City to Vote on Lions Municipal Golf Course Transfer
The Austin City Council will consider a landmark ownership agreement for the historic site on November 19, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Golf
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Austin and the University of Texas are nearing a deal to transfer ownership of the historic Lions Municipal Golf Course to the city. The Austin City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed agreement on November 19, 2026.
Why it matters
The outcome will shape the future of the 100-year-old landmark and guide ongoing development along the banks of Lady Bird Lake. It remains to be seen how the proposed agreement, which includes the West Austin Youth Association, will balance community interests and property usage requirements.
The site, which first integrated in 1950, currently operates as an 18-hole golf course under a month-to-month lease. Future details regarding the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone and a formal regulating plan are expected to be finalized next spring.
The players
Austin City Council
The governing body of the city responsible for voting on municipal agreements and land use.
University of Texas
The institution currently leasing the golf course land to the city of Austin.
West Austin Youth Association
An organization included as a stakeholder in the proposed agreement for the golf course.
Environmental and Planning Commission
A body tasked with reviewing development proposals before they reach the City Council.
The details
The agreement hinges on the exchange of city rights-of-way and amendments to the 1989 Brackenridge Development Agreement. City staff plan to brief the Environmental and Planning Commission in October 2026, ahead of the council vote. If approved, the process will continue in Spring 2027 as staff present the regulating plan and TIRZ framework for adoption.
Timeline
1950: Lions Municipal Golf Course integrated.
April 1951: Austin City Council recognized the course's desegregation.
1989: The Brackenridge Development Agreement was established.
November 19, 2026: The Austin City Council will vote on the proposed agreement.
Spring 2027: Expected adoption of the agreement components and regulating plan.
The Texas Context
This proposal requires amendments to the 1989 Brackenridge Development Agreement, which has long dictated property usage on the site. The current plan updates that established framework to facilitate a transfer of ownership.
Residents can monitor the upcoming public briefings to see how changes to the site will influence future access to the landmark. The next major milestone for the community occurs with the council vote on November 19, 2026.
The takeaway
The proposed transfer signals a significant shift for a site that served as the first integrated public golf course in the American South. Residents should keep an eye on the November 19, 2026, council meeting for updates on the future of the property.
What happens next
City staff will brief the Environmental and Planning Commission on the proposal in October 2026, followed by a potential City Council vote on November 19, 2026.
Further reading
You can follow ongoing municipal sports facility updates in the Golf section.
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