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
Bruning Green	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
Shoal Creek Greenbelt (Ridgelea Neighborhood)	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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