Bates Recital Hall
Getting Wild
RECEIVED Wed., Nov. 10, 2021
Dear Editor,
I just read Lina Fisher’s 10-29-2021 Austin Chronicle article about the city’s planning process for the Re-Wilding of Zilker Park ["Re-Wild at Heart"]. It confirmed for me that the BIG picture regarding the city’s development of its riverfront park land is segmented, off track, and should be thoroughly reviewed prior to deciding anything about the future of Zilker Park. Seems like, most everyone agrees that Zilker is an overgrazed human and pet pasture that needs protections and rejuvenation. However, within this planning process, why wasn’t the (only) riverfront park land immediately east of Barton Creek and adjacent to Zilker included in this study? Prime riverfront park land next to Zilker is a limited commodity and will be needed for Austin’s growing population.
Why has the city of Austin has reserved this adjacent area which extends from Barton Creek east to Lamar Blvd. for game fields, parks offices, and the relocation of the Dougherty Arts Center? These three uses could easily be located anywhere other than on scarce public riverfront park land. On one hand, the city has spent piles of money on planning that will deplete the amount of riverfront park land adjacent Zilker available east of Barton Creek by building on it, and now on the other, they’re trying to figure out how to Re-Wild and potentially limit the uses of Zilker west of Barton Creek. Suggestion: Stop all current and future segmented planning approaches for riverfront park lands. Study and establish a single unified long range plan for ALL riverfront park land that preserves it for outdoor public uses, connectivity, gatherings, accessibility and of course, the WILD.
I just read Lina Fisher’s 10-29-2021 Austin Chronicle article about the city’s planning process for the Re-Wilding of Zilker Park ["Re-Wild at Heart"]. It confirmed for me that the BIG picture regarding the city’s development of its riverfront park land is segmented, off track, and should be thoroughly reviewed prior to deciding anything about the future of Zilker Park. Seems like, most everyone agrees that Zilker is an overgrazed human and pet pasture that needs protections and rejuvenation. However, within this planning process, why wasn’t the (only) riverfront park land immediately east of Barton Creek and adjacent to Zilker included in this study? Prime riverfront park land next to Zilker is a limited commodity and will be needed for Austin’s growing population.
Why has the city of Austin has reserved this adjacent area which extends from Barton Creek east to Lamar Blvd. for game fields, parks offices, and the relocation of the Dougherty Arts Center? These three uses could easily be located anywhere other than on scarce public riverfront park land. On one hand, the city has spent piles of money on planning that will deplete the amount of riverfront park land adjacent Zilker available east of Barton Creek by building on it, and now on the other, they’re trying to figure out how to Re-Wild and potentially limit the uses of Zilker west of Barton Creek. Suggestion: Stop all current and future segmented planning approaches for riverfront park lands. Study and establish a single unified long range plan for ALL riverfront park land that preserves it for outdoor public uses, connectivity, gatherings, accessibility and of course, the WILD.
Kent Niemann
