Waterloo Park reopened to the public last month, after being closed for construction for the last ten years. Since then, Austinites have been flocking to this new urban ecosystem to explore the reinvigorated green space.
WGI provided Civil Engineering design and permitting services for this project. In this post, we’ll feature some of the amenities and design features that make Waterloo Park a unique urban oasis.
A Walk Among The Flowers
Visitors can take a stroll along the 1.5 mile hike and bike trail that winds through the stunning Hill Country Garden, immersing themselves within the diverse mix of native plants strategically positioned to attract pollinators, hummingbirds and other local wildlife to the area.
Nature-Based Play
For families with young children, the centrally located Kitty King Powell Lawn is a can’t-miss destination. Surrounded by shade trees, your kids will love playing on the Mega Grass Maze, climbing the Log Jam structure, and sliding down the hillside stone slide (which is fun for parents too)!
You Had Me At Food Truck
If hunger pangs hit while touring the park, head over to the Family Pavilion adjacent to the Meredith Heritage Tree Deck, and check out the local offerings from the two food trucks on site (currently Burro Cheese Kitchen and Taco Baby).
The World Is Your Stage
Music lovers and exercise enthusiasts alike will love the new 5000-seat Moody Amphitheater, which will host live music concerts year round (several of which have already occurred), offer free yoga and fitness classes through partnerships with local gyms, and hold community events like the annual fundraiser for Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM), which just took place at the park.
Leave It Better Than You Found It
The park was designed with sustainability and conservation in mind. The lawn in front of the stage at Moody Amphitheater has a cistern underneath it that collects rainwater and then pumps the collected water into the rain gardens near the Waller Creek Tunnel Inlet Facility, and also provides irrigation for the park.
Take Care Of The Trees, They Will Take Care Of You
Visitors of the park will easily be able to identify the breathtaking 200-year-old live oak heritage trees that were carefully relocated within the park (and from nearby downtown project sites).
“This park was designed to last, not just structurally, but in nature. Having these ancient live oak trees here for the community to enjoy is going to be a great thing to have over the years,” said Brad Lingvai, Principal Engineer at WGI.
We’re All In This Together
WGI provided Civil Engineering and land development consulting services for this project, including the site plan permitting and design for the utilities and drainage systems.
We also partnered closely with the landscape architects and several other consultants to help bring their vision for the park to life and make sure it would work with all the existing city infrastructure.
“The opportunity to take this and turn it into something — and all the partnership that went into that — is the kind of thing that stands the test of time for a really long time. We talk a lot as engineers about how buildings might come and go in 50 years, but parks like this are often forever,” said Joel Blok, Operations Market Leader at WGI.
The Next Link In The Chain
Phase 2 in Waterloo Greenway’s chain of parks, Creek Delta, has already begun. WGI’s civil engineering team is providing utility, grading and drainage design services for this portion of the trail system, as well as all of the site plan permitting and coordination. Construction on the Creek Delta is set to begin in early 2022 and is targeted for completion the following year.
Partner With Us!
Restoring and revitalizing a historic greenspace is a big undertaking that comes with its own set of unique challenges. Our experienced team of local experts knows what it takes to bring your vision to reality. Contact us today to see how our knowledge and experience can be utilized on your next project!
