Austin’s 2011 investment in a mile-long flood control tunnel beneath Waller Creek protected 28 acres of downtown from flooding. It also freed up capacity for new private development and new public investment in parkland. This 15-city block transect through Austin’s downtown offers a unique partnership for leadership and governance, and a tangled web of environmental, regulatory, and jurisdictional conditions that begs the question, “What does resilience mean?”
The public-private partnership of Waterloo Greenway and the City of Austin serves as an anchor in the development of this new district, both building needed public realm and bolstering climate preparedness with a 1.5-mile-long greenway connecting a series of parks. Extreme storm events and temperatures have become increasingly common, leading Austin to adopt the Atlas 14 recommendations for raised floodplain elevations in 2014. In 2023, Austin saw a 184% increase in heat-related hospital visits compared to the previous six years, exacerbated by a significant reduction in urban tree canopy that has reshaped the identity and experience of downtown.
The success of this new greenway hinges upon its resilience. But what do we mean when we say that? Throughout Waterloo Greenway’s planning and construction, resilience has been a part of each design decision — not always within the context of sustainability metrics, but also in terms of resourcefulness, responsiveness, and adaptability.
Lessons learned from completed phases and the introduction of new perspectives in the design of the third phase brings new resources for site-specific metrics that allow us to better track, assess, and communicate. This new approach to resilience frames conversations by the principles demanded by the site and its surroundings; leads with the principles of resilience, sustainability, and regeneration; and tells a larger story about the future of Austin and Austinites.
This session will explore the interaction between these three conceptions of resilient park infrastructure and the measures of their success. It is only with this clarity that we can arrive at thoughtful and well-designed urban landscapes built to withstand future conditions and serve generations of visitors.
Support is provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.
