About the Campaign
Who We Are and Why We Fight
Save Barton Springs Bridge is a grassroots coalition of Austin residents, historians, preservationists, and outdoor advocates united by a single conviction: this bridge must not be lost.
Our Mission
Preservation, Accountability, and Community
We exist to prevent the demolition or irreversible alteration of the Barton Springs Bridge — and to ensure that Austin's decision-makers are held publicly accountable for every choice they make about this landmark.
We are not opposed to progress. We are opposed to the erasure of irreplaceable history in the name of convenience, cost-cutting, or development pressure. Our goal is a fully restored, protected, and publicly celebrated bridge that serves Austin for another century.
Transparency
Every city decision about the bridge should happen in public, with full community input and formal historic review.
Preservation
The bridge deserves landmark status and the legal protections that come with it — not deferred maintenance and quiet neglect.
Community
Zilker Park and Barton Creek belong to all Austinites. Decisions about them must reflect the community's values, not just the loudest development interests.
Our Story
How This Campaign Began
In early 2024, a routine city infrastructure report quietly flagged the Barton Springs Bridge for potential "decommissioning" — bureaucratic language for removal. There was no public announcement, no community meeting, no historic review.
A small group of neighbors noticed. They started asking questions. They found that the bridge had no landmark protection, that maintenance had been deferred for decades, and that at least one active development proposal would reroute the trail corridor around it — effectively making the bridge obsolete.
What began as a handful of concerned residents has grown into a coalition of thousands . We have no staff, no office, and no political backing. We have only the conviction that Austin's history is worth fighting for — and the belief that when enough people speak up, city hall listens.
Get in Touch
Questions, Press, and Partnership
We welcome media inquiries, partnership proposals, and questions from the public. If you are an organization that would like to formally endorse the campaign, we would love to hear from you.
[email protected]For press inquiries, please include your publication and deadline in your message.