Discover the future of Waterloo Greenway

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Palm Park
The Confluence

About Phase III – Palm Park

2nd St. to 3rd St., between Sabine St. and I-35

Waterloo Greenway invites the community to learn about the exciting transformation coming to Sir Swante Palm Neighborhood Park located at 200 N. IH-35 in downtown Austin, Texas.

Keep an eye on this webpage for updates on future community engagement opportunities where you can share your ideas for a transformed Palm Park. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the progress of the Waterloo Greenway project, speak with design team members, share feedback on important park improvements and amenities, and share their own Palm Park stories.

Since 2015, Waterloo Greenway has listened to community members share their memories and experiences at Palm Park and looks to continue building upon the park’s Mexican-American history, serving Austin as a family-friendly space celebrating nature, culture, and play. The third phase of Waterloo Greenway’s park system is currently in design and anticipated to break ground in 2026.

Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, in partnership with the City of Austin, is actively working to restore Palm Park as its third phase in a connected 1.5-mile park system. The opening of Waterloo Park and Moody Amphitheater in 2021 marked the first phase of Waterloo Greenway. Construction is now underway at Phase II: The Confluence.

Portions of Palm Park are currently being used as construction staging and work areas within Waterloo Greenway’s Phase II: The Confluence. Work in this phase includes creek reconstruction and trail connectivity elements from 4th Street to Lady Bird Lake, including at Palm Park.

History

We want to keep learning about our community’s history and the stories of Austinies with lived experience visiting and playing in Palm Park. Through a history study Waterloo Greenway completed in 2018, we dug deep into Austin history to help inform the future of Waterloo Greenway parks. Read short stories online about  Palm Park and Waller Creek History and share your own memories at info@waterloogreenway.org.

Working with the City of Austin

Waterloo Greenway is working in partnership with the City of Austin’s Watershed Protection and Park and Recreation Departments. For more information on the Waller Creek District and Tunnel, visit the City of Austin’s website.

Press

  • Downloadable Renderings – Please Credit Waterloo Greenway Conservancy & Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc.

Get Involved

Thank you to all who joined our recent Palm Park Conversations!

Check back for more Palm Park engagement opportunities in the future. It is through collaboration and engagement from individuals like you that enables us to create a wondrous 35-acre urban park system in partnership with the City of Austin for the benefit of all.

Your dedication to improving public greenspaces in our community is inspiring, and we are grateful for your continued support.

Share your feedback online!

Take our online survey below and let us know what a vibrant Palm Park looks like to you.

Take the Survey (English)
Toma la Encuesta (Español)

All of the feedback and insights we receive are invaluable in shaping the future of Waterloo Greenway, including the historic Palm Park in downtown Austin.

Supported by

For more information and other ways to support, please contact us at development@waterloogreenway.org.

Photos by Lauren Slusher

Phase II
The Confluence
Under Construction
4th St. to Lady Bird Lake

Waterloo Greenway is a 1.5-mile park system with the power to bring the entire Austin community together. Once complete, the project will include 35 acres of connected green space made possible through a significant public-private partnership with the City of Austin. The opening of Waterloo Park and Moody Amphitheater in 2021 marked the first phase of Waterloo Greenway. Construction on Phase II: The Confluence begins this spring, representing the next step toward completing the park system.

At The Confluence, where the mouth of Waller Creek meets Lady Bird Lake, the creek is deeper and more ecologically diverse than anywhere else in the city. What better way for you to experience its abundant beauty than with a bird’s eye view? Three lightweight suspension bridges will drape across the newly restored delta landscape, creating stunning canopy walks with unrivaled vantage points, and vital new east-west connections. A stand of new bald cypress trees will create a sustainable habitat, welcoming visitors to a new creek-level trail and elevated boardwalk.

Significant environmental restoration at The Confluence will recreate a thriving ecosystem, with a resilient landscape to clean and manage stormwater runoff, in partnership with the Watershed Protection and Parks and Recreation Departments. Eroded, fallen creek banks showing the effects of historic flood events will be reconstructed – building upon the Waller Creek Flood Control Tunnel’s capacity for flood mitigation.

A lush new landscape of nearly 1,550 trees, 200,000 mature plants, and 10 acres of seed mixes will improve downtown air quality, improve ecosystem functions, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce the urban heat island effect. Park-goers will experience a one-of-a-kind immersive experience within 13-acres, including the deepest and most ecologically diverse section of Waller Creek.

Located at the southernmost point of Waterloo Greenway, The Confluence sits at the cultural epicenter of Palm Park, Rainey Street Historic District, Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, Convention Center, and Ann and Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail.

Lead support to-date for Phase II of Waterloo Greenway construction is provided by Buena Vista Foundation, Carmel and Tom Borders, Colin Corgan, Fondren Foundation, The Hartman Family, Love, Tito’s, Sugar Creek Foundation, Tejemos Foundation, and Waller Creek Owner LLC.

“We are thrilled to announce the selection of our construction partner, Jay‐Reese Contractors, who will help us bring the next phase of Waterloo Greenway to life and build upon their legacy of authentically-Austin projects. The Confluence is an incredible example of how we can celebrate and preserve our green spaces in the middle of one of the busiest and most rapidly growing areas of downtown Austin. This next phase is centered around nature and helping connect our community to many amazing historic and cultural downtown destinations.”

Jesús Aguirre, Waterloo Greenway CEO

Meet the Contractor

On Jan. 18, 2023, the City of Austin authorized an award and execution of a construction contract for The Confluence with Jay‐Reese Contractors, Inc. Jay-Reese Contractors have worked on many notable Austin projects including the Pfluger Bridge, Boardwalk Trail at Lady Bird Lake, and 2nd Street Bridge.

Questions?

Watch the Meet the Contractor webinar now to learn more about Phase II: The Confluence and meet our contractor team!

If you have other questions about the project, please reach out to Project Manager, Joel Lewis at Joel.Lewis@austintexas.gov or 512-974-7730.

Get Involved

Sign up for updates from Waterloo Greenway to keep up with construction progress and information on how you can get involved with the project.

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The Vision

The Latest Progress

Waterloo Greenway and the City of Austin Break Ground on Phase II: The Confluence

13-Acre Project to Increase Connectivity, Revitalize Creek Around Central Business District AUSTIN, TEXAS – May 3, 2023 – Waterloo Greenway Conservancy and the City of Austin broke ground this morning on The Confluence, the second phase of Waterloo Greenway’s comprehensive plan to revitalize Waller Creek and create a 1.5-mile greenway…

Read More Waterloo Greenway and the City of Austin Break Ground on Phase II: The Confluence

Working with the City of Austin

Waterloo Greenway is working in partnership with the City of Austin’s Watershed Protection and Park and Recreation Departments. For more information on the Waller Creek District and Tunnel, visit the City of Austin’s website.

Press

  • Downloadable Renderings – Please Credit Waterloo Greenway Conservancy & Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc.

Waterloo Greenway in the News