It was wonderful to see thousands of smiling faces helping their local parks, trails and green spaces on Saturday, November 6th! After an all-virtual event in Fall 2020 and a hybrid event in Spring 2021, over 2,230 volunteers participated at 75 in-person projects and virtually across Austin. From trash clean up events to building community gardens, volunteers provided our parks …
Project Playback: The Long-Awaited Alliance Children’s Garden Now Open
Park History Michael Butler Park has been a fixture of Austin’s green spaces for the past 20 years. With all kinds of activities for Austinites to enjoy and Austin’s stunning skyline as a backdrop, it’s a perfect spot to enjoy the outdoors right in the center of our city. In November 1998, the City of Austin enforced a motor vehicle …
Take a Swing at These Playgrounds: 8 Awesome Playscapes in Austin
Are your kids getting restless with their long days back at school? Need to release all those wiggles? We’ve put together a list of eight of our favorite playscapes in Austin, TX! While there are many awesome playgrounds in our city, our ACL Music Festival Grants Program helped to make the projects below possible. Looking to make a difference in …
Project Playback: Replacing the Failing Playground at Springdale Park
The 2019 park review came with some difficult news for Springdale Park and local residents. According to the Austin Parks and Recreation Department’s annual assessment, the Springdale playground was failing and became a priority for replacement. The assessment considers safety, age and the condition of the equipment when evaluating each park. Using Board Designated Funds, and grant funds from the …
12 Swimming Holes Around Austin Guaranteed to Keep You Cool!
We know that Austin is no stranger to steaming hot summers, and Austinites are always looking for a relaxing escape from the heat. That’s why we have compiled a list of a few of our favorite swimming holes near Austin! Whether you want to stay in the heart of downtown or would rather take a day trip to swim, we’re …
Austin Ranks #45 in ParkScore Report, Falling 8 Spots from 2020
The Trust for Public Land (TPL), the national organization responsible for assessing and ranking parks in America’s 100 largest cities, released its annual ParkScore rankings. The rankings are based on the five qualities that make park systems great: park access, acreage, amenities like playgrounds and basketball courts, funding to create new parks and maintain and improve existing ones, and, new …
8 Great Austin Parks and Green Spaces for Flying a Kite
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 …
Austin Marathon 2021: Run with the Austin Parks Foundation Team!
Austin Parks Foundation (APF) is proud to have been selected again as an official charity partner of the 2021 Austin Marathon! That means we need YOU to run with us and help us cross our fundraising finish line. Our goal is $5,000 and we hope you’ll join us in supporting our parks, trails and green spaces. Whether you join us …