Austin gets greenspace report for waterfront

The city has received a much-anticipated report that is expected to increase greenspace development along the South Central Waterfront across Lady Bird Lake and the southern part of downtown Austin. Austin was one of five U.S. cities to receive technical assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greening America’s Capitals Program to help create a greener, more vibrant and walkable district. The federal agency funded a design team from CMG Landscape Architecture to work with city staff, residents, business owners, property owners and other stakeholders to develop elements to improve the public space. The city said that some sections of the EPA report will be incorporated into the official South Central Waterfront Vision Framework Plan, which is expected to reach City Council in June. The plan is intended to guide public and private development along the south side of Lady Bird Lake over the next 20 years. The city reports that “it is being created to ensure park spaces, public gathering places, green streets and affordable housing are central to the future redevelopment of the area.” More information can be found here.