Located at 2100 Barton Springs Road, Zilker Metropolitan Park is considered "Austin's most loved park." This 351 acre park is home to a variety of recreation opportunities and special events for the individual or the whole family.
Enjoy a ride on the Zilker Zephyr miniature train or paddling a canoe on Town Lake. Play on the large multi-age playscape, hike and bike trails and large full-service picnic areas, 6 of which are reservable. For the swimmer, Zilker Park offers Barton Springs Pool, a natural spring-fed pool with a year-round average temperature of 68 degrees.
The sports enthusiast will enjoy the sand volleyball courts, a nine-hole Disc Golf Course, 9 Soccer Fields, 1 Rugby Field, 2 Multi-use Fields.
The park is home to the Zilker Botanical Gardens, which includes the Taniguchi Oriental Garden and the Austin Area Garden Center. The Austin Nature and Science Center which offers a wide variety of programs for children and adults, as well as, the opportunity to explore the environment with hands-on exhibits, interactive nature and science trails and live Texas wildlife. In addition, the Center hosts the "Splash" Environmental Exhibit which is an educational display about the Edwards Aquafier.
The Zilker Hillside Theatre hosts concerts ranging from Jazz to Country. Additionally, the theatre is the site of the Zilker Summer Musical and Shakespeare in the Park. Bring a blanket to site on the hillside and enjoy these events.
The Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum is on the south end of the park. Home of the collection of work by sculptor Charles Umlauf.
The park also hosts The Austin Sunshine Camp are owned and operated by the Young Men's Business League of Austin. The Austin Sunshine Camps serve over 700 at-risk and disadvantaged children every summer, and their year-round leadership and mentoring programs serve many more. The Camps provide an overnight summer camp experience at NO CHARGE to the children's families.
A parking fee is charged on the weekends and for most special events.
History:
In 1918, A.J. Zilker deeded the 35 acres surrounding Barton Springs to the City of Austin. In 1932, Zilker agreed to give the military school established during the First World War an additional 330 acres, joining the 35 acres on the north side of the original tract if the city would buy the acreage from the school for $200,000. This action was approved in a bond election and despite the ecomomic depression of the 1930's. the land was developed into Zilker Park.
The National Park Service assisted with the planning of Zilker Park and construction was performed by many groups, including workers from Reconstruction Finance Corporation's relief program, the Citizens Works Administration, and the Civilian Conservation Corps.
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