Zilker Metropolitan Park is a 350-acre public park that is located at the intersection of the Colorado River and Barton Creek, named in honor of ice industry entrepreneur Andrew Jackson Zilker, who donated the land to the City of Austin in several sales throughout the early 20th century. The park's land was transformed into a public recreational space in the 1930s through the work of the Civil Works Administration and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. Today, it offers ample opportunities for seasonal outdoor recreation, including a public hiking and biking trail circling the park's Lady Bird Lake. Public attractions within the park include the Austin Nature and Science Center and the Zilker Botanical Garden, which may be explored for free. The park hosts a wide variety of public special events throughout the year, including the internationally-acclaimed Austin City Limits Music Festival, held over two weekends each October.
Zilker Metropolitan Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704, Phone: 512-974-6700