Austin residents are concerned that the Zilker Park vision project is more conducive to music festivals.

Austin, Texas – Austin residents are concerned that the Zilker Park concept project is more suited to music festivals than everyday use. Those involved in the planning process claim that this is not the case.

This concept plan has been in development since February 2021, which has generated thousands of public comments.

“We love the Zilker to death, leaving it alone,” said Michael Cannatti, Chairman of the Barton Springs Conservation Council.

The Austin Parks and Recreation Department has developed a plan to modify Zilker Park. The goals are to improve accessibility, existing facilities and programs, and to preserve historical, cultural and environmental characteristics.

“Park land is precious, and Austin residents have too little,” the Austin resident said at a meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board on Monday.

With this in mind, Parks and Rec proposed garages to consolidate parking lots, increase bike, foot and footpaths, a welcome center, and new playgrounds.

“If we don’t change anything, then people will park in all the fields, park in the trees, they trample everything, and it will be destroyed,” Cannatti said.

Cannatti is part of one of 16 organizations and businesses operating in or near Zilker Park. They worked together to provide feedback to planners.

“Our goal is to keep the park welcoming and accessible to everyone from all over the city, but at the same time we want the park to be better maintained, greener, more trees and more environmentally friendly, and these two things can happen,” Cannatti said.

Some Austin residents are concerned that music festival plans are more favorable.

“I think part of that plan was never to engage or listen to the public. I think the clearest example of this is the construction of a new permanent concert hall on the big lawn,” one Austin resident said at a board meeting.

“Spending two million dollars to build an entertainment district in Zilker Parks is a travesty,” another Austin resident said at a board meeting.

Cannatti said this design is for everyday use, not just concerts.

“There’s a lot of imagination that C3 is manipulating everything and I just don’t see it and I’m in almost all of these meetings so I think I know if that’s happening,” Cannatti said. .

The city is set to consider adopting this plan later this spring or early summer.