We have passed the half-way mark! The Kingsbury Commons Project is now 54% complete and we are starting to go vertical. Just over the past few weeks the project has really begun to take shape with the formation of the walls & roofing for the new restroom and storage buildings, and the formation of the treehouse’s skeleton. It is truly remarkable and exciting to think that in such a short time, all of Austin will get to enjoy these new amenities.

The Tudor Cottage & Terrace

Since our last update, the historic Tudor Cottage interior, which once served as the park’s restrooms, has been carefully deconstructed, preserving the exterior walls and structure, and a new roof is to be installed in the coming weeks. When the project is complete next year, the Tudor Cottage will be a reservable space for meetings, birthdays, anniversaries and all types of events. 

The terrace that extends north of the Cottage has finally taken shape. The board-formed concrete walls and benches that serve as seating areas were poured last week. When the project is complete, the terrace will accommodate small gatherings and events while also providing a community gathering space...room to sit, read, have a meal and enjoy the park...it would even make the perfect new background for your Zoom meetings!

The Restrooms & Storage Facility

We now have walls on two of our most important new structures!! The board-formed concrete walls have been poured and set, and the steel frame has been welded in for both the new expanded restroom building and the volunteer storage facility. Our construction crew has begun installing the steel beams for the two sloped roofs. However, before they can put on the roof, the water pump for our new water play feature had to be lowered by crane into its underground vault housed within the volunteer storage building. This new water play feature, designed by Ten Eyck Landscape Architects and Greenscape Pump Services, Inc (GPSI) to evoke an aquifer recharge system, will replace the existing splash pad with a larger space for children to play and, also, learn about the natural hydrology and history of Austin’s own Edwards Aquifer.

The Treehouse

This one-of-a-kind, 100% ADA accessible, globe-like “treehouse” designed by Mell Lawrence Architects has started to take its spherical shape. The nine trusses that make up the steel skeleton have been installed. Once the skeleton is complete, the treehouse will start to grow hair! Hair-like rebar will be welded onto the exterior mimicking the hair-like structures found on some seeds and pods. The bridge that emerges from a fully accessible hillside pathway and leads to the treehouse is suspended about 20 feet up in the air. Visitors will have the experience of viewing the park from this unique spot, nestled above in the tree canopy. It will truly be a distinctive addition to the park’s landscape. Also now taking shape is the treehouse’s oculus, a circular open space at the top of the sphere allowing visitors to see the blue sky while relaxing inside the treehouse on its giant rope netting.

Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, feel free to reach out to info@peasepark.org with any questions you may have.