Highland Mall is continuing its remarkable transformation from Central Texas' first enclosed shopping mall to bustling North Austin cultural center. On May 12, the development officially opened the Highland Greenway Park, the first in a series of three parks coming to the development.

The new two-acre green space features two heritage oak trees and new Mexican sycamores, drought-tolerant landscaping, a community garden, and the first part of a hike-and-bike trail that will eventually form a loop around the Highland Greenway.

According to a release, the space was designed to provide visitors, neighbors, and Austin Community College Highland students with an amenity-filled area for recreation and relaxation. Access to the new park, located on the south end of the development, is available from both Airport Boulevard and Clayton Lane.

Highland Greenway is just part of an 81-acre redevelopment that is anchored by ACC's high-tech Highland campus that will eventually include office space; mixed-use residential buildings; retail; a plaza with retail and restaurants; and, of course, two additional parks.

The redevelopment, which was designed to be both sustainable and tech-forward, is projected to eventually serve nearly 30,000 Austinites daily in a mix of students, residents, and office workers. Having completed phase one in 2014, developers now say they're on track for a summer 2019 opening for phase two, which will include more retail and restaurants, as well as continued advancements to the ACC Highland campus development.