As the usual warm Texas weather approaches us, it’s time to get outside and enjoy it! What better way to do so than flying kites? Founded in 1929, the ABC Kite Fest is one of Austin’s favorite, family-friendly traditions. Austin Parks Foundation is thrilled that the kite fest is returning to Zilker Park on April 3, 2022 for the 93rd …
Introducing the Austin ParksCast: APF’s Brand New Podcast!
Austin Parks Foundation is thrilled to introduce you to our brand new podcast: the Austin ParksCast! If you’re passionate about Austin’s parks, trails and green spaces, this podcast is for you. We’ll tackle important topics related to our city’s park system and discuss all things parks. Your Austin ParksCast hosts are Kathleen Barron, Sr. Programs Manager, and Grant Ausbury, Sr. …
Amplify Austin 2021: Help Our City’s Over-Loved Parks + Trails
Amplify Austin Day is an annual day of giving hosted by I Live Here I Give Here (ILHIGH), a local non-profit organization. This 24-hour giving period provides an easy and fun way for our entire community to support over 700 non-profits in Central Texas! Together, individuals, families, and businesses raised $12.3 Million for 760 Central Texas nonprofits in 2020. Over …
Trailer: Welcome to the Austin ParksCast!
Today’s conversation focuses on how our city’s budget impacts public assets like our parks, trails and green spaces. What can we do to make sure the City of Austin budget reflects our values? Budgets are often described as “moral documents.” Investments in education, healthcare, parks and recreation and other social services can directly address social issues that our community is …
S1E2 Talking Trails: Urban Trails and Bikeways as Essential Infrastructure
In our second episode of Season 1, we’re Talking Trails. Specifically, you’ll hear about the planning, funding and management of Austin’s trail system as well as the physical and mental health benefits our urban trails provide. It’s no secret that Austinites love our city’s trails and greenbelts, but have you ever wondered how they came to be? Who takes care …
S1E3 Essential Spaces: Making Parks A Priority
In this episode, we’re taking you back to our Park Summit Session from June 17, 2020. This session is titled: Essential Spaces: Making Parks A Priority and focuses on the importance of parks and civic engagement in the time of COVID-19. Our guests include Austin City Council Member Paige Ellis, Christine Chute Canul from the Austin Parks & Recreation Department …
S1E4 Parks Are Essential: Budgeting to Reflect Austin’s Values
Today’s conversation focuses on how our city’s budget impacts public assets like our parks, trails and green spaces. What can we do to make sure the City of Austin budget reflects our values? Budgets are often described as “moral documents.” Investments in education, healthcare, parks and recreation and other social services can directly address social issues that our community is …
S1E5 Parks for All: Promoting Equity in Austin’s Parks
In today’s episode, we’ll learn how the city and community partners are working to understand, uncover and address racial equity in Austin. Specifically, we’ll focus on our city’s parks, trails and green spaces. We invited a group of panelists to tackle tough but essential conversations about equity in Austin’s outdoor spaces. We’ll hear about the goals and challenges of racial …
S1E6 Next Generation: Youth Leadership and Environmentalism
The Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan is a community-driven planning process to establish a guiding framework for the restoration and future development of Zilker Metropolitan Park. It is the first comprehensive planning initiative to encompass the park’s 350 acres and associated facilities. In today’s episode, we host the first of 3 conversations about the planning process of Austin’s oldest Metropolitan Park. We …
S1E7 Youth in the Lead: Racial Equity and the Environment
We’ll be hearing from members of the Youth Leadership Working Group and their work to empower young leaders in outdoor spaces. Let me tell you a little bit about what they do: The Youth Leadership Working Group is a collaborative effort by the city and community partner organizations to give young leaders an opportunity to learn and elevate their leadership …










