LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK
New poll reveals Austinites' opposition to new Zilker Park Vision Plan
83 percent of polltakers believe the area should be left as is.
A new poll has revealed hundreds of Austinites' stark opposition to the City's Zilker Park Vision Plan, which proposed $150 million in construction to develop new bike trails, pedestrian bridges, parking garages, and other amenities in the city's most prominent park.
Rewild Zilker Park asked over 630 residents across every Council District for their opinions regarding the 50-year development plan, with a majority of those responses opposing most aspects.
Major findings include 76 percent of participants have a "favorable view" of the beloved park as it stands, and 82 percent believe it should remain "a natural area with recreation." Only six percent of responses said Zilker should have more accommodations "for concerts, theater productions and large events."
On the topic of developing an amphitheater on the Great Lawn, 83 percent of polltakers oppose the idea, and believe the area should be left as is. Similarly, a vast majority of responders oppose the Vision Plan's proposed parking garage construction.
Regarding the overall cost of the 50-year plan, 71 percent of the responses believe the $150 million price tag is "too much for one park."
"When it comes to making decisions about the future of Zilker Park, Austin residents believe those decisions should be mainly controlled by the City of Austin and PARD – not commercial interests such as ACL Festival, the Trail of Lights and others who conduct business in the park," the poll summary stated.
The full results from Rewild Zilker Park's poll can be found on their website.
