Austin Parks Foundation is thrilled to introduce our new Chief Mission Officer, Joy Casnovsky! She is a native Austinite that has always been drawn to the public service and non-profit sectors. Read below to learn more about her work experience and what drew her to APF. In her most recent role, Joy served as Deputy Director of Sustainable Food Center …
One of our favorite things about the work we do is the people and organizations we get to work with. In 2018, Austin Parks Foundation completed four park improvement projects thanks to a $210,000 Active Parks Project grant from the St. David’s Foundation! With COVID delaying an official ribbon cutting and some additional community-initiated improvements coming this year, we wanted …
The virtual open house for work along Mopac South is happening between now and January 7th. This looks to be the only opportunity for public comment before Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) reveals their preferred alternative sometime in 2022. The project goes through Zilker Park, and there is potential for CTRMA to pay for parking in Zilker Park by …
Austin Parks Foundation is awarding $76,520 to their 2021 fall community grantees to fund projects dedicated to enhancing Austin parks and outdoor community spaces! Each project will update, repair or install necessary facilities, and all hold a common goal of fostering equitable access to nature. As the anchor of APF’s ACL Music Festival Grants Program, Community Grants are designed to …
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 …
A crucial item is on the October 21st city council meeting agenda. ITEM 20 is asking city council members to vote on whether the current Parkland Dedication (PLD) fee structure should be revisited. This could be a huge loss for Austin’s parks, trails and green spaces! Austin’s Parkland Dedication Ordinance requires new real estate developments to set aside a certain …
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 …
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 …
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 …
In 2020 we made a commitment to move deeper into justice, equity and inclusion through our programming. Now, with 2020 behind us, we wanted to give you an update on the ways we have succeeded – and failed – to follow through on those commitments. Below are some of the ways we have tried to infuse our value of inclusivity …
