Waterloo Greenway's new southern parkland changes the Austin creek walk

Image: Photograph of Waller Creek at Waterloo Park by Nv8200pa dated August 19, 2026; this is the northern park, not a photograph of the new southern section or the unfinished middle stretch.

Waterloo Greenway has two distinct places to explore now. Its northern Waterloo Park is joined by new southern parkland between Lady Bird Lake and 4th Street, which opened June 6, 2026. Together they expand the ways residents can spend time beside Waller Creek downtown.

The conservancy describes thirteen acres in the southern section, including restored creek banks, native landscapes and connected trails. It also explicitly notes that the stretch between 4th and 12th streets remains in design. Plan around the existing sections rather than assuming a fully restored, uninterrupted park route already connects the lake and Capitol.

Waterloo Park's northern attractions include Hill Country gardens, a children's play area, public restrooms and the Moody Amphitheater. The park's listed hours are 5 a.m.–10 p.m., subject to event-day changes. Concert tickets and venue rules are separate from an ordinary park outing, so check the calendar when choosing a date.

Pick one section for a first visit and use its current map. Watch how paths, planting and creek edges create different places to move or pause. Returning to another section later can reveal how the same creek fits into different parts of the city, while keeping the ongoing work visible as part of the larger project.

Sources and visit details

• Waterloo Greenway Conservancy: current open sections, June 2026 opening, unfinished middle stretch and visitor guidance
• Waterloo Greenway Conservancy: Waterloo Park self-guided features

Photo: Nv8200pa / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 4.0. Resized and converted to WebP; the site wordmark may be added in display.