West Zilker Lawn Reopens Saturday After ACL Fest Repairs

Austin Parks and Recreation will reopen the western section of the Zilker Park Great Lawn to the public on Saturday, October 31. The area, which sits west of the central boulder island, had been closed since the Austin City Limits Music Festival concluded earlier this month.

The closure followed a rainy weekend during the festival that left visible mud on the grass. Local residents monitored the damage closely, fearing the wet conditions would delay access to the park for weeks. Concerns also arose regarding the financial burden of the restoration work.

Contracts between the city and festival organizer C3 specified that the parks director would identify necessary repairs and that C3 would cover the costs. The city confirmed that C3 contractors, alongside internal APR Turf and Zilker Maintenance teams, have completed several recovery steps.

Work performed to date includes removing debris, aerating the soil, and distributing rye seed. Crews gave special attention to the volleyball courts and the areas located south of Barton Springs Road. These efforts allow the western lawn to be accessible even as maintenance continues elsewhere.

The western lawn will remain open through the holiday season. However, the volleyball courts in that section will only be available from October 31 through November 16. Stratford Drive, which separates the lawn from the Zilker Botanical Garden, and its associated parking lot will stay open.

Lou Neff Road, the street that loops around most of the Great Lawn, will remain closed through the holidays. This closure accommodates the annual Trail of Lights display. Crews are currently setting up the holiday trail on the east side of the lawn. Events associated with the trail are scheduled to run from December 4 to December 23.

Public access to the Great Lawn represents a compromise between post-festival maintenance needs and holiday preparations. After the Trail of Lights closes, the team will resume further recovery work on the lawn. Residents can track the status of projects and closures across the park system at austintexas.gov.