Zilker parking fees to change next month

The city is raising parking fees at Zilker Park, transitioning from the current $7 flat day fee to a $3 per hour rate staring May 25, 2024. In a memo to City Council, parks Director Kimberly McNeeley explains the change is expected to increase vehicle turnover and give the department more information about how long people are staying at the park, which will help in future parking plans. Despite the fact that a full day of parking will now cost more, McNeeley wrote that “PARD’s current data shows that many visitors park for less than two hours, making this change a reduction in fees for those who visit the park in shorter increments.” Parking funds collected in the park go directly to support maintenance and improvements within Zilker. In the memo, McNeeley also explains that a peak-season shuttle to off-site parking will return this year, in addition to a new circulator shuttle in the park. “The details of each program are being finalized and will be announced next month. It is important to note that there is no identified sustainable funding source for either the internal circulator or the off-site parking shuttle. Shuttle service funding availability is evaluated annually and allocated if feasible,” McNeeley wrote.