It’s autumn in Austin, and that means it’s the perfect time of year to “fall” in love with our outdoor spaces!
At Austin Parks Foundation, we believe that we are all People of the Parks. With nearly 400 parks, trails and green spaces in Austin, there’s always something new to explore: just ask the Walking Moms of Austin, a social group that gathers weekly at parks across the city. Motherhood brought them together, and our parks give them a safe space to gather, connect and create genuine friendships.
“You’d think it would be awkward meeting new people for the first time, but there are always connections! We try to make sure everyone feels welcome.”
Mandi Aviles was looking for genuine friendships with other moms and the ability to explore together. Every fitness group for moms had a membership fee or had business promotions attached to it and thus Walking Moms was created.
The Walking Moms of Austin Facebook group has 3.8K members whose profiles have been vetted for safety. Each Saturday, the group posts a schedule for the upcoming week. Where they walk depends on the member hosts – and anyone in the group can host!
The group does a lot of downtown walking from Deep Eddy Pool to Zilker Park and back. Other popular spaces are Walnut Creek and Dick Nichols.
“We have a common bond – motherhood – so the meet ups are very uplifting. Members remark on how they feel safer walking on the trails with other people.”
The group makes sure to incorporate their kids in the walks. At Easter, they had a big walk at Roy G. Guerrero that involved an egg hunt along the walking route. Recently, at the end of their walk, the kids exchanged stickers and played on the playground.
Our parks play a vital role in fostering a sense of community, and we need your help to keep them safe and accessible to all. Make a gift to APF today to ensure that our green spaces flourish for generations to come!
