Waller Creek is currently an eyesore that begins north of UT campus and empties into Lady Bird Lake. It is muddled with trash and other debris and sits in a floodplain that does it no favors. In fact, some residents might not even know it by name. However, the Waller Creek Conservancy (WCC) is convinced that if the creek were redeveloped, it would enhance Austin’s landscape and take on a larger role in the quality of life of the community.
The WCC banded together to help Austonians realize the potential future of this natural treasure. With the Waller Creek Project, they envision a transformation that will include:
- Introducing a healthy ecosystem for the creek and surrounding areas (including the rehabilitation of Waterloo and Palm Parks),
- Bridging two parts of the City,
- Inspiring diverse interests (from higher education to live music) to act cohesively, and
- Attracting additional tourism.
In a Real Estate of Austin (RECA) luncheon, sponsored by Bury and held last week, it was suggested that the creek has the kind of transformational potential found in just a handful of projects around the world.
“Waller Creek strikes me as a game-changing development. I think it will do much to change the character of downtown. There are a number of other things in that area being talked about by the State, hospital and university – and then you have Waller Creek. When you look at that alignment of stars, the potential for creating something new, different and fundamentally impactful for the City of Austin is just tremendous.” – Marc Ott, City Manager, City of Austin
“It is hard to imagine another project that has the ability to impact a city like this does. The opportunity to unearth a natural treasure that just happens to wind through the heart of our city. This project will take Austin from good to great.” – Nick Moulinet, Senior Vice President, Bury+Partners.
What’s more impressive is that the Waller Creek Project has been compared to some of the most successful cities that have invested in a public park such as:
- Discovery Green – Houston, Texas
- The High Line – New York, New York
- Millennium Park – Chicago, Illinois
- Hermann Park – Houston, Texas
- Parc del Centre del Poblenou – Barcelona ,Spain
- Cheonggyecheon – Seoul, South Korea
“We are embarking on something Austin has yet to do on this scale,” Stephanie Lee McDonald, Executive Director of the Waller Creek Conservancy, said. “Waller Creek represents the biggest small creek transformation in the nation.”
Projects like this are never easyv and you can start showing your support by voting for it in the November bond election.
Sources:
Engineer Associate Valerie Kaiser and Project Engineer Tony Estes, two of Bury’s transportation team members, attended Tuesday morning’s announcement and even had the opportunity to board one of the model buses. Valerie said, “As a traffic engineer, I am excited to see Austin take this next step. MetroRapid offers a convenient and affordable solution to what is too often a long and difficult commute to and from home and work.”
