Save Our Springs. Help Save Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool

Our Commonwealth Calls Us

Thirty-three years ago today, on June 7th, 1990, the people of Austin launched a movement to save the life source of our city. The nation's largest discharger of toxic waste into the waters of the United States sought approval to build a small city on the banks of Barton Creek. Over 1000 people showed up at City Hall, protesting outside and speaking to city council inside -- all night long. The Barton Creek Uprising -- watch highlights here -- changed the course of Austin's history.

But memories fade. The Austin greed machine does not.

The same local insiders still seek to sell our public trust resources to corporate interests. This time it's Zilker Park -- teed up to be transformed into an outdoor entertainment district where the primary purpose is making money. The global music monopoly Live Nation/Ticketmaster--now the principal owner of the ACL music festival and primary funder of the Austin Parks Foundation -- stands with other private for-profit and nonprofit park concessioners and wannabe concessioners to further commercialize and privatize Zilker Park. And they want us to pay for it -- an initial $200 million budget is almost certainly a low-ball guestimate for building 3 parking garages, 6 new bridges, a 5000 seat amphitheater, and all new plumbing to support year around concerts, festivals, private events, and park restaurants.

People are waking up. More than 150 people showed up at a recent Parks Board meeting on the proposed Zilker Park plan to say "no thank you!" Thousands more have already written emails to city council and signed petitions opposing the park plan.

But it's going to take a lot more. It takes a community to save our springs and our Zilker Park. Now is the time for action.

It's time for a Zilker Park uprising.

We need you there with us, at city hall, at the City Council meeting set for Thursday, July 20th. Mark your calendar. And between now and then let your council member and Mayor Watson know your opinion on the Zilker Park plan. Their email addresses are set out below. Learn the highlights and the details at the Rewild Zilker website. And engage your friends and family to join the campaign to Save Zilker Park!!

It's time to celebrate and make history again. Today, June 7th, 2023 -- and in the weeks and months ahead.

Contact Mayor Watson and City Council Members at:

kirk.watson@austintexas.gov, natasha.madison@austintexas.gov, zohaib.qadri@austintexas.gov, jose.velasquez@austintexas.gov, mackenzie.kelly@austintexas.gov, paige.ellis@austintexas.gov, vanessa.fuentes@austintexas.gov, alison.alter@austintexas.gov, leslie.pool@austintexas.gov, ryan.alter@austintexas.gov, Chito.Vela@austintexas.gov