Despite the designation, the Austin, Texas golf course faces redevelopment in 2019, when The University of Texas at Austin will let the property’s lease with the city expire. Following the announcement, the university released a statement that it is “reviewing the decision as they discuss the future” of the tract.
The Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin, Texas is joining the National Register of Historical Places, and while supporters say the designation was a long time coming, the announcement may not be enough to save the course, the Austin, Texas-based Time Warner Cable News reported.
The National Parks Service said the Lions Municipal Golf Course merits a historical marker based on three elements: “It has a colonial revival architecture clubhouse that was designed in 1930 by a local architect,” said Chris Florance of the Texas Historical Commission. “The grounds themselves, the course has been largely unchanged over the years.”
And the third reason is probably one of the most notable things about the course: “[It is] the first golf course west of the Mississippi to allow blacks to play,” said David Parks with Save Muny.
Now, even with the historical marker, the golf course still isn’t in the clear. The University of Texas has previously said it planned to let the property’s lease with the city expire in 2019, News reported.
Following the announcement of the historical designation, UT President Greg Fenves released a statement saying the University is “reviewing the decision as they discuss the future of the entire Brackenridge Tract, which includes the golf course and other land that was deeded to the university for the benefit of our students.”
“If UT chooses to lease this out to developers, then Austin gets another boutique, restaurant or hotel,” said Save Muny’s Steve Wiener.
For now, a part of Austin is in the national history books. The golf course obtained its state historical status back in 2009, News reported.
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