red River and Trinity Streets and 12th and 15th streets.
The new park system is set to feature over 35 acres of connected greenspace filled with abundant flora – nearly 100,000 plants and over 500 trees – 95% of which are native to the area. Waterloo Park will also feature a medley green areas created to give visitors the chance to take a break from city life and re-connect with nature. Such areas include the Winker Family Wetland Terrace, the trailhead to the restored Waterloo Greenway along Waller Creek.
Other notable park features include the soaring Suzanne Deal Booth Skywalk, a winding ADA-accessible path through the Hill Country Garden to the Moody Ampitheater. Lush gardens, playscapes – including the inventive Kitty King Powell Lawn, and 1.5 miles of hike-and-bike trails will also be available at the park this spring.
In part, the park marks a city effort to harbor new cultural and natural destinations in the city, such imagined events include future concerts, performance art shows, food trucks, and more.
Many events are already being planned for the the park’s centerpiece, Moody Amphitheater. The architecture of the 5,000-capacity amphitheater designed by architects Thomas Phifer and partners was intended to flow seamlessly into the park. Its features include a rolling 38,000-square-foot Great Lawn floating glass roof structures to shade the stage as well as the park goers below. C3 and Live Nation Entertainment, two titans in the live performance arena, are reported to put on up to 35 live acts at the Ampitheater, once permitted.
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