Zilker Park gets green carpet treament

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Like a plush piece of carpet, new grass is being rolled out in Zilker Park.

It is a special type of turf called 419 Bermuda grass.

"It's a more high-traffic, tolerant turf," said project coordinator Chris Dry. "It recovers quicker then the old existing turf which was a common Bermuda grass."

The project in Zilker Park started back in January.

"We came in and graded the minor imperfections out of the park," said Dry. "We took out trench lines and minor humps and bumps."

A new sprinkler system was installed with more than 300 heads that are controlled by computer calculations for the evaporation and sunlight on the grass.

"So we're not just watering a certain amount of time, there's a computer telling the program how much water to put out," said Dry.

And the water will be coming right out of Lady Bird Lake.

"If people see us watering down here, please keep in mind it's not from our water system," said Victor Ovalle with Austin Parks and Recreation. "It's nonpotable water, and we do need to water to make sure the sod is established."

It will take another month to get all of the sod down and another two months to establish. If there are no delays, the park should reopen to the public sometime in August looking better than ever.

"This turf should be the equivalent of a golf course fairway when we get finished," said Dry.

Besides grass, the park has several additional features including new volleyball courts, a shower and six new drinking fountains.

If there is enough money left over, crews plan to lay crushed granite around the outside of the park to create a new walking trail.