This, combined with revamping efforts around the Red River Cultural District, the aggressive police pushback against a rising drug crisis near the local shelters, and the new developments opening in the area has forced disadvantaged locals mostly staying on the streets into the park areas.
Though always a beautiful and quiet park, it's changing rapidly. While still very pretty in most areas, other are starting to show the general urban grime and seediness that comes with the disenfranchisement of an underclass population that is increasingly unwelcome in the area, despite not having a lot of options and often being forced to stay nearby. Downtown is where all the best local shelters and resources are, yet no one seems to want the people who use them in the area.
Still as much of a quiet chill spot as ever most of the time, it must nevertheless be noted that construction equipment blares occasionally these days, which is grating and generates a lot of dust. Additionally, much of the area is closed off for a new expanded Waller Creek Trail development encompassing several downtown parks, including Symphony Square.
We booked a hotel near this park so that we could take walks with our dog in the evenings. When we got to the park, we found that it was closed with high privacy fences all around with barbed wire across the top. The park is apparently closed permanently. There were no signs or notices of any kind. We were very disappointed and wondered why it is apparently some kind of secure (dangerous?) area. Very un-Austin like.
Still a nice place, regardless
A beautiful winding creek with concrete and stone trails alongside it and lots of trees, but with homeless people camping out, and some graffiti on bridges. The part between 12th and 13th streets is the entrance to the new underground tunnel. I went there as part of a cleanup day and waded through the creek picking up occasional bits of trash - the water was nice and clear, and there was a nice breeze the whole time - the air smelled surprisingly good. Someday this park could be really nice!
When last I went, there were a few established camp sites but the people living there were quiet, clean, accommodating, polite, and apparently sober except for some quiet beer-sipping and an occasional cigarette. They took pleasure in advising us on which areas were best to visit or avoid and in introducing their dog to ours, who was very sweet and got along great with my babies.
Interesting experience. Plenty to eat nearby, and the water looked nice. Though fences were up in places for the remodel, the grass was gorgeous and the paved sections looked like animation from a children's film. In stark contrast, a few of the under-the-bridge and tucked away type areas were downright scary. Squirrels run rampant and there seems to be a local colony of female grackels that never leave, possibly supported by a mixed population of local homeless and ordinary park-goers who are more than generous with their bread crumbs.
I used to come here years ago and, in spite of the situation, I actually had a lovely time while I was there last week. As a citizen who counts themselves excited for the City's plans concerning the remodel, I'm also concerned about what it means for the locals. Lately treatment of low income and homeless Austinites by Police and City officials has been horrifying.
This is a cute little park, a short walking trail, centrally located. Lots of free parking in the evenings.
Park is under a remodel that is taking forever. I loved this park in the past it's a nice spot .
Interestingly, the park was cleaner than I'd heard - which was surprising because City maintenance has been neglectful since the homeless moved in. They've been cleaning it themselves. Though not pushy or off-putting, they even went so far as to offer to share their meal with us and one guy saying that if they were going to commandeer a public park, they might as well play the gracious host.
My partner and I found a quiet spot on the paved section of the trail by the water and stayed until late in the afternoon, only to catch a truck passing through giving out free picnic lunches. We took one on the out. I'm excited for the city's plans, but infrastructure development is a must. No one's just going to go away because you built a hotel there.
Waterloo Neighborhood Park is a US Park based in Austin, Texas. Waterloo Neighborhood Park is located at 500 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78701, USA.
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