Waller Boathouse Progress

The contractors are cranking on getting ready for the pour of the next floor of the Waller boathouse – we snapped a few quick pictures yesterday when we were picking up tools for today’s volunteer workday with C3 Presents on Barton Creek Greenbelt.

Progress on the new Waller Boathouse – 10/27/11

The contractor is making excellent progress on the new Waller Boathouse, part of the Waller Creek Tunnel project.  These were a few pictures that we took yesterday when we were picking up tools at our nearby tool warehouse for a volunteer workday today (Thanks to AMD employees!).  We had to hold the camera above our head to clear the construction fence so please forgive the non-centered pictures…

Waller Creek Bridge Project Completed

New trail and rock work on the eastern end of the bridge

I was walking to a meeting and decided to see if the new Waller Creek Bridge over Waller Creek along the trail at Lady Bird Lake was open.  It is, with new trail and stone work in place on the east side.  Yup, it’s the finish to the first (of many) projects for the Waller Creek Tunnel Project, with the work on the new boathouse starting really soon, as the Austin Rowing Club is moving all of their boats out to a temporary fenced in location on the west side of the bridge.

This big limestone block placed to prevent any motorized vehicles from crossing the creek should definitely work.  No little metal bollard in a sleeve here.

Finally, a great view at the (current) mouth of Waller Creek, looking north to the nearby buildings of downtown.  A lot is going to start changing soon here.

A Few Park Updates for Friday

A few updates to share from Parks around Austin:

First, we were out at Pease Park / Shoal Creek the other day with several folks from Parks and Watershed looking at some of the previous experiments that we did with demo plots, rock work, tree planting, etc. in anticipation of the big restoration project coming to that area.

Look at all of the new growth in the center of the tree!

We began at the Parking lot on parkway, just south of 24th St where earlier this year, PARD Operations (thank you Danny!) pulled back a portion of the parking around a certainly over 300 year old massive Oak tree, PARD Operations and Forestry performed a root zone invigoration with an airspade, applied dillo dirt and mulch and re-used the stone bollards we had left over from Republic Square phase 1a to surround the site. (Thanks Walter and Danny)   Further, They Might Be Monkeys, local arborists, did some pro-bono pruning and painting of the tree (thanks Walter)

Picture of Tree in Late Feb 2010 showing just completed root work and bollards installed

Pretty Amazing!

Massive Oak that recently received Root Zone Invigoration at Brush Square

Second, Work continues over at Brush Square with the Art In Public Places Courtyward with big stone pieces being moved into position.  Slow and careful work for sure, but progress is being made.

Courtyard Project continues....

Finally, while not directly park related, another portion of the Lance Armstrong Bikeway has been completed with the installation of a bridge over Waller Creek as well as additional dedicated bikeway from Red River to the frontage of IH-35.  Here’s a photo…   About 8 people on bikes passed me while taking these pictures around 11 am on a Friday…

Waller Creek Clean-up

Thanks to Greg Anderson for organizing a very successful Waller Creek clean-up on an otherwise gloomy day.  Thanks to our many volunteers to came out including Council member Chris Riley, Asst Director of Watershed Protection Joe Pantalion, a number of downtown residents, many members of the Austin Rowing Club, Austin Dragon Boat Racing, and a few folks from Texas Rowing.  Thanks too to Chuck, owner of Moonshine, for feeding us lunch out at Palm Park!

Waller Creek District Master Plan Town Hall Meeting

Draft of Open Space and Parks Plan

The Waller Creek District Master Plan Town Hall Meeting is being held this Saturday from 9 am to noon at the Austin Convention.  Come see a presentation by the City and the Waller Creek Master Plan Consultants, the ROMA Design Group.  There will be ample opportunities for questions and discussion.

Details:

Saturday, October 24, 2009
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Austin Convention Center, Ballroom C
500 East Cesar Chavez Street