Austin park shelters come in varied styles and have served varied purposes. The Tudor Revival structure built in West Austin Park in 1930 is also known as a “bathhouse,” because the shelter’s rest areas serve as a changing rooms for the park’s small pool.
Since the 1930s, the central sheltered area has been drafted for picnics, games and performances. Its two square rooms are connected by a steep wooden roof. The half-timber decoration is for looks only, although it probably fit neatly with the scattered Tudor Revival homes in Old West Austin.
Recently, the Friends of West Austin Park finished a renovation of the bathhouse, including a new cedar shingle roof and restored decorative elements. The support group is working with Urban Forestry to install an irrigation system to reclaim water and nurture 50 new trees. The park already houses a reclaimed water tank.
West Austin Park was among the first to double as a leash-free dog zone. Now popular across the city, these areas not only provide essential play time for pets in a “pack” environment, they also can increase the sense of community in a neighborhood. (As long as they are kept scrupulously clean.)
This 3-acre gem is among the lesser known parks in Austin. Because of the area’s zig-zagging streets, one stumbles on West Austin Park if trying to forge a back trail from North Lamar Boulevard to trendy Clarksville — or trundling to and from the crowded retail area along West Sixth and West Fifth streets.
West Austin Park
Location: 1317 W. 10th St.
Acres: 3
Dedicated: 1930