History of Brentwood Park
It all started with a corn field and an idea.
Bureau of Identification Photographic Laboratory, “Planting Tree at Brentwood Elementary,” March 1952
Open any year to read what happened, see that year’s It’s My Park Day t-shirts, and find the write-ups for the projects neighbors built.
2020s
2025New FOBP website and rebranding is launched at the VCCW Spring Festival. IMPD
2024With funding from Brentwood NA, Olive Farleigh (third from left) completes her Girl Scout Silver Badge and adds two… IMPD Project
- With funding from Brentwood NA, Olive Farleigh (third from left) completes her Girl Scout Silver Badge and adds two Brentwood Blue picnic tables to the park.
Project write-ups
2023It’s My Park Day — Spring & Fall IMPD
It’s My Park Day
2020The Brentwood Playground Project committee wins the Golden Shovel Award from Austin Parks Foundation. PARD shares a… IMPD Project
-
The Brentwood Playground Project committee wins the Golden Shovel Award from Austin Parks Foundation. PARD shares a Facebook video about the new park playground amenities.
-
A wildflower no-mow zone along Yates is installed in December 2020 (led by Denman Netherland)
-
A memorial bench is installed for Wendell and Elaine Freeman.
It’s My Park Day
Project write-ups
2010s
2019Longtime FOBP volunteer Dave Shulder passes away just a couple days after the November IMPD. A Texas Ash along Yates is… IMPD Project
- Longtime FOBP volunteer Dave Shulder passes away just a couple days after the November IMPD. A Texas Ash along Yates is planted in a Waterboxx in his memory (led by Kat Correa).
Project write-ups
2017The Brentwood Playground Project Committee is formed. IMPD Project
-
The Brentwood Playground Project Committee is formed.
-
The Double Arch steel sculpture (Emily Hoyt) is installed for several weeks as part of the Art in Public Places program.
Project write-ups
2016The Hyperprism aluminum and crystal sculpture (Autumn Ewalt) is installed for several weeks as part of the Art in… IMPD Project
- The Hyperprism aluminum and crystal sculpture (Autumn Ewalt) is installed for several weeks as part of the Art in Public Places program.
It’s My Park Day
Project write-ups
2015A memorial bench is installed for Sidney Paschal and Billie Jean Shelton, Brentwood Street residents for 57 years. The… IMPD Project
- A memorial bench is installed for Sidney Paschal and Billie Jean Shelton, Brentwood Street residents for 57 years. The planting bed was installed afterwards in 2016 (led by Marie Taylor).
It’s My Park Day
Project write-ups
2014Sports amenities are refreshed, new benches installed, and water fountain replaced (led by Emily Wilson). IMPD Project
-
Sports amenities are refreshed, new benches installed, and water fountain replaced (led by Emily Wilson).
-
A memorial bench is installed for David Sikes, a founding member of Brentwood Neighborhood Association.
It’s My Park Day
Project write-ups
2013The crushed granite trail that borders the park is completed in September (led by Emily Wilson). IMPD 3 projects
-
The crushed granite trail that borders the park is completed in September (led by Emily Wilson).
-
A memorial bench is dedicated to Renald Ferrovecchio on his birthday on October 5th.
-
A Waterboxx tree planting pilot program for 22 trees is successfully installed.
It’s My Park Day
Project write-ups
2012The Purple Martin colony with 24 gourds is installed in early spring before the birds arrive via migration. IMPD 2 projects
-
The Purple Martin colony with 24 gourds is installed in early spring before the birds arrive via migration.
-
The picnic pavilion project is competed over the summer (led by Kat Correa).
It’s My Park Day
Project write-ups
2011A neighborhood wide park survey is conducted to determine park needs, and a master park plan is drafted (led by Denman… IMPD Project
-
A neighborhood wide park survey is conducted to determine park needs, and a master park plan is drafted (led by Denman Netherland).
-
Voices of the Violet Crown debuts their short film titled We Planted 115 Trees.
It’s My Park Day
Project write-ups
2010The first It’s My Park Day event is held on March 6, 2010. The Welcome sign planting bed is installed (led by Karen… IMPD 2 projects
-
The first It’s My Park Day event is held on March 6, 2010. The Welcome sign planting bed is installed (led by Karen Lorenzini).
-
An historic tree planting of 115 trees takes place on November 6, 2010 (led by Emily Wilson, Hedrich Michaelsen, and Elaine Dill). Documented by Voices of the Violet Crown.
It’s My Park Day
Project write-ups
2000s
2009Neighbors Hedrich Michaelsen and Emily Wilson participate in the city’s Green Neighborhood Challenge and adopt…
- Neighbors Hedrich Michaelsen and Emily Wilson participate in the city’s Green Neighborhood Challenge and adopt Brentwood Park. Friends of Brentwood Park is formed and registered with the Austin Parks Foundation. (Hedrich Michaelsen and Emily Wilson, left and center, with Nancy Yelle). Fellow gardeners are rallied to join the founding FOBP Leadership Team.
2003The first Violet Crown Community Works May festival is held in Brentwood Park to raise money for artist Jean Graham’s…
- The first Violet Crown Community Works May festival is held in Brentwood Park to raise money for artist Jean Graham’s Wall of Welcome mosaic art project at the Woodrow shopping center. Read more history about the VCCW May festivals.
1990s
1997A tree and plaque are dedicated in memory of Hardy Aldridge, Brentwood neighbor and BNA steering committee member.
- A tree and plaque are dedicated in memory of Hardy Aldridge, Brentwood neighbor and BNA steering committee member.
1980s
1987A tree and plaque are dedicated in memory of Jack Lenhart, Brentwood neighbor and charter member of BNA.
- A tree and plaque are dedicated in memory of Jack Lenhart, Brentwood neighbor and charter member of BNA.
1984Sponsored by Crestview Methodist church, Scout troop 48 officially adopts Brentwood Park to help care for recently…
- Sponsored by Crestview Methodist church, Scout troop 48 officially adopts Brentwood Park to help care for recently planted trees.
1950s
1957Brentwood Park is again named a Superior Playground by the city of Austin. The park was also recognized in 1955 (see…
- Brentwood Park is again named a Superior Playground by the city of Austin. The park was also recognized in 1955 (see original plaque installation photo).
1956The Brentwood Recreation Club and Austin Recreation Department co-sponsor a junior baseball league at Brentwood Park…
-
The Brentwood Recreation Club and Austin Recreation Department co-sponsor a junior baseball league at Brentwood Park for over 230 boys.
-
Some time in the mid-1950s, construction began on the concrete basketball court at Brentwood Park. Best guesses suggest the basketball court was constructed before the tennis court, which was announced for bids in 1955.
1955The city of Austin calls for bids (left) for the construction of reinforced concrete tennis courts at Brentwood Park.
-
The city of Austin calls for bids (left) for the construction of reinforced concrete tennis courts at Brentwood Park.
-
The Brentwood Recreation Club holds a variety show and annual fundraiser at Brentwood school for playground equipment. The Briar Patchers perform (right), and Cactus Pryor headlines the show.
-
“Brentwood was named the superior playground for 1955 and was awarded a plaque by Mayor Tom Miller at the annual Play Day program in Zilker Park.” ~Austin American Statesman
-
Reasons for the award were the community night programs, inter-playground participation, an active Parents Club, the varied playground equipment, and the number of neighbors using the playground.
1954Keeping their tree planting as an annual event, the Brentwood Recreation Club plants 50 trees, gathering many Sycamore…
- Keeping their tree planting as an annual event, the Brentwood Recreation Club plants 50 trees, gathering many Sycamore saplings from Onion Creek.
1953The Brentwood Park children’s pool is completed just north of the elementary school and opens for the summer. It has a…
- The Brentwood Park children’s pool is completed just north of the elementary school and opens for the summer. It has a maximum depth of four feet, and the water is drained each night into the arroyo.
1952The Brentwood Recreation Club is formed and plants 48 trees in the near the school and park in March. In May, the park…
-
The Brentwood Recreation Club is formed and plants 48 trees in the near the school and park in March. In May, the park is officially dedicated by members of city council and the Park and Recreation Board during a fundraising festival hosted by the Brentwood Recreation Club. It is the only city park north of 45th street. Monthly summer potlucks are held in the park, and for ten years, a park director planned numerous summer activities for neighborhood children. The recreation club later meets with city officials for the development of a playground.
-
The Brentwood Parents Playground Club meets with city officials to plan the development of Brentwood playground. They also asked permission to begin planting 50 trees.
-
The Brentwood Park is officially dedicated in May by members of city council and the Park and Recreation Board during a fundraising festival hosted by the Brentwood Recreation Club. It is the only city park north of 45th street. Monthly summer potlucks are held in the park, and for ten years, a park director planned numerous summer activities for neighborhood children. The recreation club later meets with city officials for the development of a playground.
1950The city of Austin purchases a plot of land from the Pease family to build Brentwood school. The cornfield behind the…
- The city of Austin purchases a plot of land from the Pease family to build Brentwood school. The cornfield behind the school stretches up to the homes on Justin Lane and becomes Brentwood Park. View the original image to zoom in on Brentwood School, which is the white building in the field in the upper left quadrant of the photo. Parts of both Brentwood and Crestview are visible in the top half of the photo. The empty plot of land to the right of the school becomes Brentwood Park. With this view facing west, note the angled intersection of Airport and Lamar Boulevards in the lower left quadrant. Justin Lane is to the left of that intersection. Visually follow Justin Lane westward as it intersects Reese, Grover, Woodrow, and Arroyo Seco. To the right, notice the Crestview Shopping Center located in between Woodrow and Arroyo Seco where the Minimax IGA opened in 1953. Douglass, Neal. Aerial view of Jefferson Chemical Plant, photograph, October 3, 1951;(https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth74571/: accessed April 19, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.
Then & now
Everyone loves a good before-and-after reveal! Images below show just how much the park has changed throughout the years.
Entrance View from Arroyo Seco - March 2011
The original welcome bed enclosure was just larger than the sign, and was our first IMPD project was to signal to the neighborhoods that FOBP was here to help. The elm tree was planted by Boy Scouts in the 1990’s and was later lost to the “snowmageddon” ice storm of 2021.
Entrance View from Arroyo Seco - April 2025
The elm tree is gone, while others have matured. A new picnic pavilion was completed, and a new ADA parking spot was created which resulted in a retainer wall along the Arroyo Seco and main park entrance sidewalks. The planting bed was thus expanded to its current size today.
Foot Path Mulch Project (Arroyo to Yates) - 2009
Long before Emily Wilson led the walking trail project, locals created a well worn foot path behind the houses that abut the park on Justin Lane. The first park project was to mulch this trail for a more defined path. Turns out, neighbors did not enjoy the large grind mulch and preferred a walking trail (as determined later in the neighborhood survey).
Decomposed Granite Trail - 2013
The almost half-mile walking trail around the north, west and south sides of the park was completed in fall 2013, and quickly became one of the most popular park features today. While neighbors led the installation project, the city now maintains the trail edging and lays new granite every several years.
Purple Martin house and butterfly shaped planting bed- 2012
The memorial Purple Martin house was moved from the open field to the space it occupies today, and Denise Daily has taken care of the birds and gourds ever since. The butterfly bed was meant for pollinators but the plantings hindered Denise’s ability to lower and maintain the gourd colony, and city mower’s repeatedly mangled the steel edging.
Purple Martin house with planting removed, plants/materials repurposed - 2024
Over a decade later, it was agreed upon to removed the butterfly-shaped planting bed and for easier gourd maintenance. Limestone bricks and plants were salvaged and moved to the Welcome bed, and now Denise and her helpers can easily clean the gourds and look after our Purple Martin colony. Visit the park early to see them and hear their delightful chatter.
Tree Folks tree planting along Arroyo Seco - 1993
The Hancock Creek drainage ditch is original to the neighborhood and Arroyo Seco (newly changed from
Arroyo Seca) used to look very different. TreeFolks and Brentwood neighbors planed 150 trees and changed a crowded, traffic-filled road into a bright, green spot for neighbors to slow down and enjoy. The holiday luminarias commemorate this historic tree planting.
A shaded haven for pedestrians and bikes - 2024
The pedestrian and bike trail from St. John to Koenig Lane was added many years later around 2015. Can you imagine Arroyo Seco any other way? This is the power of a community that comes together to accomplish great things.
View from the main sidewalk towards the old playground and fitness bars - 2017
The playground equipment was geared towards younger children with low climbing bars, balance bars, and baby swings. Lack of amenities for older kids spurred a handful of neighbors to create today’s Brentwood Playground Project.
View from the main sidewalk towards the new playground - 2025
The older playground equipment and fitness bars have been replaced with new jungle gyms. climbing cubes, and towers and slides. The sandbox has clearly outgrown its concrete framing and updates are included in coming phases of the playground project.