Pease Park Troll Fire Faq: What Happened, Can Malin Be Rebuilt, and How to Help
Installed in March 2024 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Pease Park Conservancy’s master plan, Malin was never intended to be a static monument. Dambo designed the Austin wooden troll sculpture as an interactive, tactile experience. Malin sat peacefully by Shoal Creek, holding a large wooden bowl that gathered water for local birds, squirrels, and urban wildlife. Crafted almost entirely from salvaged cedar, discarded shipping pallets, and fallen branches gathered across Central Texas, the sculpture represented sustainable public craft at its most accessible.
Over two years, Malin transformed the north end of Pease District Park Kingsbury Commons into an intergenerational pilgrimage site. Toddlers crawled across his extended feet. Runners along the Shoal Creek greenway used his outstretched arm as a turnaround marker. The artwork functioned as an open-air classroom where conservationists taught lessons on urban canopy health and material reuse. Its placement in one of Austin's oldest public parks bridged the gap between historic green spaces and contemporary, community-driven civic art.
