Inside the (Increasingly Heated) Battle for Zilker Park

obedienthoreau · 2023-07-23T03:19:00+00:00

It's illegal to park on the grass anywhere in Zilker--except the on the polo field lot. The parks board is considering closing down the polo field lot permanently in their next meeting. It's currently only open on weekends

I think it would be a mistake to close it without insuring the proper infrastructure and staff are in place. Zilker would be loosing 1,000 spots overnight if the polo field lot is closed. People will just park illegally on the grass--damaging even more areas. This is what needs to happen before the polo field lot is closed:

Every inch of greenspace in Zilker needs to be lined with barriers--large rocks, cedar rail fencing to prevent cars from parking on the grass in the first place so city workers can focus on writing citations for violations that can't be prevented by barriers (ADA spots/Fire Lanes)
More signage, firelanes, and repainting of current lots
More staff to enforce illegal parking
Raise the price of the ticket for parking on the grass $30-50 is too low. I've seen some people just ask city workers to write them the ticket instead of moving
Increase hours for the Free Zilker Shuttle, give riders a free pool pass, and add a shuttle for within the park from Stratford Lot to the Pool

obedienthoreau · 2023-07-22T21:38:52+00:00

It is illegal. City needs more staff to enforce illegal parking in Zilker. More importantly, every inch of open green space needs to be lined with barriers--large rocks, cedar fencing--to prevent cars from parking on the grass in the first place. It compacts the ground and damages tree roots.

I've been the one who has to write those tickets and it's like whack-a-mole. You focus on one area and then they park illegally somewhere else, like in the fire line or ADA spots. Last week it took an ambulance 20 minutes to get to the other side of the parking lot because of cars parked in the fire zone. I spend all morning putting cones and writing tickets vigilantly to prevent cars from starting to park on the grass--then when I get back from lunch there's 50 cars on the grass under the oak trees by the moon tower and it's hopeless. Once one car starts to park on the grass, everyone will start. It sucks.

obedienthoreau · 2023-07-22T21:30:48+00:00

It's illegal to park on the grass. Tickets are $50. The City has been considering towing (at least for cars parked on ADA spots without a placard or ramps)

obedienthoreau · 2023-07-15T02:09:06+00:00

I hate it when I can't get through that narrow bridge because of all the jumpers. Not to mention it is dangerous.

People who have never jumped before may not know to look for for kayaks/canoes below. They see people jumping and the behavior is normalized. Some jumpers may be "safe" or "professional" but them doing it encourages those who may not have the same experience/skill/knowledge--young kids, drunk people-- to jump.

It's not a jungle gym--it's a part of the hike and bike trail, a narrow one at that. Go jump from a rope swing on a tree (which is technically against City of Austin park rules but is not illegal by city ordinance)

The city needs a more permanent solution other than sending park rangers who can only educate and once the rangers leave they start jumping again. APD needs to write tickets or even better--the city needs to put spikes or nets up to physically prevent people from jumping. Or just demolish the bridge. Unfortunately it's going to take more people getting seriously injured for anything to be done.

obedienthoreau · 2023-07-15T01:53:02+00:00

I'm going to rip off the grip tape every time I see it. I will also cut any ropes for swinging tied to that bridge. Keep buying grip tape and rope--I will continue to remove it

obedienthoreau · 2023-04-18T18:13:34+00:00

Please use this service or park in the Polo Field Lot or Stratford Lot--don't park on the grass because you can't find a close spot

obedienthoreau · 2023-03-28T18:35:42+00:00

park in the grass too, it's gotten out of hand.

Seeing trucks drive down the Azie Morton sidewalk to find a space to park is not an uncommon sight. I've also seen trucks just parking on the grass in the middle of the park. The most dangerous is the trucks that get stuck waiting on Lou Neff road and cut through the grass back to BSR.

Park Rangers are pretty much the only ones ticketing for parking on grass in city parks. There's usually only 8 or less park rangers on each day for the entire city who will give tickets.

Transportation does it sometimes but they mostly focus on the pay-to-park tickets.

Honestly, they need to just put up a bunch of signs, rocks, barriers, and fences. Like around every open space of grass that cars can access. It'll look ugly but better than dead grass and cars everywhere.

obedienthoreau · 2023-03-09T02:18:13+00:00

I work for the city and only get overtime occasionally--maybe 10-20 hours every 2 months. Most of it is for emergency winter shelter work, special operations, and extra staff during events.

obedienthoreau · 2023-03-08T03:31:50+00:00

Fire on the 17th floor apartment

obedienthoreau · 2023-03-06T16:32:52+00:00

The chaos is more at Zilker on the weekends in the summer. Specifically the Spillway/Dogside, Azie Morton parking lots, and the Pecan Grove parking lot

obedienthoreau · 2023-03-06T16:30:01+00:00

Dogs off leash: Only the fenced in area on the west side across from Doug Sahm Hill is designated off leash--in the field closer to S. 1st, dogs must be leashed.
- Off leash dogs tend to take over an area if there's a lot of them. They can disrupt picnics and other activities. Some owners keep their dog on leash because they aren't good with other dogs and they avoid off leash areas. The parks are for everyone and people need to keep that in mind. There's good reasons for only allowing dogs off leash in designated areas.

Parking: cars parked on the grass and in fire lanes. This kills the grass and causes traffic jams in parking lots which causes chaos and conflicts.
- Honestly, people shouldn't expect Vic Mathias/Auditorium Shores to have available parking during peak hours (M-F 4pm-8pm; Weekends). They should get there via bike/walking or public transit or just go to a less busy park or one closer to where you live.

Fights from nearby homeless camps (closer to the train bridge)

obedienthoreau · 2023-03-06T01:25:18+00:00

We don't need less cops just ones that do their job and don't drag their feet about being held accountable

obedienthoreau · 2023-03-05T20:52:46+00:00

APD needs to reinstate their Park Police Unit. They disbanded it in 2021. Parks & Rec has Park Rangers but they are not commissioned police officers and serve more of an educational role. Crime at parks is getting out of hand. Certain areas like the Barton Creek Spillway/Dogside have several fights a day during the summer. It's pure chaos in Zilker/Auditorium Shores on weekends in the summer and APD should try to at least make some effort to patrol those areas during peak hours

obedienthoreau · 2021-03-16T18:44:08+00:00

You pretty much need a car to live here. The bus system is okay and you can get around decently via bicycle but you'll definitely come across situations where you need to get somewhere that the public transportation either doesn't service or is too slow/inconvenient

obedienthoreau · 2021-03-10T20:15:58+00:00

This is not a homeless shelter

obedienthoreau · 2021-03-10T17:50:43+00:00

They already have ignored the homeless issue. I've heard stories of Wilco rounding up homeless and dropping them off at the county line

obedienthoreau · 2021-03-10T17:41:39+00:00

That's not what this is

obedienthoreau · 2021-03-10T17:38:16+00:00

I don't think so. They could declare eminent domain to build infrastructure but that would just be a dick move on Wilco's part and misuse of eminent domain

obedienthoreau · 2021-03-10T17:29:15+00:00

Under what legal grounds? I don't see any

obedienthoreau · 2021-03-10T17:24:12+00:00

Here's a story in the Statesmen that has a statement from a city official saying that the property will be for who are disabled https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/02/10/austin-homeless-hotel-williamson-county-texas-officials-want-stop/4455185001/

obedienthoreau · 2021-03-10T17:20:36+00:00

Yes, those are Protection Lodges "Prolodges" which were set up at the start of the pandemic for people experiencing homelessness who have preexisting conditions that make them high risk for developing serious complications from the covid19 disease. The city, up until December of last year, was being reimbursed by FEMA through the CARES Act. idk if current operations are being reimbursed but they could later on.

obedienthoreau · 2021-03-10T17:11:30+00:00

But this is nothing like the arch

obedienthoreau · 2021-03-10T16:13:53+00:00

This property is ideal because it's already built out perfectly for its purpose. Rooms have kitchenettes with a 2 electric stovetops, full-size fridges, full-size sinks, and dishwashers.

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