East MLK Jr. Boulevard
East Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd/FM 969 is located just east of US 183 and north of the Colorado River, extending through Travis County to Bastrop County. This family-oriented community thrives on its diverse neighborhoods and access to trails and parks such as the Little Walnut Creek Greenbelt.
—————————————————————————————————-East Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd / FM 969 está ubicado al este de la US 183 y al norte del río Colorado, extendiéndose a través del condado de Travis hasta el condado de Bastrop. Esta comunidad orientada a la familia prospera en sus diversos vecindarios y acceso a senderos y parques como Little Walnut Creek Greenbelt.
Source: 2014 FM 969/ East MLK Jr. Blvd Corridor Development Program Report Austin Mobility
History
The corridor along East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is on the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Tonkawa, the Apache, the Ysleta del sur Pueblo, the Lipan Apache Tribe, the Texas Band of Yaqui Indians, the Coahuitlecan and all other tribes not explicitly stated. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge and pay respects to the many other tribes, Indigenous Peoples, and communities who have been or have become a part of these lands and territories now known as Texas.
Originally inhabited by American hunter-gatherers known as the Tonkawas, Walnut Creek served as a resource for food and water for this tribe. Native American artifacts have been found along Walnut Creek that continues to reveal the rich history of what is now called Travis County.
Source: Texas Historical Commission, 1981
In 1941, the Highway designation FM (Farm-to-Market), was first used in Texas, and in 1945, Texas Legislature approved a three-year pilot program for FM road construction, to which FM 969 was considered a pilot program road.
Looking south towards the parkland from FM 969/East MLK Jr. Blvd. Source: James Rambin from Towers
The Austin Black Assembly organized efforts to rename what was known as 19th Street to honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The City of Austin officially changed the name of this road to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in April 1975.
Life on the Corridor
“This used to be an old farming neighborhood…There's a red light there, at the intersection of MLK and Decker Lane. I can remember when it was 4 stop signs, and just a yellow blinking light. That's what people used to use as a city-county line.”
Sammy Hall Jr.
Source: Civic Arts
“Everyone walks on MLK. I mean, every city has an MLK. It is a kaleidoscope of people on the street.”
Dr. Robert Poschman, resident and artist
“I call it country living 15 minutes away from downtown, which is perfect.”
Frank Cueller, Executive Director of Rancho Alegre
View of Downtown from the Agave Neighborhood. Source: Civic Arts
“I eat at all the little places that are along the way along East MLK. El Norteño is the best taco in town.”
Chris Brecht
One of the many incredible food trucks along East MLK Jr. Boulevard. Source: Pollos Asados El Norteño
This is one of the last sections of town that they're not gouging rent prices out of their mind. It's affordable still, and the houses are nice. But again, it is on the literal edge of Austin. There's a sign just down the street that I see every day that says "City of Austin Limits" or "Travis County Limit"
Dr. Robert Poschman
Source: Civic Arts
“I'm a fisherman - Decker Lake is one of my favorite places cause I like to fish, Walter E. Long. I've been fishing there for a long time - raised my kids out there fishing. They just started charging an entry fee. A lot of people can't afford that entry fee. I've heard a lot of people that have been raised up around the neighborhood, around the lake, can't afford to use it.”
Sammy Hall Jr.
Walter E. Long Lake Metropolitan Park contains Decker Lake. Source: Community Impact News
“I want future generations to know who Wilhelmina Delco, Barbara Scott of Colony Park and John Trevino Jr. are and what they have done for 78724.”
Candace Million
Barbara Scott, President of the Colony Park Neighborhood Association, cuts the ribbon for long and hard-won Colony Park District Park. Residents and neighbors advocated for this park space since the 1970s. Source: Austin Parks Foundation
A plan for John Treviño Jr. Metropolitan Park at Morrison Ranch is currently being developed by City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department. John Treviño Jr. was the first Mexican-American elected to City Council and went on to serve 14 years. This park was named to honor his work for the East Austin community and Austin as a whole. Vegetation of the park land is a mix of field grasses, Live Oak-Ashe Juniper woods and riparian species along the river.
John Treviño Jr. Metropolitan Park. Source: City of Austin
Listen to Frank Cuellar and Piper LeMoine share about annual parade along East Martin Luther King Boulevard, starting at the Travis County Exposition Center.
Republic of Texas Biker Rally takes place every June. Source: KUT/ Nasha Lee, 2010
Just east of Decker Lane is Community First! Village, a planned community development housing over 200 people who have experienced chronic homelessness. The community has a variety of housing types and an Art House where residents produce and sell artwork.
“We hear out here quite a bit is because people have space . A lot of times they have a big driveway, and they'll have quinceaneras and parties and bands and you can hear it. It's a lot of music. It's a lot of Tejano and Conjunto music and even some regional Mexican music.”
Piper LeMoine
Texas at the Rancho Alegre Conjunto Festival, February 2012 at the Austin Moose Lodge. Video Source: Rolando Medina
“I have lived off MLK and or around the MLK for about 12 years. At Mosaic Sound Collective, I worked a lot with musicians and did a lot of my photography. I really think that it's just a culturally rich area that needs some attention because it's an important place that I can easily get bulldozed over if we're not careful.”
Chris Brecht, muralist and photographer
Mosaic Sound Collective hosts artists, recording studios, and music-based nonprofits. Source: KUT/Chris Paxton
Nestled on a country road among small family farms and ranchitos, 12 miles from downtown, The Long Time is a 5 acre playground and a far east Austin’s event space. Home to the sandlot baseball team, the Texas Playboys Baseball Club
the grounds also contain the studio and metal shop of Design Build Adventure.
Festivities at The Long Time include concerts, SxSW parties,film/video/photography shoots, picnics, bbqs, kickball birthday parties and a lot of beer drinkin’.
Source: The Long Time
The Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems, also know as “Max’s Pot” was established in 1975 as one of the first design-build studios in the country. Undertaking projects based on their potential contribution to sustainability and human health, they have been leaders in Greenbuilding and developing LEED rating systems. The Center has overseen and collaborated on award-winning public and private sector projects in Austin, throughout the U.S., and internationally including sustainability consulting for Austin’s Block 21, Mueller Redevelopment, and Seaholm EcoDistrict.
Source: Plinky Fisk III/ Maximizing Potential Building Systems
From selling horse manure out of a wagon to making the compost and soil mixes, Organics “By Gosh” has always taken things that others threw away and turned them into products that make our environment better than it was in the first place. They are partners in organic recycling in the The City of Austin’s goal to become Zero Waste by the year 2040. Committed to compost and community education Organics “By Gosh” plans to change the way people think about the ground they walk on and what they throw away.
Source: Organics By Gosh
Austin Water Utility has two major wastewater treatment plants: Walnut Creek and South Austin Regional. The two major plants have a total permitted capacity of 150 million gallons per day. The plants receive wastewater flow from Austin Water Utility's sanitary sewer collection system and treat it before returning it to the Colorado River. Austin Water Utility's biosolids facility, Hornsby Bend, receives sludge generated by the treatment processes at the wastewater plants and uses it to create compost for land application and public sales. The Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant is at 7113 FM 969 or East MLK Blvd.
Source: City of Austin
Travis County State Jail is located at 8101 FM 969 and operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Source: Civic Arts