Zilker Park Partial Reopening Expected October 31

The western section of Zilker Park’s Great Lawn is scheduled to reopen Oct. 31 and remain accessible through the holiday season, while the rest of the lawn will be closed for preparations for Austin’s Trail of Lights. The reopening follows heavy rain and festival crowds during the Austin City Limits Music Festival that left parts of the park muddy and damaged. City crews and festival producer C3 Presents have removed debris, repaired irrigation, aerated and seeded the lawn, with additional restoration expected to continue through Trail of Lights teardown. The Stratford Drive parking lot will be available, outdoor volleyball courts are scheduled to reopen through Nov. 16, and Lou Neff Road will remain closed during the holiday season. A turfgrass specialist said the grass can recover with appropriate soil preparation and maintenance, though restoration timelines vary with conditions.