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Brush Square Park Tomorrow
In partnership with City of Austin Parks & Recreation Department, the Downtown Austin Alliance and the Friends of Brush Square, the Austin Parks Foundation has embarked on a series of near-term improvements to Brush Square. Additional work was completed by Capital Metro.
Recent improvements at the park include a new sprinkler system, benches, trash cans and trees and plants. The drought in 2008 and into 2009 continues however, and a number of the trees and plants have died and will be replacement. Recent improvements around the park include the installation of new sidewalk, trees and benches along 4th St as a part of the Capital Metro commuter rail station as well as the installation of a portion of the Lance Armstrong Bikeway. We expect additional improvements to irrigation and grass thanks to generous donations from SXSW Festivals.
Recent Work in the ParkIn October 2007, Austin Parks Foundation hosted a volunteer event at Brush. 35 volunteers spread mulch and planted 19 trees and 18 vines along three sides of the fence line surrounding the fire station parking lot. These new plantings will soon add color, beauty, and butterfly habitat to the park. Volunteers from the Hilton Hotel, the fire station as well as local residents from The Railyard Condos, the Avenue A Lofts and Five-55 Condos pitched in to make the volunteer day a success.
We also appreciate the help of our ongoing volunteers who will be watering the vines and trees several times a week through the winter and into the spring. This helps the trees and vines become well established.
Next on the agenda is the installation of three benches and two new enclosed trash cans in the shade of big trees. We’re working to get these installed by early 2008. The benches and trash cans will be made of a combination of tough, recycled plastic and steel. The design will match benches being installed in other parks throughout the city.
Work is beginning on the next phases of restoration of the Susanna Dickinson House with abatement beginning in late November and general restoration to follow. Funding is provided by the fundraising efforts of the Friends of the O Henry Museum & Suzanna Dickinson House as well as $500,000 from City of Austin bonds passed in November 2006.
Sometime in 2009 heralds the arrival of a Capital Metro commuter rail stop on the southern edge of the park. The stop will be across the street from the park on 4th Street, but improvements on the southern edge of teh park have included a new wide sidewalk, 12 new oak trees with irrigation connections, benches and trash cans. This is a temporary location for the stop, as Capital Metro plans to move it closer to Congress Avenue when they can. The downside is that the new sidewalk took soem of the green space out of the park.
Also running along 4th Street is the Lance Armstrong Bikeway and buses connecting to the train service . All of these changes required the city to make 4th St. one-way westbound and resulted in the elimination of some parking. Austin Parks Foundation will continue to monitor the potential impact of these changes on the park, and to advocate for preserving and improving the character of Brush Square.
Austin Parks Foundation 816 Congress Avenue, Suite 1680 Austin, TX 78701 tel 512.477.1566 fax 512.477.1586 Copyright © 2008 Austin Parks Foundation. All rights reserved. |
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