Two finalist name for our neighborhood park have been selected to be forwarded to the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Board. “Bluebonnet Park” and “Little Zilker Park” received many submissions from the school and neighborhood community.
Zilker Neighborhood Park, which is smaller than five acres, is directly adjacent to Zilker Elementary, and it is very close to the larger Zilker Park that most Austinites know. The Friends of Zilker Neighborhood Park sought a more distinctive name that would give the park an identity that is separate from both the school and the big Zilker Park.
Last spring, a committee of Friends of Zilker Neighborhood Park undertook a park renaming process, which started with requesting name submissions. We received more than 50 entries. The committee sifted through the submissions and has put forward the most popular names. Further, the committee will be submitting a list of names of neighborhood people who merit special recognition due to their commitment to the community.
The park renaming process will be an agenda item at the upcoming Zilker Neighborhood Association general meeting on February 22. After the meeting, the names will be forwarded to the Parks Board. The board will receive public comment and then forward a recommendation to the City Council, which makes the final decision. Any citizen in any part of the city may come forward to support any name of his or her choosing.
Special thanks to the scores of Zilker neighbors and Zilker Elementary students, teachers, and parents who participated in the park naming process by submitting suggestions. Further appreciation is given to the committee that has spent almost a year working on this project.