More than Meets the Eye – Northwest District Park
June 10, 2025 | By Shoal Creek Conservancy
Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park is a beloved green space nestled in Allandale, with a dual purpose that many do not realize: flood mitigation.
This 31-acre public park offers a wide range of amenities including a baseball field, tennis and basketball courts, a pool, and a pond. In 1986, in response to the devastating 1981 Memorial Day flood, the park was redesigned and established as a detention facility to mitigate flood risk in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Much of the park was excavated, and now stands several feet below its original elevation, allowing floodwaters to be diverted into the park grounds rather than flowing towards residential homes. Along the western edge of the park, Shoal Creek was widened, and the City of Austin added a dam. Once Shoal Creek’s depth reaches a certain threshold, water enters the park next to the tennis courts. As the water level in Shoal Creek decreases, the water in the park drains through two outflow pipes: one near the pond and another adjacent to the southern parking lot next to the baseball field. Click on the map below for a closer look, then read more about the City’s creek flood mitigation projects.
The redesigned Northwest District Park was put to the test on May 28th when a powerful long-track microburst storm produced damaging winds, hail and flash flooding that triggered water rescues and left thousands without power. To learn more about the park’s design and see it in action after this most recent storm, check out KXAN’s newscast.
After heavy rainfall like this, areas along Shoal Creek need extra attention. A group of neighborhood volunteers hosted two cleanups to address the post-storm debris and trash buildup in the park, removing 18 bags of trash and 19 yard bags of plant debris. Shoal Creek Conservancy also hosted a number of post-storm cleanups at Seiders Springs, the Shoal Creek Headwaters, and the four rain gardens along Shoal Creek Blvd. Check out SCC’s social media for more information and photos.
