Bring Back Eilers Park

The Eilers Park Revitalization Project

Surrounding Deep Eddy Pool is a lakefront tract of parkland that was sold to the city by A.J. Eilers for $10,000 in 1935. Eilers wanted to see the city "develop the property as a municipal park for…the benefit of Austin citizenship." Mr. Eilers and his partners had developed the property as a resort that included a spring-fed pool, a bathhouse, rental cottages, a bandstand, and concession stand. The park had a carnival-like atmosphere with a Ferris wheel, music performances, free movies and much, much more.

Over the years, park facilities have fallen into disrepair, old cottonwoods that were on the land have lost viability, invasive plants have taken over, and a large ramp meant to improve accessibility virtually divided the park into two pieces. In 2006, Brenda McGahagin and Pat Hadden formed Friends of Eilers Park (FOEP) to address these issues and to work to return this valuable piece of lakefront property to Austin's citizens. Since that time, a small group of Friends has worked on clean-up, replanting and planning. In the spring of this year, a master plan for projects to transform the park was created.

The historical ambience was a starting point for the design created by TBG landscape architect Justin Lindabury and Kelly McKeachern, an independent designer. The design addresses the wishes of Austinites who responded to a survey conducted by McGahagin in 2006 plus a new vision for the park developed by FOEP. Construction will be done in phases and will dovetail when possible with other projects around the park. Specific improvements include:

  • Opening of the view to the lake from all areas of the park
  • Creating a large floating dock along the shore, which increases the number of park visitors who can use the dock and allows access to the lake for kayakers and canoers
  • Opening and minimizing the ramp railing (as ADA requirements allow) to improve access to the various zones of the park
  • Improving shade via landscaping (large new trees) and shade structures (tensile or alternative)
  • Creating structures conducive to athletic stretching and other activities
  • Creating play space that encourages creative play across diverse age groups
  • Improving the toddler play space facilities and installing a new slide
  • Creating a natural amphitheatre using grassy berms and stone benches with a view of the lake and a performance platform/stage
  • Clustering picnic tables into small groups throughout the upper parkland
  • Incorporating the unused parkland to the north of the park to enlarge usable space
  • Creating a colorful splash pad reminiscent of a Ferris wheel or carrousel in the upper east side of the park, outside, but near the pool area
  • Allowance for the potential extension of the hike and bike trail
  • Continued plantings of native plants so that biodiversity is improved and the park can be certified as a community wildlife habitat

Funds for the projects are managed through the nonprofit umbrella of the Austin Parks Foundation with designation for Eilers Park. Funding will be sought through grants, individual contributions, business contributions, sponsorships, fundraising events and volunteer services. Inclusion in the next city bond package for parks will be pursued.