Remembering Mike Valescu

Taylor WisemanKeep Cool, Blog Page, People + Parks, APF News, Support Our Parks, Parks

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 …

Three people sitting at the top of a hill overlooking trees and a river.

Keep your New Year’s Resolutions in Austin’s Parks

Susan SeleskyBlog Page, Park Top LPs Featured, Featured Top LPs, All Parks, APF News, Parks, Featured Projects (Home Page), Featured Parks

Do more in 2024! We’re hitting the parks with all new opportunities to explore (and keep up those New Year’s resolutions). Maybe you resolve to get your heart rate up, try a new hobby or spend more time offline with loved ones (two and four-legged alike). No matter how you want to spend your time this year, Austin’s parks have …

2023 ACL Music Festival Neighborhood Grant Awards

Taylor WisemanBlog Page, People + Parks, APF News, Support Our Parks, Parks

Austin Parks Foundation (APF) is pleased to announce our Fall 2023 ACL Music Festival Grant awards to parks across Austin! A total of $205,600 in grants will fund improvements and amenities identified by community members.  Neighborhood Grants ($500 to $5000): Parque Zaragoza (78702, City Council District 3) $5,600 for shade tree installation around the playground Community Impact Grants ($5000 and …

Take a Hike!

Taylor WisemanKeep Cool, Blog Page, People + Parks, APF News, Support Our Parks, Parks

The trees are changing, the temperature has dropped…it’s time to #TakeAHike! No, seriously, it’s #NationalTakeAHikeDay and we’ve got some great hikes here in Austin. Below are six hikes that APF staff members have recommended – are you ready to hit the trail? St. Edward’s Greenbelt This hidden gem in Northwest Austin is the perfect destination for hikers and trail runners alike …

It’s My Park Day Fall 2023 Recap

Taylor WisemanSupport Our Parks, Parks, APF News, Blog Page, People + Parks

Com·mu·ni·ty nounA group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. It’s My Park Day: As we reflect on the 20th anniversary of It’s My Park Day, this word – community – rises to the top of the conversation. Everywhere you looked on Saturday, November 4th, there was a ‘Volunteer Here’ sign–93 to be …

Vote FOR Travis County Props A and B, and State of Texas Prop 14

Austin Parks Foundation’s Guide to Voting YES for Texas Parks this Fall

Susan SeleskyAdvocacy, Blog Page, Park Advocacy, All Parks, APF News, Support Our Parks, 
People + Parks
, Featured - Nav (Fund Your Park), Featured - Nav (Our Work)

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 …

20 Years of It’s My Park Day: Project Leaders

Taylor WisemanBlog Page, People + Parks, APF News, Support Our Parks, Parks

We’re celebrating 20 years of It’s My Park Day! This biannual event features 160+ projects and a few thousand volunteers. It’s remarkable to see how the community comes together to grow this event each year–and we are GRATEFUL! As we lead up to our 20th Anniversary event on November 4, we want to highlight project leaders who continually make a …

Party for the Parks Recap

Taylor WisemanBlog Page, People + Parks, APF News, Support Our Parks, Parks

Nine years. It’s hard to believe that’s how long we’ve been Partying for the Parks! We just wrapped up our ninth annual event, and WOW! Austin, you showed up in support of our parks.  If you don’t know, Party for the Parks is APF’s largest annual fundraiser. Each year, this event takes place on ACL Music Festival grounds in between …

The Parks Tour

Taylor WisemanBlog Page, People + Parks, APF News, Support Our Parks, Parks

It’s Taylor’s world, we’re all just living in it! By now, you’ve heard about—or seen—that Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour hit theaters over the weekend. Of course, this is after The Eras Tour took NFL stadiums by storm earlier this year. With the box office hit, we thought we’d share our Austin Parks as Taylor Swift Eras series again. …Are you ready for …

2023 Golden Shovel Winners Honored for Advocacy, Volunteerism and Community Building in Austin’s Parks

Susan SeleskyBlog Page, 
People + Parks


Each year, APF presents our Golden Shovel Awards to people and organizations that have made a big impact on Austin’s parks. We recognize our winners at Party for the Parks, our biggest fundraising event of the year! What makes a Golden Shovel Winner? A Golden Shovel Winner can be an individual, group, or organization that put Austin’s parks at the …