Destination of the Week: Austin, Texas
The green rose of Texas is more than just a live-music hub — although it's still pretty good at that, too.
Photo: iStock Growing a green music scene
Growing a green transportation network
Growing with nature
Green hotels
Austin's population growth continues, albeit not as quickly as it once did. That growth brings changes and challenges, especially when it comes to the environment. But this is still one of the most green-minded cities in the United States. Austin has plenty of chances to show it can be feasible and practical to grow up and grow green at the same time.
Comments
I live in Austin and I definitely would not call it a "green" city. Austin gained some prominence in the past from the Save Our Springs alliance and the Green Building Program, but programs like these have always fought a losing battle against a developer-oriented bias and influences within the city.
The parks and greenspaces are widely neglected and, if maintained at all, are done by a skeleton crew. The prize park of the city, Zilker Park, has much of its open space dedicated to.... More
This surprises me a bit. When I visited there about a dozen years ago, it seemed very green. It's been a hard time since then so I wonder if that's part of the issue with upkeep on parks and tree work. I know the town I lived in at the time in Florida always kept on top of tree work. I went back in the fall and the trees looked bad and trash collection seemed to have dwindled in public spaces as well.
I like your article, thank you for the kind words. FYI - for all of its green allure, the city of Austin does not have mandatory recycling program. This, in my opinion as a resident, is a detractor.
