For nearly 100 years, the Barton Springs Bridge has welcomed generations of Austinites to Barton Creek, Barton Springs Pool, and Zilker Park. Built in 1926 and expanded in 1946, the bridge is more than a transportation structure, it's a defining landmark, a gateway to one of Austin's most cherished public spaces, and a contributing feature of the Zilker Park National Register Historic District. Today, that legacy is at risk.
The Austin City Council has approved a plan to demolish the historic bridge and replace it with a massive concrete structure nearly twice as wide as the current bridge. The proposed replacement would consume more parkland, damage sensitive creekside habitat, impact the historic Umlauf hillside and nearby archaeological resources, and create years of disruption in the heart of Zilker Park.

According to experts, demolition is not necessary.
The City's own engineering consultants concluded that the bridge can be restored and strengthened while improving bicycle and pedestrian access for a fraction of the estimated $54.5 million cost of demolition and replacement. Austin has faced this choice before. In the 1990s, the historic Lamar Bridge was threatened with demolition. Instead, the community came together to preserve the bridge and construct the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge nearby, improving mobility while protecting an irreplaceable piece of Austin's heritage. That solution remains one of the city's great preservation success stories.

We can do the same for the Barton Springs Bridge. 
Preserving the bridge not only protects history, itt protects Barton Creek, Zilker Park, public resources, and the character of a place that generations of Austinites love. It avoids years of construction impacts and prevents the loss of one of the a recognizable historic structure in Austin, Texas.

TELL CITY LEADERS NO TO DEMOLITION

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Sunday, June 21st: Bridge Birthday Party!

The bridge turns 100 years old this summer, and we're throwing it a birthday party. Join neighbors, historians, artists, advocates, swimmers, and bridge lovers for a day of celebration, education, and community action.
Morning Celebration9:00 AM - Noon

• Coffee and breakfast tacos
• Birthday banner and sign-making
• Family-friendly activities
• Bridge history exhibits
• Swim at Barton Springs

Evening Celebration5:00 - 9:00 PM

• Live music from Bill Oliver and the Otter Space Band
• Community art
• Historic bridge storytelling
• Advocacy activities
• Birthday card signing for the bridge

June 21 marks not only the bridge's original 1926 dedication, but also Father's Day and the Summer Solstice, a fitting day to celebrate one of Austin's most enduring landmarks.

Come help us honor the past, protect the future, and keep the Barton Springs Bridge standing for its next hundred years.

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SAVING A PIECE OF LOCAL HISTORY

From Preservation Texas: The Barton Springs Bridge is located in Austin’s Zilker Park and was constructed in 1926 as an open-spandrel reinforced-concrete arch designed by Texas engineer Terrell Bartlett. It is a contributing feature within the Zilker Park National Register Historic District and has long served as both a functional transportation route and a defining element of the city’s cultural landscape. Highly visible and frequently photographed from the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, the bridge is an iconic presence in one of Austin’s most used public spaces.

Read More Here

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