New Tree Grove Opens at Zilker Park
The 6,000-square-foot site helps protect Barton Springs by filtering stormwater runoff.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Botany
Live Poll
Do you support using celebrity-funded donations for local environmental and public park projects?
Visitors to Zilker Park can now walk through a new 6,000-square-foot native tree grove, named in honor of Billie Eilish, that was established in March 2026 to help protect Barton Springs. The project filters stormwater runoff before it reaches the Edwards Aquifer, which provides water for hundreds of thousands of people.
Why it matters
This green infrastructure project aims to reduce the pollutants entering our local water supply from the park's high-traffic areas. By using natural filtration, the site protects the water quality of Barton Creek and the surrounding aquifer.
The $20,000 restoration project features 150 native trees across 6,000 square feet, currently showing an 85 percent survival rate. This buffer sits atop the Edwards Aquifer, which serves 600,000 people in the region.
The players
Zilker 351
This local nonprofit manages restoration projects within the 351-acre Zilker Park.
Billie Eilish
The musician performed at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2019 and 2021.
The details
Funded by the Changemaker Ticket Program, the grove uses shallow channels and raised soil berms to trap and clean runoff before it enters the aquifer. Volunteers planted the trees over two weekends in March 2026, and a wildflower meadow was added to the site in October 2026. The nonprofit Zilker 351 plans to seek a formal dedication for the grove from the city of Austin.
Timeline
March 2026: Volunteers planted the grove's 150 native trees.
October 2026: A new wildflower meadow was added to the site.
November 1, 2026: The nonprofit hosts a public Monarch Party.
The Texas Context
The Billie Eilish Grove extends the ongoing conservation efforts initiated under the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program. It reinforces a long-standing local trend of using volunteer-led green infrastructure to manage stormwater runoff in high-traffic city parks.
Park visitors can now enjoy the new trees and wildflowers while walking through the grove in Zilker Park. The site is expected to reach full bloom in the spring of 2027.
The takeaway
The grove highlights how small-scale restoration can have a tangible impact on the quality of our city's groundwater. Keep an eye out for the grove's first full bloom this coming spring.
What happens next
Zilker 351 plans to host a Monarch Party at the grove on November 1, 2026, and will pursue a formal dedication from the city of Austin.
Further reading
Learn more about local plant life and conservation efforts in our Botany section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chron.
Live Poll
Do you support using celebrity-funded donations for local environmental and public park projects?
