Austin Parks Foundation (APF) is proud to announce it will award approximately $87,000 in ACL Music Festival Community Grants to support three park improvement projects in Blunn Creek Nature Preserve, Dick Nichols District Park and Perry Park.

“We are thrilled to be distributing funds to such worthy projects in the community,” said Colin Wallis, Executive Director of Austin Parks Foundation. “The efforts of the groups who applied and will implement these improvements are champions of Austin Parks Foundation and their work will benefit their communities for years to come.”

The following projects will receive grant funding:

• The South River City Citizens benefitting Blunn Creek Nature Preserve will receive approximately $18,000 for habitat restoration and other improvements.
• The Friends of Dick Nichols Park benefitting Dick Nichols District Park will receive $50,000 for the construction of a shade structure to cover the existing playscape.
• The Friends of Perry Park benefitting Perry Park will receive approximately $19,000 to support the second phase of the Perry Art Project, which includes art sculpture pads and path installations.

“While we focus on the gradual restoration of Blunn Creek Preserve, we are grateful to APF for giving us an opportunity with this new project to educate people about ecological recovery and environmental protection, as well as the chance to build a community of new friends and neighbors,” said David Todd of the South River City Citizens Neighborhood Association.

APF announced earlier this year it had expanded the range of grant options in their ACL Music Festival Grant Program with the addition of two new grant types — one $100,000 Impact Grant and Neighborhood Grants that range from $500 to $5,000 and are awarded on a rolling basis — the expanded program is aimed to meet a larger variety of park improvement needs throughout the Austin community. The three grant awardees are the first to receive Community Grant funds under the new, three-tiered program.

APF is currently accepting applications for the new Impact Grant. The Impact Grant is a $100,000 gift awarded once a year to one group looking to embark on significant capital improvements in their local park. The Impact Grant application deadline is Nov. 4, 2016 and will be awarded in January 2017. To learn more, contact grants@austinparks.org.