Republic Square, one of Austin's oldest parks, reopened Thursday after a five-year, $5.8 million renovation funded by the Austin Parks Foundation. The Downtown Austin Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing downtown Austin, has taken over park maintenance per a partnership agreement with the city of Austin and the Austin Parks Foundation. Located on Guadalupe and Fourth streets, Republic Square now features a central lawn, a limestone wall made for sitting as well as a food kiosk and dining area slated to open in spring 2018. Republic Square is one of Edwin Waller's four planned downtown community spaces mapped out in 1839 within the 14-block Waller Grid. The other parks included Brush, Bell—now Wooldridge—and Hemphill, which is no longer a public square. The park is located at 422 Guadalupe St., Austin, and is open from 5 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. 512-974-6700. www.republicsquare.org