Zilker Park, a treasured outdoor haven in the heart of Austin, is set to implement revised parking fees starting May 25, 2024, a move that has stirred various reactions among locals and visitors alike. City officials, in a memo, have justified the transition from a flat $ 7-day fee to a $3 per hour rate during weekdays, aiming to increase the turnover of vehicles and gather data on park usage to inform future parking strategies, according to the Austin Monitor.
Much to the dissent of parkgoers who would spend a full day soaking up the sun, playing frisbee, or just lounging around the greenery, parking for an extended duration could become a pricier outing than in previous times, Kimberly McNeeley, parks Director, observed that “PARD’s current data shows that many visitors park for less than two hours, making this change a reduction in fees for those who visit the park in shorter increments,” as reported by the Austin Monitor. Funds collected from this new parking arrangement are earmarked for maintenance and improvements within Zilker.
The parking shake-up comes after the March 2023 addition of automated parking pay stations at the park's lots near Stratford Road and the South Barton Springs Pool, offering a more streamlined payment system for visitors, as noted by KXAN. While weekdays will experience this hourly fee structure, the city reassures that weekend and holiday parking will maintain the current $7 daily fee.
In an attempt to address the anticipated increase in demand for parking during peak seasons, McNeeley also mentioned that shuttles are poised to return, including a peak-season shuttle to off-site parking and a new circulator within the park although, “The details of each program are being finalized and will be announced next month. It is important to note that there is no identified sustainable funding source for either the internal circulator or the off-site parking shuttle. Shuttle service funding availability is evaluated annually and allocated if feasible,” the parks Director told the Austin Monitor.
