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Grants for Neighborhood Parks and Trails

Austin Parks Foundation offers grants small and large to volunteer groups working to improve their neighborhood parks. Our grantees are dedicated, creative in the face of obstacles, and inclusive in building a sense of neighborhood ownership for their parks.  “It’s inspiring to see the changes that a group of committed volunteers can make to a neighborhood park,” says McCabe. “We’re proud to be able to lend a hand.”

Grant Applications Now Available

The next grant application deadlines are May 30 and September 30, 2008. Please see below for more information on our Austin City Limits Grants program and our Neighborhood Park Grants program.

2007/08 Neighborhood Park Grants - Great Projects Coming to Parks Near You

We like to think of our Neighborhood Park Grants as starter grants - a little help to get a new park volunteer group off the ground. Some of this year's grantees fit that profile perfectly, but others are old pros at park improvement who've learned how to do a lot with a little!


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  • North University Neighborhood Association is using their grant to purchase new trash cans for Adams Hemphill Park, as part of an overall clean-up project for the park.

  • Blackshear neighborhood residents are creating a community garden on east 9th Street. Grant funds will help pay for the expenses relating to adding a water line.

  • Friends of Convict Hill Quarry Park is continuing their development of Convict Hill Quarry Park. Grant funds will help them erect a chimney swift tower, build a waterfall to control seepage, and extend a rock wall along the front of the park.

  • Eilers Park is home to Deep Eddy Pool, but many visitors may not realize it is also a park in its own right. Friends of Eilers Park has begun revitalizing the park by removing a tangle of invasive plants. Grant funds will purchase native plants to add beauty to the parks' margins.

  • Friends of Mary Moore Searight Park is a new group, beginning their stewardship of the park by encouraging wildflowers. Grant funds will pay for additional wildflower seed.
  • Southwood Neighborhood Association tends the area of Williamson Creek at Emerald Wood and South 1st St. The group will use their grant to add boulders and landscaping at the corner of the park, to beautify the park and create a safety barrier from the road.

View map of parks receiving Austin Parks Foundation grants 2006/07

Grants of $5,000 and Up Now Being Offered

Austin Parks Foundation offers grants of $5,000 and up funded by ticket sales from last year's Austin City Limits Music Festival. Grants are available for any project on City of Austin parkland. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed quarterly. For complete information on requirements and restrictions, call 477-1566 and request an Austin City Limits Music Festival grant application.

This new grants program is an adjunct to our existing Neighborhood Park Grant program, which offers grants up to $5,000 for park improvement projects.

Neighborhood Park Grants Program

Green for your green space. If you have a great idea for a park improvement project, a park program or even a vision for a brand new park, Neighborhood Park Grants can help! Every year, Austin Parks Foundation offers Austinites the chance to apply for small grants to improve their neighborhood parks. Grantees are required to match the grant fund with volunteer labor, community fund raising, and in-kind donations. Grants of $500 to $5,000 are available for projects ranging from facility improvements to community events.

The Austin Parks Foundation created the Neighborhood Park Grants Program to strengthen community investment and involvement in Austin's green spaces. Grant recipients are required to match awards with volunteer time and funds from local residents and businesses, in order to foster broad community participation. APF provides grant recipients administrative, technical, and organizational assistance. Over the past five years, the program funded 57 projects totaling over $65,500 in project support, resulting in more than $315,000 in park improvements.

Austin Parks Foundation gratefully acknowledges the generous contributions of Mrs. Nancy Bowman, founder of the Neighborhood Parks Grants program and the Shield-Ayres Foundation for making this year’s grants program possible.

Grants are now being accepted three times a year. Deadlines are January 30, May 30, and September 30. You can download more information. Please call the foundation at 477-1566 to receive an application. Grants are for a one-year period.

Summary of Past Grants

Park Organization Year(s) Project
Adams-Hemphill Park North University Neighborhood Assn.

2000
2007

Installed trash cans, benches and landscaping
Alamo Park   2000 Community Recognition event
Alamo Recreation Center Alamo Recreation Center Advisory Board 2002 Purchased outdoor kiosk and bulletin board
Bartholomew Park Windsor Park Neighborhood Assn. 2002 2007 Purchased new toddler play equipment installed in a shady area. Installed Chimney Swift tower and information sign.
Barton Creek Greenbelt Barton Hills Neighborhood Assn. 2003 Improved trail entryways with crushed granite, new retaining walls, and invasives removal
Blackshear Community Gardens   2007 Paid expenses related to adding a water line
Blunn Creek Nature Preserve Travis High School 2001 Purchased plants and materials for nature education program
North Loop Neighborhood Planning Team 2001 2003
Over three years, neighbors turned this overgrown triangle into a lovely gathering place. Native plants and trees were added, a walkway was constructed, and a hand-made sculptural sign installed.
Civitan Park Montopolis Friendship Center 2007 Replaced an unsafe toddler playground with new equipment
Comal Park E. Cesar Chavez Leadership Team 2000 Constructed an artistic archway over the park entrance, decorated with tiles made by neighborhood residents
Convict Hill Quarry Park Friends of Convict Hill Quarry Park 2006 2007 Built three stone benches and seeded wildflowers. The new seating enhances the park’s tranquil character.
Copperfield Nature Trail Copperfield Nature Trail Group 2007 Improved entrance for community-built nature trail
Covert Park at Mount Bonnell Congregational Church of Austin 2004 Litter removal and trail beautification
Deep Eddy Pool Friends of Deep Eddy 2002 Helped fund architecture fees for bath house restoration project
Dottie Jordan Park Dottie Jordan Advisory Board 2000 Planted a butterfly garden and built a picnic area

East-side parks

Capital Area Tennis Assn. 2000 Funded rackets, balls and tennis lesson scholarships for 50 kids
Eastwoods Park Eastwoods Neighborhood Assn. 2002 Restored historic stone wall
Eilers Park Friends of Eilers Park 2007 Planted native plants and landscaped park margins
Givens Givens Advisory Board 2001 Nature education program
Givens, Dottie Jordan, Rosewood Capital Area Tennis Assn. 2000 Purchased equipment and funded scholarships for youth tennis camp
Great Hills Park Great Hills Park Committee 2000
2001 2007
Added interpretive signs to nature trail. In 2001, built Chimney swift tower and planted native garden. In 2007, added a picnic pavilion.
Guerrero Colorado River Park Southeast Austin Trails and Greenways 2006 Built ADA accessible trail heads for Country Club Creek trail
Johnson Creek Hike & Bike West Austin Neighborhood Group 2000 Restored stone windmill and built picnic area
Little Stacy Park South River City Citizens 2007 2008 Removed invasive trees and restored native plants along Blunn Creek
Mary Moore Searight Waterloo Disc Golf Assn., South Austin Disc Assn., Friends of Mary Moore Searight 2001
2005 2007
Added to disc golf course in 2001. In 2005, purchased five tee benches, mulched trails and improved erosion issues. In 2007, planted wildflowers
Mayfield Park Friends of the Park 2006 Trimmed and groomed trees for the formal gardens
Nicholas Dawson Park Bouldin Creek Neighborhood Assn 2001
2002
Installed granite path. Installed hose bib so neighbors can plant and water new landscaping. You can see the love lavished on this park by neighbors in the elaborate tiling and beautiful plantings.
North Star Greenbelt Gracywoods Neighborhood Assn 2004 Installed information kiosks, beautified park
Norwood Estate Friends of Norwood Estate 2004
2005
Constructed double gated entry to dog park, laid sod, built protective tree barriers, created fenced puppy and small dog area
Oak View Park Laurel Oaks Neighborhood Assn. 2004  Installed signs identifying trees and plants
Onion Creek Sports Complex (Springfield Trail) S.E. Austin Walking Trail Restoration Committee 2004 Installed signage for trail from Onion Creek to McKinney Falls. Raised community awareness about fitness options
Parque Zaragosa Zaragosa Advisory Board 2000
2001
Held youth soccer clinics. Habitat and nature education program
Patterson Park Friends of Patterson Park 2002 Matching grant for major trail project
Pease Park. Waterloo Disc Golf Club 2007 Funded much needed new signage for disc golf tee boxes
Perry Park Highland Park W. Balcones Area Neighborhood Assn 2005 2007 Installed benches, cleared invasive trees and plants, built nature trail. In 2007, added covered seating at tennis courts
Ramsey Park Boy Scout Troop #410 2003 Added benches and picnic tables
Red Bud Isle Friends of Red Bud Isle 2008 Rebuilt shoreline and added benches for off-leash area
Reed Park Friends of Reed Park 2001 Maintained live oaks to combat oak wilt and planted trees in honor of two neighborhood residents, Dudley Houghten and Robin Spear Bartone.
Ridge Oak Drive/Lakeview Drive Highland Park/West Balcones Neighborhood Assn. 2003 Neighbors planted trees, installed large rocks to prevent vehicles from entering the park, and worked with PARD to have their water meter and hose bib repaired to allow watering.
Scofield Farms Park Scofield Farms Home Owners Assn 2002
2003
2005
Added a park bench and message board, planted wildflowers, purchased animal-resistant trash barrels
Ridgelea Neighborhood Assn. 2000
2001
Constructed chimney swift tower and butterfly garden. Added bench, wildflowers and bat condos – providing a home for hundreds of bats.
Shoal Creek Greenbelt (Brykerwoods Neighborhood) Brykerwoods Neighborhood Assn. 2000 Held cleanup event
South Austin Recreation Center Austin Lacrosse League 2001 Repaired South Austin Rec Center’s playing field, including installing an irrigation system
South Austin Rec. Center South Austin Rec. Center Advisory Board 2000 Children and adults planted wheel-chair accessible  garden for youth cooking program
St. John’s Pool St. John’s Neighborhood Assn. 2002 Added picnic table
Statesman Swim Safe for Austin Kids   2002
2003
Helped pay for swim instructors and lifeguards
Veloway Hill Country Inline Club 2008 Grant will help build shaded seating area.
West Austin Park Canine Social Club 2007 Terraced the off-leash area to prevent further erosion and protect the park’s beautiful shade trees.
Walnut Creek Bluffs Walnut Creek Neighborhood Assn.

2002
2003
2004
2007

Funded equipment rental for trail improvements. Helped the group define the entryway with a sign and a cedar fence.
Walnut Creek Metro Park Austin Ridge Riders 2007 Designed and installed 100 trail signs to improve safety and increase usage of the park’s 15 miles of winding, unmarked trails.
Williamson Creek at Emerald Wood Southwood Neighborhood Assn 2005 2007 Installed the first seating in this undeveloped and as-yet unnamed park. In 2007, planted butterfly garden.
Wooten Park Wooten Neighborhood Assn. 2004 Planted 20 trees

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