2020 is here. Austin Parks Foundation is gearing up and excited for a big year of connecting Austinites with high-quality parks, trails and green spaces. In 2019, we finished the decade with thousands of volunteers, increased park funding and more ribbon cuttings than ever before. Thank you, Austin, for helping us improve parks across our city.10,500 Volunteers in Austin ParksIT’S …
Project Playback: Building Connections on the Copperfield Nature Trails
The Friends of Copperfield Nature Trails (FCNT) is a volunteer-based community of friendly neighbors who care and are dedicated to improving the Copperfield Neighborhood in Northeast Austin. FCNT focuses on improving the Copperfield Nature Trails with general maintenance, clean ups and much more. It’s groups like these that keep Austin parks alive and well, and Austin Parks Foundation is proud …
Shining a Light on Park Safety in Austin’s Parks and Trails
Featured image by Marina Hanna.Did you know safety is a key concern for Austin’s parks, trails and green spaces? During the Austin Parks & Recreation Department’s Long Range Planning process, they asked Austinites what they’d like to see in the next 10 years. Safety, especially a lack of lighting after dark, surfaced as a concern for Austinites. In order to …
Colony Park District Park: A Premiere Green Space on Austin’s East Side
After decades of advocacy and a full master plan for the neighborhood, residents of Colony Park are receiving funding and project coordination from Austin Parks Foundation, the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department and St. David’s Foundation to develop a premier park in the growing District 1 community. In 2016, the Park Master Planning process began and was implemented …
Pomerleau Pocket Park: APF’s First-Ever Park Design Services
Earl J. Pomerleau: A Hero for Alcohol and Drug Education in Central Texas & Mexico The Pomerleau Family, including their 5 children, moved to the Northeast side of Austin in 1972. The same year, Earl J. Pomerleau was hired by the State of Texas to bring the comprehensive alcohol treatment system that he had established in Nevada. Earl is credited …
Project Playback: Renovating Barton Hills Community Park
Barton Hills Community Park opened along with the adjacent elementary school in 1964. Over the course of the next 50 years, only minor improvements were made until the Friends of Barton Hills Community Park stepped up to make a difference for their neighborhood’s park. In December of 2012, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department approved their Park Master Plan to …
Project Playback: Hartford Park
Swing set and playscape for children ages 2 – 5 years old. Hartford Park was once an overgrown traffic triangle in the middle of a neighborhood in central Austin. Thanks to the grassroots efforts of Friends of Hartford Park (FOHP), it has evolved into an urban green space that enhances the surrounding community. Neighbors raised close to $200,000 all on …
Project Playback: Preserving the History of Downs-Mabson Fields
Downs-Mabson Fields, specifically Mabson Field, is currently the ballpark of the Huston-Tillotson University Rams, but was once home to some of baseball’s legendary players. Although Austin has never hosted a Major League Baseball organization, a few of it’s biggest stars, including Hall of Famers, once played right here in central Texas. Austin Parks Foundation is proud to be a part …
Austin Ranks 43rd In Park Access, Down One Spot from 2018
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 …
Barton Creek Greenbelt: Investing In One of Austin’s Beloved Trails
If you hear someone in Austin, TX talking about “the greenbelt”, there’s a good chance they’re referring to Barton Creek Greenbelt. Whether you’re looking for a day hike, mountain biking, rock climbing, or swimming, this greenbelt has it all. That’s why it’s one of Austinites’ favorites! At Austin Parks Foundation, we recognize the importance of the Barton Creek Greenbelt and …