Barton Creek & Bull Creek Greenbelts to Reopen August 8

The City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department announced that the Barton Creek and Bull Creek greenbelts will reopen on Saturday, August 8, 2020; but visitors to the Barton Creek Greenbelt will need to make a reservation in advance of visits Thursdays through Sundays. The parks have been closed since the 4th of July holiday weekend.

The pilot capacity management program at Barton Creek Greenbelt is part of PARD’s capacity management program, designed to alleviate environmental and community impacts and is expected to last for approximately 5 months.

“As one of the formally recognized 2020 Leave No Trace Hot Spots, environmental impacts at Barton Creek Greenbelt have reached a critical level and continue to worsen. With increased traffic to the Greenbelt, litter (including pet waste), erosion, trail damage, water quality issues, and injuries continue to rise. Neighborhoods surrounding the residential entrances are particularly impacted by heavy traffic, public intoxication, and trash,” explained the city in a news release announcing the reopening of the greenbelts.

Reservations are free and can be made online beginning Saturday, August 1, 2020. If visitors don’t have access to a computer, visitors may leave a voicemail at 512-974-6797.

“The city is not moving forward with reopening any other closed outdoor recreation amenities for now. Facilities such as pools, golf courses, and basketball and tennis courts, which have been shuttered since July 6, will remain closed until further notice”, Raquel Dadomo, a spokesperson for the city’s parks department, told Community Impact.