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Walter E. Long Park $800m Master Plan (Looks Amazing) - City Council on the 17th


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Posted

Part 1: http://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Parks/Planning_and_Development/WaterELong/WEL_Master_Plan_Digital_Draft-part1-2019-09-13.pdf

Part 2: http://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Parks/Planning_and_Development/WaterELong/WEL_Master_Plan_Digital_Draft-part2-2019-09-13.pdf

Refresher: https://www.kut.org/post/800-million-makeover-plan-walter-e-long-park-includes-planetarium-ferris-wheel

  Quote

The master plan calls for investing more than $800 million to completely transform the 3,700-acre park in East Austin. A few of the dozens of amenities laid out in the plan include a marina, an event lawn, a planetarium and a Ferris wheel.

If approved by the city, the first phase would cover about 300 acres at the southern end of the park. Development during this phase is estimated to cost $144 million, with $26 million from private funders, and includes plans for a rowing course and a “floating water sports zone.” 

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There's things in there (a fucking Ferris wheel?) that are ridiculous, but the planetarium, camping space, boardwalks along the shore, etc. would definitely be nice upgrades/additions.

Posted

Meanwhile, the golf course down the street is closing. But hey, a got damn Ferris wheel!

I'm all for more public greenspace, especially on the East side, but it need not always be "developed."

 

  • Like 3
Posted
  On 10/4/2019 at 10:16 PM, old white guy said:
Meanwhile, the golf course down the street is closing. But hey, a got damn Ferris wheel!
I'm all for more public greenspace, especially on the East side, but it need not always be "developed."
 
Bluebonnet? That sucks if it's closing. I need to go play
Posted
  On 10/5/2019 at 1:00 AM, Updawg said:
  On 10/4/2019 at 10:16 PM, old white guy said:
Meanwhile, the golf course down the street is closing. But hey, a got damn Ferris wheel!
I'm all for more public greenspace, especially on the East side, but it need not always be "developed."
 
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Bluebonnet? That sucks if it's closing. I need to go play

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Yep. Contract for water with the city expires in January and not getting renewed. 

Posted
  On 10/5/2019 at 1:00 AM, Updawg said:
  On 10/4/2019 at 10:16 PM, old white guy said:
Meanwhile, the golf course down the street is closing. But hey, a got damn Ferris wheel!
I'm all for more public greenspace, especially on the East side, but it need not always be "developed."
 
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Bluebonnet? That sucks if it's closing. I need to go play

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Yep! I have some great memories playing that course. I hope they find a way to keep it open. 

Posted
  On 10/5/2019 at 2:29 AM, crash_davis said:

that area does not have the road infrastructure to support any large facility there.  only 2 ways in and out and each only has one lane each way.  

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Austin isn't known for proactively developing infrastructure (especially transportation) to prepare for growth. We like to build splashy big projects and then act surprised when it's a clusterfuck.

 

 

  • Like 1
Posted
  On 10/4/2019 at 10:16 PM, old white guy said:
Meanwhile, the golf course down the street is closing. But hey, a got damn Ferris wheel!
I'm all for more public greenspace, especially on the East side, but it need not always be "developed."
 


What course? Bluebonnet?
Posted
  On 10/5/2019 at 11:44 AM, DigglerontheHoof said:

I tell ya, golf courses and cemeteries are the biggest wastes of prime real estate

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Fun fact: In the early 1800s before parks became a thing after Olmstead, Americans used cemeteries in much the same way we use parks today, but that's neither here nor there in this discussion.

  • Like 1
Posted
  On 10/5/2019 at 12:10 PM, bolverk said:

Fun fact: In the early 1800s before parks became a thing after Olmstead, Americans used cemeteries in much the same way we use parks today, but that's neither here nor there in this discussion.

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I didn't know that; interesting.  One of my favorite things to do when I'm riding my motorcycles out in BFE, is to stop at old, historical cemeteries, though. 

Posted
  On 10/5/2019 at 5:40 AM, Paper_jam said:

Austin isn't known for proactively developing infrastructure (especially transportation) to prepare for growth. We like to build splashy big projects and then act surprised when it's a clusterfuck.

 

 

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Like the ongoing highway access construction to ABIA, which opened 21 years ago. 
Progressive Austin ftl.

Posted
  On 10/5/2019 at 12:53 PM, Armybrat said:

Like the ongoing highway access construction to ABIA, which opened 21 years ago. 
Progressive Austin ftl.

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You do realize those are all aggy-run TxDoT highways leading out to the airport, correct?

Posted
  On 10/5/2019 at 1:59 PM, Iceman said:

That's all Austin is...

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Yes. Austin is nothing but a giant tent city now, filled with the street-shitting homeless living in Hoover camps. A city that somehow has cash on hand to turn a mud-filled "lake" into a respectable regional destination.

Amarillo, on the other hand, is a virtual paradise for folks like Chad Briscoe who come from Pampa to spend his $5 at United. Sure, their knock-off Market Street version of Central Market/Whole Foods is decent shopping, but it still doesn't compare to the overcrowded HEB I have down the street.

Don't get me wrong -- I love West Texas. But I don't have to make up bullshit to justify where I don't want to live.

  • Like 2
Posted (edited)

"Austin... it's better that Amarillo?"

 

Lolz.  At least Amarillo doesn't have to insist upon itself.

Edited by Iceman
Posted
  On 10/5/2019 at 2:46 PM, Iceman said:

"Austin... it's better that Amarillo?"

 

Lolz.  At least Amarillo doesn't have to insist upon itself.

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No one's insisting upon anything. A muddy pond east of town is going to get fixed up. That's all.

Let us know when Lake Meredith is full again.

Posted
  On 10/5/2019 at 1:51 AM, chitwood said:
Yep. Contract for water with the city expires in January and not getting renewed. 
Why aren't they renewing it? That's too bad. I need to get out there and play it soon
Posted
  On 10/5/2019 at 9:45 PM, Updawg said:
  On 10/5/2019 at 1:51 AM, chitwood said:
Yep. Contract for water with the city expires in January and not getting renewed. 
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Why aren't they renewing it? That's too bad. I need to get out there and play it soon

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Well, it's not clear that Bluebonnet Hill ownership/management has lifted a finger to even try to renew it. 

Posted
  On 10/5/2019 at 12:00 AM, gsoda3 said:

I like it. Turns it into a destination. But am I going to lose my gun club?

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Is Austin capable of creating such a destination?  That’s what bugs me.  Most of the “destinations” in Austin, and I use that term loosely, were already around or attached to something else, and grew into what they are organically.    This is on a scale they haven’t tried before.  

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