We did it! FY25 City Budget includes big wins for parks funding

Taylor WisemanCity Budget, People + Parks, Park Advocacy, Blog Page, Advocacy

THANK YOU! Thanks to all of our efforts, Austin City Council voted in favor of a FY25 Budget that includes 16 new full-time positions for park maintenance, 4 new full-time positions for homeless encampment response within park maintenance and the creation of a land acquisition fund! This is a major win in our effort to ensure that we have a …

Support Increased PARD Staffing in our City Budget

Susan SeleskyCity Budget, 
People + Parks
, Park Advocacy, Blog Page, Advocacy

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 …

2021 City Budget Season: Help Us Advocate for Increased Parks Funding

AustinParksFoundationAPF News, Advocacy, Parks Equity, Blog Page, Featured Top LPs, Park Development, Park Advocacy, Support Our Parks, City Budget

Each year during the City of Austin’s budgeting process, Austin Parks Foundation works to ensure our cherished green spaces get the funding they deserve. In partnership with park advocates, volunteers and other green space organizations we have proven that when we speak up for our parks as a collective, City Council listens! This year, we are asking for $6,900,000 in …

How Your Vote Can Help Austin’s Trails and Clean Transportation in 2020

AustinParksFoundationFeatured Projects (Home Page), City Budget, Parks, Support Our Parks, APF News, Park Advocacy, Blog Page

On August 13th, Austin City Council took a historic step to expand Austin’s trail system. CM Paige Ellis led City Council to add a $460 million safe mobility bond to the ballot in November! Included in this bond is the single largest contribution to Austin’s trails system in history, with $80 million dedicated to building out Austin’s Tier 1 Urban …

Austin City Council’s 2019-20 Budget: A Big Win for the Parks

AustinParksFoundationAll Parks, City Budget, Parks, APF News, Park Advocacy, Advocacy 2019, Advocacy - Annual Report 2019

On Tuesday, September 10, the Austin City Council formally adopted a budget for the City’s upcoming fiscal year beginning on October 1st. The budget process, which kicks off in earnest with community engagement in the spring and the release of the City Manager’s proposed budget in early August, saw significant increases for parks from beginning to end. Why is that, …

What’s Going On With Parks Funding and the City Budget?

AustinParksFoundationAll Parks, Park Advocacy, City Budget, APF News

Each August, City Hall watchers are treated to City Council returning from recess and beginning arguably their most important task. What’s that, you might be asking yourself?  The answer is crafting and adopting the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. Early each August, the City Manager presents to City Council and the public their proposed budget. This stage is both the culmination …

Taking Care of What We’ve Got: Important Maintenance in Austin’s Parks

AustinParksFoundationAdvocacy - Annual Report 2019, Advocacy 2019, Park Advocacy, Featured - Nav (Our Work), APF News, 
Education
, City Budget, Featured - Nav (Explore the Parks), Featured - Nav (Fund Your Park)

Memorial Day is just around the corner, and that means it’s time for picnics in the park, hanging by the pool, and all the outdoor fun that summer brings. To have all of that fun though, our parks and pools need to be taken care of. A perfect example is the Barton Creek Greenbelt, an Austin favorite, that will be …

HB 2 & SB 2 Are Bad For Austin’s Parks, Trails and Green Spaces

AustinParksFoundationPark Advocacy, Advocacy 2019, APF News, 
Education
, City Budget

Simply put, House Bill 2 & Senate Bill 2 (or HB 2 & SB 2) are bad news for Austin’s public parks. In exchange for small property tax relief for homeowners estimated at a few dollars per month, municipalities will face a budgetary crisis. The bill will cause an out-sized negative impact towards their ability to provide services central to …

Community Budget Forums: Austin Parks Need Your Help!

AustinParksFoundationCity Budget, Support Our Parks, APF News, Park Advocacy, Press Release

Our parks and Austin Parks Foundation need your help! The City of Austin’s annual budget process is kicking off with a series of community budget forums hosted by City Commissions throughout March. Commissioners will hear what’s important to the public, and how we’d like to see funding prioritized in next year’s city budget. They will then incorporate the feedback into recommendations …

grateful for Austin

Feeling Grateful for a Great Year for Austin’s Parks

AustinParksFoundationCity Budget, APF News, People + Parks, Park Advocacy, 2018 Success Stories

2018 proved to be a great year for parks advocacy! Park advocates and APF Board and staff worked hard on issues like the 2018 bond development and election, Austin’s annual budget, raising the profile of parks issues for City Council candidates, and more. In the spirit of gratitude and giving thanks – here’s a look back at all we were …