Zilker Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zilker Metropolitan Park is a recreational area in the heart of south Austin (near Barton Springs Pool and Town Lake) that comprises over 350 acres (1.4 km²) of publicly owned land. It is named after its benefactor Andrew Jackson Zilker, who donated the land to the city in 1917. It was developed into the park, despite the Great Depression, in the 1930's. The park serves as a hub for many recreational activities and the hike and bike trail around Town Lake both of which runs next to the park. The park was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on 1997.
Attractions within the park include:
- Barton Springs pool
- Zilker Botanical gardens
- The Zilker Zephyr miniature train
- Zilker Hillside Theater
- Umlauf Sculpture Garden
- Zilker soccer and volleyball fields
- Zilker polo field
- Nature Center
- Numerous historical markers and sites, concession stands, and picnic areas.
Events:
- Zilker Park Kite Festival
- Austin City Limits Music Festival
- Annual Rugby Tournament
- Zilker Gardens Festival
- Ballet in the Park
- Blues on the Green
- Freedom Festival and Fireworks
- Zilker Park Fall Jazz Festival
- Zilker Park Tree Lighting and Trail of Lights
- Austin Shakespeare Festival
- Annual Summer Musical (broadway musical) in the park
- Barton Springs diving championship
Trivia Zilker Park was featured in the motion picture Dazed and Confused
[edit] External links
- City of Austin - Parks and Recreation Department: Zilker Metropolitan Park
- Austin's Zilker Park
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- Satellite image from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth
Alamo Drafthouse • Armadillo World Headquarters • Austin-Bergstrom International Airport • Austin Community College • Austinites • Barton Springs Pool • Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium • Deep Eddy Pool • Dell • Dell Diamond • Driskill Hotel • Four Seasons Hotel Austin • Frank Erwin Center • Freescale Semiconductor • Huston-Tillotson University • Independence Brewing Company • Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum • MCC • Mount Bonnell • Music of Austin • National Instruments • SEMATECH • Sixth Street • St. Edward's University • Texas Governor's Mansion • Texas State Capitol • Town Lake • UFCU Disch-Falk Field • University of Texas at Austin • Zilker Park
