On April 25 & 27, 2024, Waterloo Greenway presented an updated vision for the historic Sir Swante Palm Neighborhood Park and provided an opportunity for community members to share feedback. The future design is based on more than six months of community input and celebrates Palm Park’s history and future as a place for families and children in Downtown Austin.
During the conversations, visitors spoke with design team members and shared feedback on important park improvements and amenities. The park space historically served as the playground for Palm School, which stood in service to the communities of East Austin for over 80 years before closing in 1976, and was among the first elementary schools in Austin.
In case you missed our Palm Park Conversations, you can watch our full presentation with Gullivar Shepard of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. below. If you have any feedback to share on the future of Palm Park, please email us at [email protected].
Throughout 2023, more than 2000 community members engaged on the design development of Palm Park in two previous rounds of community conversations. The community overwhelmingly shared their interest in family & play amenities, gathering spaces, natural areas, and a strong community identity.
Palm Park will be funded through a combination of public funding through the City of Austin Austin Parks and Recreation Department and philanthropic donations. Fundraising is underway to achieve an anticipated 2026 groundbreaking.
Background
Waterloo Greenway Conservancy is working in partnership with Austin Parks and Recreation Department to restore Palm Park as part of its third phase in a connected 1.5-mile park system.
Since 2016, Waterloo Greenway has listened to community members share their memories and experiences at Palm Park, and looks to continue building upon the park’s rich Mexican-American history, serving Austin as a family-friendly space celebrating nature, culture, and play. 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. The opening of Waterloo Park and Moody Amphitheater in 2021 marked the first phase of Waterloo Greenway.
For more information, please visit waterloogreenway.org/future or follow Waterloo Greenway on Facebook/Instagram @WaterlooGreenway and Twitter @WaterlooGW.
About Waterloo Greenway
Waterloo Greenway Conservancy is a non-profit organization whose mission is to create and maintain an extraordinary urban park system and a restored Waller Creek, in partnership with the City of Austin, for the benefit of all. The Conservancy renews the natural environment, promotes play, health and wellness, economic vitality and mobility, and engages the community through outreach, education, cultural events, and the arts.