Park That Decision

Austin city manager halts the plan to change Zilker Park

The Zilker Park Vision Plan included a land bridge, parking, visitor's center, bioremediation, and more. Many Austinites were vocal about not wanting the park to change.

Photo by Ryan Kyte

The controversial Zilker Park Vision Plan is not moving forward. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said he and the city council no longer have plans to consider the “Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan,” and the city manager has stopped the process.

The council was set to discuss the plan later this month.

The proposal included some major changes at Zilker Park, including new parking garages, a pedestrian bridge and an amphitheater.

Council members heard feedback from the public on the plan. Those who were against it said they did not want to see Austin's iconic park change.

In a joint statement on Monday, Council members Ryan Alter, Zo Qadri and Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis said they “do not see a path forward” for the plan and cannot support it.

“We know that the Zilker Park Vision Plan proposes many improvements that have community consensus, such as additional green space, shade trees, erosion control and bathrooms,” they said. “Other elements, however, seem to be flash points of irreconcilable differences.”

Alter, Qadri and Ellis said they believe it is their responsibility as council members to protect the park for “many generations to come.”

Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.

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eat your greens

Austin is the 9th best U.S. city for vegans and vegetarians, new study finds

Photo courtesy of Chris Praetzel

Restaurants like Fabrik make vegan life in Austin interesting.

Austin may be home to some of the best barbecue in the city (even if some disagree) — but the Texas capital also has a growing reputation in vegan and vegetarian fare.

More plant-based restaurants are opening their doors in 2023, expanding an already solid list of vegan eateries throughout the city. And with ACL right around the corner, it's important to know where the closest vegan eats are so you're not left scrambling to find a good meal in the heat.

With that said, Austin still has some room for improvement to keep vegans full and satisfied after ranking No. 9 in WalletHub's "Best Cities for Vegans & Vegetarians" report for 2023.

The study evaluated 100 cities based on grocery affordability; diversity of and accessibility to vegan and vegetarian restaurants, farmer's markets, and community gardens; and other lifestyle factors.

Austin specifically had a high affordability ranking with the fifth-lowest cost of groceries for vegetarians out of all 100 cities in the ranking. Laredo (No. 1), Corpus Christi (No. 2), San Antonio (No. 3), and Louisville, Kentucky (No. 4) were all ahead.

As for the highest percentage of restaurants serving vegetarian options, the two North Texas cities of Irving and Plano tied with three non-Texas cities: Henderson, Nevada, Gilbert, Arizona, and Mesa, Arizona. All these made No. 1.

However, that doesn't mean the shift to embrace vegan and vegetarian cuisine in Austin isn't notable enough. Earlier in 2023, a popular Brazilian steakhouse chain "beefed" up (or down) its menu with more plant-based options in an effort to expand its customer base. And in June, venerated vegan staple and former CultureMap Tastemakers winner Counter Culture reopened as a food trailer in the back patio of Tweedy’s Bar in Central Austin.

Austin was the only Texas city to make it into the top 10. The remaining nine contenders are mostly located in West Coast states typically expected to be seen in a report on plant-based eating: California, Oregon, and Washington. On the opposite coast are two additional cities that made the list: Orlando and Miami, Florida (No. 3 and No. 8, respectively). Phoenix, Arizona (No. 5), is the only non-coastal outlier.

The top 10 most vegetarian- and vegan-friendly cities in the U.S. are:

No. 1 – Portland, Oregon
No. 2 – Los Angeles, California
No. 3 – Orlando, Florida
No. 4 – San Diego, California
No. 5 – Phoenix, Arizona
No. 6 – San Francisco, California
No. 7 – Seattle, Washington
No. 8 – Miami, Florida
No. 9 – Austin, Texas
No. 10 – Oakland, California

Eight other Texas cities made it into the top 50: Irving (No. 18), Lubbock (No. 23), Houston (No. 24), Dallas (No. 25), Plano (No. 33), San Antonio (No. 38), Corpus Christi (No. 41), and Laredo (No. 48).

The full report can be found on wallethub.com.

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