Austin Parks and Recreation will begin work Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, on a maintenance and restoration project for the historic stone masonry retaining wall along the eastern edge of Barton Springs Pool. The city says the wall has seen long-term deterioration, largely tied to vegetation and tree growth in the wall’s backfill area.
The first phase focuses on vegetation and trees that are compromising the wall’s stability. The city’s forestry team plans to remove 37 trees within the retaining wall’s zone of influence, including 26 hackberry, five American elm, one ligustrum, three mulberry, and two pecan trees. Most of the trees being removed average about 7 inches in diameter. One larger hackberry in poor condition has already received an approved removal permit, and the city says it’s linked to the most severe structural failure in the project area. After repairs, trees will not be replanted in the immediate area to avoid future impacts.
At the same time, grounds maintenance crews will clear overgrowth and vines so a structural engineer specializing in historic preservation can evaluate the wall and develop repair details. Using that engineering guidance, skilled masonry teams, either city staff or contracted professionals, will reconstruct and stabilize affected wall sections. The city expects to complete the work in phases from September 2026 into early 2027, with the timeline subject to change based on engineering findings and weather.
For mason contractors who take on stone retaining wall rehabilitation, the city’s description is a reminder that vegetation control and long-term access for routine inspection matter. Austin notes that a fence at the top of the wall has limited maintenance access, which allowed growth to go unchecked and further destabilize the masonry over time.
The retaining wall was originally built in 1917 and is a contributory structure to Zilker Park’s designation as a Historic District under the National Register of Historic Places. Austin says Barton Springs Pool will maintain normal hours during the project, with repair areas fenced off for safety.
Read the full, original article from City of Austin (.gov) here.