Police & Their Horses Visit Republic

Three Police officers with their horses were out enjoying one of the fewer areas of green grass downtown this morning when we went to check the Republic Square project.  The horses were happily chomping away…

Meanwhile, work continues on grading the former southern (4th St berm) in anticipation for installation of irrigation and grass sod.

And our Contractor, SunGrow, is about to chop up the only remaining piece of the Prelude Sculpture – the big concrete block that served as the foundation.  This was completely below ground only a few weeks ago.

The Old Days At Bull Creek (District) Park

While the city is considering changes to the Off Leash Area at Bull Creek District Park (if so, the foundation is advocating for a new off-leash area to replace the existing one should the city close it temporarily for restoration or permanently) we’d thought we’re share some of the history of the park through these brochures, it was a private run park in the 1950s by the Moore family before they sold the land to the city.  It looks like it’s been a place to swim for some time…

Thank you Woodmen of the World

The Woodmen of the World are holding their national conference in Austin TX this year and this morning, we accepted a check for $7,000 for our about to start deck construction at Republic Square around the central Auction Oak.  Thanks so much to President and CEO Danny Cummins and Cris Hay-Merchant, Director of Branding for their generosity on behalf of the organization and the convention.  Apart from forgetting to pick up the slide show remote on my way up to the podium, ED Charlie was brief and to the point, showing pictures of our work at Republic Square to date.

We are working to finish up the existing work on the southern berm this week and hope to begin deck construction in just a few weeks.

Prelude Moves From Republic

Today, the Parks and Recreation Construction Crew removed Prelude, the sculpture that was in the middle of the southern berm along 4th St at Republic.  The artwork was lent to the city in 1986 and was temporarily placed at Republic.  Its now on its way to a new garden area at University Medical Center at Brackenridge which is owned by the City of Austin but run by Seton Hospitals, so it stays in the family.  Next steps for this portion of Republic – irrigation, soil and grass sod.

Republic Square Press Event – 7/24/09 @ 9:30 am

MEDIA ADVISORY

July 23, 2009

CONTACT: Matt Curtis, 512-974-2043, 512-680-2509

WHAT: Mayor Lee Leffingwell announces last minute save for ‘Prelude’ a well-known Downtown public art piece. Until today ‘Prelude’ was scheduled to be shipped to a storage facility. Tomorrow morning, the art piece will be moved to University Medical Center Brackenridge after a brief press conference

WHERE: Republic Square Park, 4^rd and Guadalupe.

WHEN: Friday July 24^th at 9:30a.m.

PARTICIPANTS:  Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Bob Bonar – President, Seton Family of Hospitals, Charlie McCabe – Executive Director, Austin Parks Foundation.

At Long Last – Next Phase of Guerrero-Colorado River Park

Just posted on the City of Austin website (7/23/09):

The City Council authorized execution of a construction contract for improvements to Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Bend Park. This project is part of the 1998 Bond referendum and will include two multi-use sports fields, open areas, parking, driveways, lighting, a group picnic plaza and pavilion, a memorial to Roy G. Guerrero, trails, a playscape, restroom facilities, drainage improvements and public art.

The Austin Parks Foundation was the funder and sponsor of the original conceptual masterplan for this park in the late 1990s/early 2000s that led to the design and plans for this first phase.  Guerrero-Colorado River Park is equal in size to Zilker Park – over 300 acres and while much of it will left in a more natural state – it will offer more ballfields, trails, picnic areas and playscapes for all to enjoy.  This is the last major park project to be completed using 1998 city bond funding.

Oyster Racing Series – Coming to Austin October 11

Austin enters it’s third year for the Oyster Urban Adventure Race.  Austin is an ideal location for the racing series. With a trail system that rivals the best in the nation and a young, vibrant town with many attractions, the Austin Oyster challenges athleticism and mental capacity.

Proceeds benefit the Austin Parks Foundation again this year.  Organize a team and sign up! You’ll definitely visit some parks – we promise!

7/18 Zilker Volunteer Day – thanks to our 80 plus volunteers

Mulching at Rock Island

Over 80 volunteers came out to the Zilker Great Lawn (formerly known as the Soccer Fields) to help spread lots of mulch and clean up the curbs and sidewalks along Lou Neff Road.  It was a bit cooler than our first workday on 7/11.  We have one more volunteer workday scheduled for 7/25.

Dusty Mulch in the Shade

Thanks to all of our great volunteers – with one more workday on Sat, 7/25, the Austin Parks Department can hopefully open the Zilker Great Lawn to the public soon.  Our tremendous thanks to Larry and the rest of the Parks Dept. team for their help and good organizational efforts in making the first two workdays run as smooth as we hoped.

View toward Downtown

7/17/09 Republic Update

Looking East at former Berm Site

The Sculpture Prelude is looking a bit lonely on the site of the former southern berm (the city is working with the owner who lent the sculpture back in 1986 to find a new home for it) but most of rough grading should be completed by the end of today when the big bucket loader will complete its week with us. Next week will be getting the grade correct before installation of new irrigation and grass sod.

looking west at the former berm site with Prelude awaiting removal

Day 3 at Republic

The berm is almost gone, we need to figure out what to do with the sculpture next (the city has put off the auction.)