Pease Park Revitalization To Be Kicked Off

AUSTIN, TX — A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled on Wednesday to kick off the revitalization of the lower acres of Pease Park, city officials announced.

The construction phase for the revitalization is scheduled on Oct. 16 at 9 a.m. to mark the beginning of upgrades for the lower 10 acres of the popular park that has hosted the annual Eeyore's Birthday Party day-long festival typically taking place the last weekend in April since 1963.

Kingsbury Commons was designed to enhance visitors’ experiences, sustain the park’s ecology, and increase usership and capacity, parks and recreation officials said in an advisory. The area of the park will feature a unique nature play area, a state-of-the-art water play feature, an innovative treescape, improved sport courts and play equipment, and a re-purposed Tudor Cottage designed as a community gathering space.

All modifications will protect the forest canopy and historic features of the cottage while allowing the park to retain its familiar storybook atmosphere, parks officials explained. The renovations will be supported in large part by the Moody Foundation but additional funding will need to be raised to complete the project, officials noted.

Among those expected to be in attendance for the groundbreaking ceremony are District 14 STate Sen. Kirk Watson; Austin Mayor Steve Adler; Austin Parks and Recreation Director Kimberly McNeeley; Pease Park Conservancy CEO Heath Riddles; and Ten Eyck Landscape Architecture President Christy Ten Eyck. As of press time, there was no word if Eeyore will be in attendance as well.

Pease Park is located at 1100 Kingsbury St. The groundbreaking event will be staged at the basketball court located behind the swing set facing Kingsbury Street.