4 /5 Mari Almz: This park dates back to the 1800s and has seen Austin evolve around it. There are benches, restrooms, a café nearby, and sometimes live events, which make it feel lively and connected to the community.
That said, like many parts of downtown, there’s often a visible homeless presence. As a woman, I’ve personally felt a little uneasy here at times—not because anything’s happened, but just because you never really know. Most of the people keep to themselves, and I’ve never been directly bothered. There are also police patrolling the area regularly, which helps make it feel a bit more secure.
Overall, it’s a solid downtown park—beautiful in the day, maybe not somewhere I’d linger alone late at night. But for a mid-day break or a weekend market, it’s a great little spot.