by Elizabeth McGuire Like many kids, 12-year-old Kei Yarbrough grew up in parks—climbing on playscapes and running around with friends—but she also spent her early years at those same parks picking up trash and mulching trees. She is quick to say that all of it was fun. Since she was four years old, Kei has been volunteering for parks-related events …
Gracywoods Park
Most Popular For:
– Trails
– Volleyball
– Picnics
Project Playback: Ponciana Park Opens Public Playground
Located in the Dove Springs neighborhood in Southeast Austin, Ponciana Park was underused by people in the neighborhood due to lack of a playground area.
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People + Parks: Keeping Austin Clean, One Day at a Time
By Elizabeth McGuire For the last 337 days, Austin’s green spaces have been cleaner than ever before. That’s because Julie Sondecker, creator of Instagram’s @365DaysofHiking, has been picking up trash in parks and on trails every single day since May 30, 2017. During her daily outings, she fills her signature blue mesh bag, artfully arranges the trash in a beautiful …
Advocacy Update: How does the 2018 Bond work?
Every five to six years, Austin voters have been asked whether or not they will approve the city to issue general obligation bonds. These bonds fund capital improvement projects in areas such as parks & open space, cultural centers & museums, libraries, fire & police stations, affordable housing, stormwater infrastructure and transportation. The Bond Election Advisory Task Force (BEATF) is …
People + Parks: Local Support and Global Wisdom
By Elizabeth McGuire If you were planning an expansive, open-ended trip to the other side of the globe, how would you spend your last days at home? Tying up loose ends? Buying supplies? Saying goodbye to friends? Triple-checking your passport and flight details? If you were Eric Nichols you would be raising money for a treasured hometown organization. This past …
Celebrate Earth Day with APF
Earth Day may be on April 22nd, but we are celebrating for the entire month of April with volunteer events and giveback days! Check out the following ways to help APF celebrate Earth Day. Volunteer Opportunities East Williamson Creek: Come out on April 20th from 10AM to 1PM to help maintain the developing trail. RSVP and learn more here. Check …
The Health Benefits of Being Outdoors
To slow down the hectic pace of daily life, step outside. Breathe in the morning air, watch the sunrise or set, feel the breeze on your face, watch the rainfall. People need to get outdoors and be a part of nature to reset the day and ease the mind. Living in Austin with so many outdoor wonders to visit and …
See Park Dreams Become Reality
Design Services is the newest step toward improving Austin’s green space According to Trust for Public Land’s Parkscore, Austin ranks only 46th out of the 100 largest cities in the U.S. for how we take care of our parks. There are many ways to improve our parks, whether it’s adding benches or building a playscape. But, these improvements take a …
It’s My Park Day Spring 2018 Highlights
It’s My Park Day 2018: Another Success We want to send a special thanks to all the project leaders and volunteers that made this city-wide volunteer day such a success, as well as the Parks & Recreation Department, Watershed Protection and our friends at Keep Austin Beautiful. We couldn’t have done it without you! We’d also like to thank our …