Austin Parks Foundation and other outdoor organizations are sensitive to the nature of this budget year being tight and have respectfully limited our PARD budget ask to the most pressing, equity-centered and community-supported needs. Like in years past, PARD’s most pressing need for the FY25 budget is adequate staffing to maintain parks, recreational and cultural centers, and pools. We ask …
Updated March 21, 2024. Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1526 into law on June 10, 2023. Going into effect on January 1, 2024, this new law dictates how local parkland dedication (PLD) ordinances can be used in Texas cities with populations over 800,000 (Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Fort Worth and Dallas). This bill has effectively gutted future Parkland Dedication. …
Early voting has begun in Texas and there are three measures on the ballot critical for funding parks in Travis County and across the state of Texas. Austin Parks Foundation is proud to endorse both Travis County bond proposals, as well as the proposed Prop 14 amendment to the state constitution. These measures will provide much needed support for not …
The City of Austin is drafting a new rule that would help improve parks access at places of work. Do you visit local parks or green spaces before or after work? On your lunch hour? For an afternoon mental break? Let us know what park amenities would help to improve your workday through this survey. Your participation will help the …
Austin Parks Foundation and Barton Springs Conservancy received a grant from Austin Together to go through a facilitated process with 17 groups that operate and offer programming in Zilker Metropolitan Park to figure out how we can better work together. These groups collectively offer so many resources and experiences to Zilker Park’s visitors! Some of the partner organizations include the …
With the goal of creating a more equitable, safe, and connected active transportation network, ATX Walk Bike Roll (WBR) represents the City of Austin’s initiative to update three plans at once: the 2014 Urban Trails Master Plan, the 2016 Sidewalk Master Plan, and the 2014 Bicycle Plan. As part of the project, the City is asking for your input on …
Austin Parks Foundation is thrilled to introduce our new Chief Mission Officer, Joy Casnovsky! She is a native Austinite that has always been drawn to the public service and non-profit sectors. Read below to learn more about her work experience and what drew her to APF. In her most recent role, Joy served as Deputy Director of Sustainable Food Center …
The virtual open house for work along Mopac South is happening between now and January 7th. This looks to be the only opportunity for public comment before Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) reveals their preferred alternative sometime in 2022. The project goes through Zilker Park, and there is potential for CTRMA to pay for parking in Zilker Park by …
A crucial item is on the October 21st city council meeting agenda. ITEM 20 is asking city council members to vote on whether the current Parkland Dedication (PLD) fee structure should be revisited. This could be a huge loss for Austin’s parks, trails and green spaces! Austin’s Parkland Dedication Ordinance requires new real estate developments to set aside a certain …
Zilker Park is one of the best known and most visited parks in Austin, yet has remarkably never had a comprehensive vision plan. The Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan is now underway to plan for the future of the park’s 350 acres, and we need you to share your thoughts and opinions about what you’d like to see in the …
