On May 13th, C3 Presents announced that the 2023 Austin City Limits Music Festival generated $8.1 million dollars for Austin’s parks. C3 Presents COO, Emmett Beliveau, and Austin Parks Foundation CEO, Colin Wallis, were joined by PARD Director, Kimberly McNeeley and council members from District 4, José “Chito” Vela; District 5, Ryan Alter; District 8, Paige Ellis; District 9 Zohaib …
April Volunteer Highlight
Each month, Austin Parks Foundation hosts multiple volunteer projects, and it can be difficult to keep up with sharing their impact. So, we’re doing a round-up of all our April volunteer events – from corporate volunteer projects to the Bioblitz – and sharing their impact! Take a look: April 5: The University of Texas at Austin’s American Society of Mechanical …
Adopt-A-Park – Rosewood Neighborhood Park
It’s National Volunteer Month! This April, we’re celebrating all of our fantastic volunteers, and shining a special spotlight on the newest Adopt-A-Park group: Rosewood Neighborhood Park. Daniel Thomas and Antony Jackson have hit the ground running with various park activations at Rosewood Neighborhood Park. In March, they hosted volunteers for a park cleanup and offered sports activities for kids.
Volunteer of the Year – Lisa Sledge
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: National Volunteer Month! This April, we’re celebrating all of our fantastic volunteers, and shining a special spotlight on our 2023 Volunteer of the Year, Lisa Sledge. Lisa is a longtime park adopter with APF and an advocate for accessibility and inclusion in parks through her work with Friends of Therapeutic Recreation …
Project Playback: Pomerleau Pocket Park
Earl J. Pomerleau Pocket Park is Austin’s newest two-acre park in District 4. The concept plan for Pomerleau Pocket Park was adopted and developed in 2019 by Austin Parks Foundation (APF), in coordination with Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD). The park opened to the public in July 2023. The design and construction of this project was funded by ACL …
Exploring the Impact of HB 1526 on Parkland Dedication and Austin’s Parks
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. …
It’s My Park Day Spring 2024 Recap
100 Projects Austinites, y’all continue to impress us! It’s My Park Day proves time and time again just how beloved Austin’s parks are. It’s My Park Day Impact: The impact from these projects extends well beyond a Saturday morning in the park. At these 100 projects, there were 3,568 volunteers. Again, WOW! Volunteers and project leaders were able to remove …
Project for Public Spaces and Austin Parks Foundation are teaming up with the Amigos de Parque Zaragoza
Austin Parks Foundation is excited to announce that we are a recipient of a Community Placemaking Grant from Project for Public Spaces, funded by General Motors, to improve Parque Zaragoza. As part of the grant, Project for Public Spaces and Austin Parks Foundation are teaming up with the City of Austin’s Park and Recreation Department, Ride Bikes Austin and the …
Old Lampasas Dam Open Workdays
This month we have TWO Open Workday events (2/3 and 2/9) – and they’re both taking place along Upper Bull Creek Greenbelt near the Old Lampasas Dam Trail. If you haven’t heard, the City of Austin’s Old Lampasas Dam Modernization Project is in full swing. This project aims to replace the damaged primary outlet, improve the dam spillway, and modify …
Remembering Mike Valescu
This week, we remember APF super volunteer Mike Valescu, whose tireless work, alongside Malcom Yeatts, made Austin’s outdoor spaces better for all. Mike was a dedicated volunteer with groups like Keep Austin Beautiful, Central Area Master Naturalists, Austin Parks Foundation and TreeFolks, and was unmatched in his commitment to our community and our environment. The greenspace and trail along Country …