"It's incredible to see all the amazing work and improvements that has been made possible for our community as a result of this," Mayor Kirk Watson said. "I know I have good judgment and I know I have good taste, but we can all agree that these investments will continue improving parks in every corner of Austin, and not just Zilker Park where the festival takes place."
The big picture
Austin officials joined representatives with the nonprofit Austin Parks Foundation and ACL producer C3 Presents May 7 to unveil the annual event's latest economic impact report and new parks funding. ACL Fest and the parks foundation have partnered for years on contributions for local public spaces.
"This is really all about maintaining Austin's parks and recreation system, and helping make sure that all of us in Austin continue to have access to parks and green space wherever we live, work and play," Parks and Recreation Director Jesús Aguirre said.

"ACL is not just a beloved event for our community. It's not just an economic driver ... but it's an event that takes care of our parks at its core," APF CEO Colin Wallis said.
Festival funding is going toward new park development and improvements citywide including:
- Initial construction for Grand Meadow Neighborhood Park
- Design, engineering and permitting for Jamestown Neighborhood Park
- Historic cabin restoration and playground replacement at Rosewood Neighborhood Park
- Building Austin's first all-abilities playground at Onion Creek Metro Park
- Trail improvements and maintenance across city greenbelts and preserves

"We can't do everything by ourselves. We need partners. And it's not every day that someone shows up with a check, and it's certainly not every day that someone shows up with over $8 million to support such a cause like our parks," Alter said.
Looking ahead
The 2025 Austin City Limits Music Festival will take place Oct. 3-5 and Oct. 10-12 at Zilker Park. The lineup, announced May 6, features headliners including Sabrina Carpenter, Luke Combs, John Summit and Doechii. Tickets are now on sale.