The Shoal Creek Trail through Pease Park has been obstructed by debris from two significant landslides that occurred in 2018 and 2019. Despite years of advocacy with the City of Austin by Shoal Creek Conservancy (SCC) and Pease Park Conservancy (PPC), the debris remains, and the trail closure persists. PPC, SCC, and Pemberton Heights Neighborhood Association (PHNA) emphasize the importance of collaborating with the City to ensure a safe and accessible restoration of this park area and its trail.
Plans are underway to enhance the eastern urban trail along Lamar Boulevard; however, these do not address restoration on the west side. There is a call for a solution that addresses both trails.
In March 2023, PPC and SCC sent a letter to Mayor Kirk Watson and the Austin City Council requesting a swift resolution to this long-standing public safety and connectivity issue. As of September 2024, no action has been taken concerning the western trail.
The letter reads:
"We respectfully request that Council take expeditious action to resolve the longstanding public safety and connectivity issues caused by the 2018 and 2019 landslide events along the Shoal Creek Trail."
The major landslides in May 2018 and May 2019 caused substantial damage to public and private property, blocking the creek and trail from approximately 26th to 27th Street. Nearly six years after the initial event, these areas remain obstructed. This situation has raised several significant concerns:
- Loss of trail system connectivity in Austin's active transportation network
- Lack of access to parkland where users are directed to detour around the landslide site
- Continuing threat of another landslide due to accumulated debris
- Rapid erosion of the creek’s eastern bank caused by rerouted creek flow undermining recent bank reinforcements
Efforts to identify a solution have stalled due to ongoing legal disputes between the City of Austin and private property owners. The letter urges the City to:
"Expedite the resolution of this litigation so that the City may resume exploration of design and engineering solutions to creek, trail, and parkland blockages."
It also calls for sufficient cross-departmental funding in upcoming budgets to restore access on Shoal Creek’s west side.
While Watershed repairs retaining walls on Shoal Creek's eastern side, removing rubble from the creek bed could improve water flow.
Community members are encouraged to contact Mayor Kirk Watson (kirk.watson@austintexas.gov) or their City Council Member about restoring access on Shoal Creek’s west side. Local residents are urged to organize neighborhood groups for advocacy or share information via social media.