Parque Zaragoza, Austin, Texas
historical marker
Parque Zaragoza, located in Austin, Travis County, Texas, holds a significant place in the city's history. In the late 1920s, Austin's Mexican American community, facing segregation and displacement, petitioned the city for a park of their own. The City of Austin officially established the park in 1931, purchasing 9.3 acres of land. The park was named for General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin, a hero of the Battle of Puebla in 1862, who was born in what is now Goliad, Texas. Initially intended as a segregated resource for Mexican immigrants, Parque Zaragoza quickly became a vital cultural hub for Mexican American Austinites. It hosted important community events like Diez y Seis and Cinco de Mayo celebrations, and served as a gathering place for social justice movements. A historic swimming pool was built in 1933, and a recreation center followed. In 2015, the Texas Historical Commission erected a historical marker at the site. Parque Zaragoza endures as a symbol of community and strength for East Austin's Mexican American and Tejano population.