Austin adding pay stations, increasing Barton Springs parking fees

It used to be that one could park in the adjacent lot or along the grass at the south entrance of Barton Springs for free. Even after the Parks and Recreation Department implemented pay stations in other areas of Zilker Park in 2016, the south entrance was a widely known local workaround to both avoid paying to park and heavy traffic areas near the main Barton Springs entrance.

Those days are over.

On Friday, March 24, the city announced that it would complete the automated pay station project it began in 2016 at Zilker Park, adding paid parking to lots near Stratford Road, north of the Zilker Botanical Garden, and the south Barton Springs Pool lot near Azie Morton Road beginning on Monday, March 27.

The pay stations will be activated on May 1. Currently, paid parking in Zilker Park runs between March 1 and Labor Day, and only on weekends, holidays, and special events. Those with City of Austin seasonal pool passes will have access to free parking alongside their memberships.

Additionally, the city is raising the daily parking fee from $5 to $7 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

A release from the city calls the pay stations necessary in “reducing both traffic congestion and operating expenses.” Anecdotally, it has become increasingly difficult to park at the south Barton Spring entrance since 2021.

“With the completion of the automated parking station implementation across Zilker Park, community members can expect more consistent rules and enforcement,” the release reads. It promises to use the proceeds from parking fees to improve Zilker Park, including safety initiatives, lighting, and electric vehicle stations.

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