In Memory: Louis René Barrera

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We’re saddened to hear of the passing of Louis René Barrera, a man who dedicated so much of his life to Austin’s parks. He served as the Environmental Conservation Information Specialist for the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department for 24 years. His legacy can be seen clearly at any of Austin’s 15 nature preserves, but especially at Blunn …

Austin Ranks 43rd In Park Access, Down One Spot from 2018

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May 21, 2019 – The Trust for Public Land just released their rankings of the 100 largest cities’ parks. Austin moved down to 43rd from 42nd in 2018. Austinites will agree that our parks are one of their favorite parts of living in Austin, but the reality is our parks are vastly underfunded. Our parks don’t meet the needs of …

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

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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 …

2018 ACL Music Festival & C3 Presents Donate $5.1 Million Toward Austin Parks

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C3 Presents has released the 2018 Austin City Limits Music Festival Economic Impact Report, announcing a $264.6 million contribution to Austin’s economy last year alone, the equivalent of close to 3,000 full-time jobs.  This figure represents a $10 million increase over the 2017 event ($255 million). Since 2006, ACL Fest has generated nearly two billion dollars ($1.965 billion) for the …

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

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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 …

Project Playback: New Playscape at Edward Rendon Sr. Metro Park

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In 2007, the park along the north east side shore of the river was renamed Edward Rendon Sr. Park at Festival Beach, after a neighborhood activist who was known for his efforts to clean up the park and reduce the noise pollution on the lake. Now Austinites know Edward Rendon as a great place to enjoy the Anne and Roy …

Earth Day + Parks

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Earth Day with Austin Parks Foundation Earth Day is April 22nd, 2019 and APF is planning great things! From volunteer opportunities to park givebacks, there’s  plenty of ways to show Mother Earth you care this Earth Day! Here’s everything that we have going on around Austin: Volunteer Join us for two special open work days to get out in the …

McBeth Recreation Center: A Bright Spot for Austinites of Differing Abilities

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Anytime a public resource like a park or recreation center becomes more accessible, there’s reason for celebration. For certain guests of McBeth Recreation Center in Zilker Park, there was an essential piece missing. Until now, that is! Austin Parks Foundation is proud to present the new, ADA compliant entrance ramp at McBeth Recreation Center! We’re excited to be a part …

St. John Park Transformed

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Austin Park Foundation’s First-ever ACL Music Festival Impact Grantee St. John Park underwent a complete redevelopment after receiving Austin Parks Foundation’s inaugural ACL Music Festival Impact Grant of $100,000 in 2017. The Northeast Austin project broke ground in November of 2018, and APF is thrilled to have officially opened the park to the public with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, …

State Legislators Debate Funding for Parks

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Bills Propose Sporting Goods Sales Tax Be Directed to Parks as Intended Up at the Capital, legislators are considering bills (SB 26, SJR 24, HJR 39, and HR 1214) that would amend the Texas Constitution to ensure that sales tax collected from the sale of sporting goods is dedicated to Texas State Parks and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department …