Zilker Metropolitan Park, “the crown jewel of the Austin Parks system,” received The Toro Company Urban Park Innovation Award of $50,000 in support of the development of a new, sustainable maintenance facility for the park’s facilities and grounds. Sponsored by The Toro Company and presented in partnership with City Parks Alliance at the Greater & Greener 2026 international urban parks conference, the award recognizes excellence and innovation in urban park management and practices.
"At The Toro Company, we believe in the deep connection between innovation and sustainability for our land and water resources," said Marnie Wells, president of The Toro Company Foundation. "We are thrilled to support a project that embodies these principles. The Zilker Park facility sets a new standard for sustainable park maintenance that will benefit the Austin community for generations to come."
The Zilker Metropolitan Park Maintenance Barn project represents a significant leap forward in sustainable operations for the city’s most utilized park, which attracts over two million visitors annually. The project will replace an undersized and poorly conditioned facility with a state-of-the-art building. The design integrates major sustainability measures expected to reduce operations and maintenance costs while restoring the natural ecosystem, including native, drought-tolerant landscaping, a protected biofiltration pond for rainwater management, high-reflectance roofing materials, and concrete pavement with heat-island-reducing material instead of asphalt. The new maintenance facility will house the city’s first electric landscape maintenance pilot, which includes electrical infrastructure to charge, store, and deploy a new all-electric landscape equipment fleet for Zilker Metropolitan Park.
"The Toro Company Urban Park Innovation Award celebrates the forward-thinking strategies that keep our city parks resilient and vibrant," said Catherine Nagel, executive director of City Parks Alliance. "The Zilker Park project shows how integrating green infrastructure and sustainable maintenance practices can reduce environmental harm while better serving the millions of residents and visitors who rely on and enjoy these public spaces."
Austin Parks and Recreation is committed to sustainable spaces, and Zilker’s new maintenance barn is part of a larger city-wide initiative to electrify all park maintenance equipment by adding electric charging stations for grounds equipment, such as mowers.
“We are honored that Austin Parks and Recreation has been recognized with this prestigious award today,” said Jesús Aguirre, Director of Austin Parks and Recreation. “The new relocated maintenance facility is a critical operational enhancement that not only modernizes the Zilker maintenance facility and operations, but it will also help protect the Barton Creek Watershed. By investing in LEED Silver construction and paving the way for fully electrified maintenance equipment, we are ensuring that Austin’s most beloved park remains a beautiful, sustainable, and welcoming space for everyone.”
The Toro Company Urban Park Innovation Award is a longstanding tradition tied to the Greater & Greener conference, aimed at leaving a lasting, positive impact on the host city's parks and community. The premier event for 1,250+ innovators and decision-makers from across the global urban parks community, participants at the biennial event explore the full potential of parks as city-building tools.
“Zilker Park is a perfect example of how Austin is leading the way in park innovations. We’re so proud to have been a part of the selection process for the Award,” said Graham Clark, vice president at The Toro Company’s local distributor, Professional Turf Products.
For more information about the award, past winners, and the Greater & Greener 2026 conference, please visit the City Parks Alliance website at https://cityparksalliance.org.