Posting Language
Title
Conduct a public hearing in accordance with Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Chapter 26 and consider a resolution authorizing a change in use of dedicated parkland, known as Auditorium Shores at Town Lake Metropolitan Park, to permanently use approximately 2,369 square feet of parkland and temporarily use approximately 19,261 square feet of parkland in order to construct, operate, maintain, and repair an Austin Water reclaimed water line. Funding: This item includes a mitigation payment in the amount of $504,498 from Austin Water to Austin Parks and Recreation and, as a result, there is no impact to the General Fund.
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Lead Department
Austin Parks and Recreation, Austin Financial Services.
Fiscal Note
Funding is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Austin Water Capital Budget. This item is projected to result in additional revenue of $504,498 in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Austin Parks and Recreation’s Capital Budget. There is no net General Fund impact from the payment of the mitigation fee.
For More Information:
Lead Department - Austin Parks and Recreation, Randy Scott, Division Manager, (512) 974-9484;
Paul Books, Planner Principal, (512) 978-1315
Lead Department - Austin Financial Services, Michael Gates, Officer, (512) 974-5639
Sponsoring Department - Austin Water, Oystein Moen, Project Sponsor, (512) 972-20113
Managing Department - Austin Capital Delivery Services, Chris Irwin, Project Manager, (512) 689-3270.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
February 23, 2026 - Recommended by the Parks and Recreation Board on a vote of 9-0 with Board Members Becker and Flowers absent. Recommendation No. 20260223-004.
Additional Backup Information:
Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code provides that the use of parkland for non-park purposes may be approved upon findings that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of the parkland and that all reasonable planning has been undertaken to minimize harm to such land.
The South 1st Street Reclaimed Water Main is part of a series of projects that will provide redundancy and reliability of service to reclaimed water customers in Austin. The project includes installation of approximately 5,500 feet of pipeline along Monroe Street and South 1st Street. A large portion of the main will be installed using Horizontal Directional Drilling, avoiding open cut installation in South 1st Street as much as possible, and minimizing traffic impacts. Installation will require temporary use of parkland for work and construction space and a permanent subsurface declaration of use for the placement of the reclaimed water main at the southwest corner of South 1st Street and West Riverside Drive, part of Auditorium Shores. Erosion and sedimentation controls will be installed during construction and temporary fencing will be erected to control access and shield construction from view. The entire area will be returned to existing conditions upon completion of construction, and the declaration of use should not limit future use of the property.
Upon Council approval of this item, Austin Parks and Recreation will receive $504,498 from Austin Water as mitigation for the permanent use of parkland.
The Parks and Recreation Board reviewed the project at the February 23, 2026, meeting and provided a recommendation to City Council. This item is brought forward because there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of the dedicated parkland, and all reasonable planning has been undertaken to minimize harm to such lands. The dates of public notification in the Austin American-Statesman were March 1, 8, and 11, 2026.