On August 12, Austin City Council approved the city’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2026-27, roughly one month after the initial draft was released. While headlines focused on the citywide total, us park-goers and trail users want to know one thing: What’s in the Budget for our Parks, Pools and Trails? Austin Parks and Recreation Department (APR) funding is …
After more than two years of planning, task forces and a few rounds of postponement, Austin’s parks bond is officially headed to voters! On August 6, 2026, City Council formally called a November 2026 bond election, placing a $260 million parks package on the ballot. If you’ve been following along since our January blog post, you know this process has …
On May 7th, C3 Presents announced that the 2024 Austin City Limits Music Festival generated $8.4 million dollars for Austin’s parks. C3 Presents COO, Emmett Beliveau, and Austin Parks Foundation CEO, Colin Wallis, were joined by Austin’s Mayor, Kirk Watson, PARD Director, Jesús Aguirre and council members from District 1, Sharon Mays (Chief of Staff for Natasha Harper-Madison); District 5, …
Austin Parks Foundation (APF) has officially surpassed the $1 million mark in its $2 million commitment to expand shade across Austin’s park system, marking a major milestone in the organization’s partnership with the City of Austin to combat extreme heat and improve park accessibility. In 2023, APF pledged to match the City of Austin’s $2 million budget allocation for shade …
It’s time to meet our next People of the Parks! This is a new series that celebrates the different ways Austinites utilize our parks to connect with nature. For the Reed family (Charla, Richard, Myles and Margaux) it was important to find a space where the entire family could unwind, connect and enjoy the outdoors together. They found it at …
Happy April! Spring has sprung, and at APF we’re marking this special time of year by launching our new People of the Parks series. People of the Parks will celebrate the deep connection Austinites feel to our outdoor spaces – and these photos and interviews might just inspire you to get out there and experience our parks for yourself. If …
We couldn’t be more thankful for the Austinites that helped their local parks during It’s My Park Day Spring 2021, presented by Wheatsville Food Co-op. From Saturday, June 5th to Sunday, June 13th, 815 people volunteered in-person and 158 completed our virtual volunteer activities! It was such a thrill to have in-person projects in parks across Austin for the first …
As fellow park enthusiasts, we understand the need to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Not to mention parks, trails and green spaces are excellent for our physical and mental well-being! We want everyone to be able to enjoy Austin’s outdoor spaces with an emphasis on keeping each other safe. Below are some helpful tips to stay healthy and …
It may seem like the new year has just begun (or that it has been January for 22 weeks already), but Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! This year we want to show a little extra love to our parks, our family and our friends, so we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite nature-inspired Valentine activities. Most of …
Written by Ladye Anne Wofford, former Chief Mission Officer at Austin Parks Foundation With so many of us spending more time at home, this is a great opportunity to get your very own garden started! If you’re a new gardener, you’re in luck! Austin has ample resources to get you started off on the right foot. Fall in Central Texas …
