Billie Eilish gets grove named after her in Austin's Zilker Park - Chron

Austin’s sprawling Zilker Park now boasts a 6,000-square-foot woodland informally named the Billie Eilish Grove, established through a $20,000 contribution tied to the Grammy-winning artist’s concert tour, Chron reported.

The new green space sits along a walking trail south of Barton Springs Pool and features 150 native trees planted during volunteer sessions in March 2026. The selection includes flowering dogwoods, mountain laurels, Mexican plums, and redbuds, chosen to transform a bare stretch of parkland into a thriving canopy that could burst into blooms by next spring.

Behind the planting lies a coordinated effort between local preservation groups and national environmental networks. In fall 2025, Zilker 351, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the 351-acre park, initiated plans for the restoration project. The organization collaborated with TreeFolks and American Forests, which connected the local initiative with REVERB, an environmental organization that partners with touring musicians.

Funding for the project came from the Changemaker Ticket Program on Eilish’s HIT ME HARD AND SOFT tour, an initiative that raised $11.5 million overall for environmental and social causes.

Roots in Austin

Eilish has built a steady history with the Texas capital, having performed at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2019 before returning as a festival headliner in 2021 across both weekends.

Billie Eilish gets grove named after her in Austin's Zilker Park - Chron — Photo: yahoo.com

“This Zilker Park opportunity was a natural fit given its connection to Austin City Limits Music Festival and other community events,” Madeline Weir, REVERB’s director of impact, told Chron.

Over two weekends in March 2026, more than 150 volunteers worked alongside representatives from REVERB, American Forests, and Austin City Council Member Paige Ellis to plant the trees. Fleetwood Jacobs, executive director of Zilker 351, noted that the young trees currently maintain an 85 percent survival rate.

Stormwater Protection for Barton Springs

Beyond aesthetics, the grove serves a crucial ecological function. Planners specifically sited the woodland to help intercept and filter polluted stormwater runoff before it reaches Barton Creek.

“Austin is in Flash Flood Alley, so when it rains here, it often pours,” Jacobs told Chron.

The layout incorporates raised soil berms and shallow channels designed to slow down rainwater and filter contaminants. Furthermore, the 6,000-square-foot site sits directly over a sensitive section of the Edwards Aquifer, which provides drinking water for roughly 600,000 people in the region.

Zilker 351 expanded the site by planting a wildflower meadow immediately adjacent to the grove to support local pollinators. The nonprofit scheduled a free Monarch Party for Sunday, November 1, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., featuring a butterfly parade, face painting, flower crowns, and seed-ball making.

Visiting the Grove

Visitors can locate the Billie Eilish Grove on Google Maps, though no formal sign marks the spot yet. Park organizers ask the public to stay strictly on the established trail to protect the young root systems.

While the designation remains informal, Zilker 351 intends to seek a formal dedication from the city. If the city grants the official naming rights, organizers plan to extend an invitation to the singer.

“If we get it, we’ll invite Ms. Eilish to come see her trees in bloom and plant one with us,” Jacobs told Chron. “The redbuds will be ready, and so will we.”