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Republic Square Park Tomorrow

Austin Parks Foundation is engaged in a project to revitalize Republic Square Park and protect the square's historic Auction Oaks. Phase 1a began in July 2008 and was completed in March 2009. Phase 1b began in July 2009 and is expected to be completed in mid November 2009.

The Republic Square project is funded by the Austin Parks Foundation through generous donations from the Austin City Limits Music Festival, the Downtown Austin Alliance, the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association, Gables Residential, Woodmen of the World, the General Services Adminstration and TBG Partners, Inc.

October 15, 2009: Interior of the deck area showing footings and beams poured

Auction Oaks Project Phase 1b Now Underway

Phase 1b of the Auction Oaks project began July 13th and is expected to be completed in mid November 2009. The scope of work includes:

• Complete removal of the berm of the south side (4th St) of the park.
• New soil, irrigation and sod installed on the former berm site.
• Replacement of ADA ramp and sidewalk enhancements along 4th St at San Antonio St.
• Relocation of the sculpture Prelude by the City of Austin (disposition of the sculpture is pending per discussions between the City and the owner of the sculpture.
• Construction of a 4,000 square foot deck under the central auction oak tree.

Berm and sculpture removal as well as new irrigation, soil and sod were completed in early August with some sidewalk improvements.

The construction of a deck/stage around the central auction oak began in late August. The purpose of the deck is to protect the tree while allowing the public to enjoy its shade. The deck is to be constructed of concrete, steel, stone and wood. Construction began in late August and is anticipated to be completed by mid-November.

Please visit the Austin Parks Foundation Blog for regular updates on this project.

Auction Oaks Project Phase 1a Report (Dec 2008-March 2009)

Auction Oaks at Republic Square, April 2009 showing berm removed, new path and stone bollards

Phase 1A of the Auction Oaks project began December 1st and was completed in March 2009. The scope of work included:

• Complete removal of the berm of the west side (San Antonio St) of the park.
• Removal/reshaping of 2/3s of the berm on the south side (4th St) of the park. (these two components resulted in over 180 truckloads of soil being donated to the parks department for several park sites.)
• Removal of 4 street trees - 3 along San Antonio and one on 4th- these are trees that were originally due to be transplanted inside the park but are too root bound to be good candidates.
• Planting of 8 new replacement trees in the eastern side of the park to mitigate for the 4 street trees mentioned above.
• Transplanting of 2 small trees to the eastern side of the park. They are currently located in the west side berm.
• Replacement/reconnection of irrigation in the de-bermed areas as well as providing irrigation to all newly planted trees.
• Hydromulching of all disturbed areas to grow grass.
• Removal of the remaining stub of sidewalk extending from the middle of the park south to the Auction Oaks area.
• Installation of a granite gravel path around the Auction Oaks connecting to the existing concrete paths.
• Installation of a short knee height post and chain fence around the Auction Oaks area.
• Removal of one dead and one dying pecans in the eastern portion of the park.

Recycling what we're removing: we're doing our best to re-use what we're removing. The four street trees will be mulched for use in the park, save the trunks which will be donated to Austin Green Art. Same for all concrete removed, we're donating it to Austin Green Art. All soil from the berms was transported to locations where the Parks department can put it to good use.

Phase 1 Report (July-September 2008)

Beginning July 17, 2008, a portion of Republic Square Park was closed as part of efforts to improve the health of the historic Auction Oaks. Work completed and coming up includes:

• Parks Forestry crews pruned dead wood from the Auction Oaks
• Bartlett Tree Experts mapped the root zones of the oaks by using an air spade.
• Austin Parks Foundation intended to have four street trees transplanted, as shown in the diagram to the right, but none of the trees were good candidates for transplanting. So, in early October, we'll be replacing these trees with a variety of new trees varying in size as well as species.
• Removal of the berm on the west side (San Antonio St) and a portion of the berm on the 4th St. side, as well as the stone wall and sidewalks around the oaks to allow for root zone mapping. Following work, the ground will be mulched.
• All trees will be treated for pests, fed, and mulched monthly for the next two years.
• The fence will remain up throughout fall 2008 to allow the trees a chance to recover as well to set the stage for phase two - which is planned to include a 3,500 square foot deck under the central auction oak.

Phase 1 Work is being performed by the City of Austin Parks Forestry Division, Bartlett Tree Experts and Environmental Design, Inc, with TBG Partners, Inc. coordinating overall efforts. Funding is provided by the Austin Parks Foundation, through generous donations from C3 Presents, Inc from the 2006 Austin City Limits Music Festival, the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association and the General Services Administration.

Project updates will be posted on our Parks Blog. Photos of the work being performed will be posted on our Flickr page.

More About the Project

Street view of TBG Partners design for Auction Oaks area

Since early 2006, The Republic Square Partners, a group of local and federal government representatives as well as business and property owners and the Downtown Austin Alliance, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department and the Austin Parks Foundation have been meeting monthly to discuss improvements to Republic Square Parks.

Thanks to the GSA (General Services Administration) the owners of the future Federal Courthouse site, a two-day workshop produced by the Project for Public Spaces generated many ideas and suggestions from over 75 participants.

Beginning in January 2007, the Austin Parks Foundation began working with TBG Partners, Inc. to develop some conceptual ideas. TBG quickly focused on a portion of the park that could be improved in the short term, the historic Auction Oaks area in the southwest corner of the park. After many presentations, feedback sessions and meetings with the Parks and Recreation Department and the Republic Square Partners, plans for revamping and restoring the Auction Oaks area are now making their way through the city boards and commissions approval process.

Work in Phase 1A includes berm and sidewalk removal in and around the oaks, transplanting of several street trees that are impacting the oaks' growth, and restoration of the area beneath the oaks. Design elements will include stone bollards and native plantings beneath the oaks. Work slated for Phase 2, to begin later in 2009, includes a specially constructed deck under the central oak will protect the tree roots and allow visitors to enjoy the shade on moveable chairs.

Funding for the project, estimated at $350,000, comes from the Austin Parks Foundation via proceeds from the 2006 Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association.

Detail of TBG Partners design for Republic Square Park, showing
Auction Oaks area (SW corner of the park)

View larger image

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