Volunteers urge pause and compensation as wastewater pipeline threatens Festival Beach Food Forest
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Summary
Volunteers and users of Festival Beach Food Forest told the Austin Parks and Recreation Board they received late notice of a TxDOT wastewater pipeline easement that will trench through the project’s phase‑2 berm. They asked the board to seek a pause, financial mitigation, and better coordination with Austin Water and APR.
Dozens of volunteers and users of the Festival Beach Food Forest told the Austin Parks and Recreation Board at a special meeting on Feb. 2 that a planned temporary wastewater pipeline will destroy a volunteer‑built barrier berm and hundreds of plants unless construction is paused.
Ali Tharp, who said she has contributed more than 3,000 volunteer hours to the Food Forest, told the board she submitted a 54‑page packet documenting a Jan. 6 notice from TxDOT’s community liaison and argued the city and TxDOT failed to provide required notice under Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code and the parkland donation agreement. "We are still waiting to get our 60 days written notice about this wastewater pipeline construction," Tharp said, and asked the board for an immediate pause and additional compensation to mitigate damage.
Multiple volunteers outlined the Food Forest’s Phase 2 work, saying hundreds of volunteers planted more than 90 trees and shrubs with urban forest grant funding and that the berm was designed to filter pollution and shield plantings from the nearby I‑35 expansion. Natalie Evans said the project has received city approvals and grant funding since 2021 and that the community has collected more than 1,500 petition signatures asking for a pause and review of the communication breakdown.
Fruitful Commons, the Food Forest’s 501(c)(3) sponsor, asked the board to support a pause and an equitable process that honors prior partnership agreements. "With thoughtful coordination and leadership, this moment can become a positive model rather than a cautionary tale," Angie Holiday, Fruitful Commons’ program manager, said.
Chair members acknowledged the testimony and said the wastewater project had been before the Parks Board in November 2024, when the board passed a recommendation to approve the taking. The chair said staff would follow up with Austin Water and APR to seek clarification, but noted the board could not halt construction at this meeting and would return the matter for further conversation if appropriate.
The board requested staff provide an update at a future meeting with more details on the project timeline, the city’s notice and coordination with TxDOT and Austin Water, and potential mitigation steps for the Food Forest.
