East Austin: Rosewood and MLK

This 6.5-mile walk traverses Austin’s east side neighborhoods of Rosewood and MLK– areas which became predominantly Black after the city's 1928 segregation plan forced residents out of west-side neighborhoods, and where gentrification has displaced residents again in recent decades. Our route passes by Madison Cabin (home of Austin’s first Black city councilman), Downs Field (Negro League ball field), and three historic cemeteries: Evergreen (where civic leaders such as Willie Mae Kirk are buried), Bethany, and Plummers.

This is not a history tour, but I hope the walk will pique our interest in learning about these landmarks. To engage more directly with MLK day and the area’s rich history, I encourage you to join me at the free, family-friendly MLK Community Festival at Huston-Tillotson immediately following the walk, where we can find food vendors and learn more about the neighborhoods we’ll walk through.

TRANSIT LOGISTICS:

• 10 AM start, on our Fall/Winter schedule
• We’ll meet alongside the parking lot by Doris Miller Auditorium in Rosewood Neighborhood Park
• There’s a small parking lot at Rosewood Neighborhood Park, but an abundance of street parking just west of the park between Rosewood and 12th. SpotAngels should be helpful here.
• Official walk map