The City of Austin is looking to residents to generate ideas for the Seaholm Power Plant Intake facility.

The Parks and Recreation Department and Austin Parks Foundation have launched a design ideas competition for the Austin facility, which served as the pump house for the power plant that closed in 1989.

Design professionals, students, artists and collaborative teams are invited to submit their vision for what should be done with the facility and the surrounding land. The competition registration deadline is May 3.

The top 10 designs will be picked and displayed online and at Austin City Hall. Following feedback from the public and City Council on the 10 designs, three finalists will be chosen and given $5,000.

"We feel like the competition gives an opportunity to allow for good public input on the design for this facility," Project Manager Lyn Estabrook said.

The best ideas from the competition will help inform the next phase of the project, which will be a request for proposals for public-private partnerships for the reuse of the facility. Public open house meetings will be held at the facility on April 24, 26 and 27 to solicit ideas and feedback from community members.

Information on the competition schedule and rules can be found at www.austintexas.gov/department/seaholm-intake.

"It's sort of a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build something like this," Estabrook said.