As part of our ongoing water conservation efforts, Austin Parks Foundation is involved in a pilot project using the Habiturf grass seed mix at a brand new pocket park in Northwest Austin called Alderbrook Park. Habiturf is a mix of native southwestern grasses that includes blue grama, curly-mesquite, and buffalograss. Together, these three unique grasses appear green and are soft …
Austin Parks Foundation (APF) and Austin Parks and Recreation (PARD) have formed a partnership to actively lead the design and installation of an innovative playscape and nature pathways for Dove Springs District Park. This focused effort is the result of a St. David’s grant award to APF and with the assistance of the Natural Learning Initiative (NLI), the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), …
by Diane Sherrill, Commons Ford Prairie Restoration Organization Commons Ford Metropolitan Park has been a favorite spot for birders for some time, especially Ed Fair. When it was brought to his attention (by Byron Stone, another well respected birder) that most of the park’s vegetation was invasive, non-native grasses; and that those grasses did not support the grassland birds and …
The Garden Club of the Austin Fern Team recently completed a very exciting park improvement project at the Zilker Botanical Garden. The Garden is part of Zilker Park, and is a collaborative project of the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Austin Area Garden Council (AAGC). The Garden Club received a Parks Grant from the Austin Parks …
The SHADE Project is a local non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of skin cancer through education, outreach and building shade structures where children play. The group completed its first shade structure at Rosewood Park this year and has plans to complete more in the future. Kids who play at the Rosewood splash pad will now be safer! The SHADE …
Hey there, Austin! Zilker Park is one of Austin’s most iconic public resources, playing host to the many of our most beloved events, including Austin City Limits Festival and the Zilker Park Kite Festival. This winter, Zilker will also be the location for the Trail of Lights. The Trail has been part of Austin’s history for over 40 years, but …
Welcome to our new blog series, “Great Grants!” Every year, the Austin Parks Foundation gives grants of financial support to park-adopter groups in Austin with great park-improvement projects. You can read more about our Park Grants Program here. The Great Hills Park Volunteer Committee spearheaded a wonderful renovation project in Great Hills Park this year. The Committee was concerned about …
These signs are starting to appear where the Parks Dept and volunteers are doing invasive species removal and restoration projects. We are working on getting more of these produced with our phone number and website and placed in active areas where we are doing projects. Thanks to Rene B for all of his great work.
One of the most anticipated (well, by me) projects from 2006 bond election is the combination BMX/Skate Park that is now under construction across from the Austin Recreation Center and House Park. It’s coming along nicely, it has a bowl area and a separate more urban area, along with a pedestrain observation center in the middle of the urban area. …
Yesterday, the Barton Creek Trail Corps, plus another crew were out at Loop 360 Access. They were finishing up a set of steps begun a few years ago at the 2009 National Trails Day Event that we and Hill Country Conservancy co-hosted and that former Barton Creek Parks staffer Matt Scales was working on before he returned to the midwest …
