Waterloo Park is a 10.5-acre green space in downtown Austin that hosts a wide range of experiences for play, leisure, and immersive urban ecology. More than 1.5 miles of tree-lined trails guide visitors through the lush park and focus visitors' attention on Moody Amphitheater, a 5,000-person outdoor venue celebrating Austin as an international live music destination. The Amphitheater is the first permanent outdoor venue for live music and other cultural performances in a City of Austin park. Below the iconic soaring cloud-like canopy structure, the building is tucked into the hillside, allowing entry to the park via rooftop. Back-of-house functions and loading docks are strategically hidden and green roofs and ensure a park-first strategy. While providing robust load-in areas, back-of-house spaces, and amenities for the venue, the clever site design also allows for a quick turnover from show-mode to park mode. The design also allows the majority of Waterloo Park to remain open to visitors during ticketed shows without extensive fencing or barriers. This results in better experiences for show-goers and park users: no temporary portable restrooms or trucks driving over lawn areas, leading to months of park closures, which many other parks in Austin experience to accommodate large performances.
