Support Parks in our City’s Budget

Taylor WisemanParks, Signature Events, APF News, People + Parks, Blog Page

Only 60% of residents currently live within a 10-minute walk to a park, and the amount of green space varies greatly throughout the city. At APF, we feel a critical responsibility to invest in, and maintain our parks for future generations in every area of the city. We believe our public parkland should be preserved and maintained. We believe all …

Letter to Austin City Council

AustinParksFoundationSignature Events, Blog Page, People + Parks, APF News, Parks

Austin Parks Foundation and its partners recently sent a letter to Austin City Council outlining the needs of our park system that should be addressed in the city budget process. This advocacy by APF and 15 partner organizations is in preparation for the City Council voting on the next fiscal year’s budget in August. Parks funding comes in large part …

Take Action: Comment on the Mopac South Project’s Impacts to Zilker Park

AustinParksFoundationFeatured Projects (Home Page), Advocacy, Blog Page, Park Advocacy, Central Austin Parks (Featured), APF News

The virtual open house for work along Mopac South is happening between now and January 7th. This looks to be the only opportunity for public comment before Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) reveals their preferred alternative sometime in 2022. The project goes through Zilker Park, and there is potential for CTRMA to pay for parking in Zilker Park by …

austin city hall new council members

Austin’s New City Council Members Discuss the Importance of Parks

AustinParksFoundationBlog Page, Park Advocacy

After November 2020 elections, we have two new Austin City Council Members! We reached out to Councilwoman Vanessa Fuentes of District 2 and Councilwoman Mackenzie Kelly of District 6 to ask them a few questions about themselves and Austin’s parks. They were kind enough to respond, so be sure to check out their answers below. If you’d like to reach …

Victory at City Hall: Essential Funds for Parks Added to the City Budget

AustinParksFoundationBlog Page, COVID-19, Park History, Park Development, Park Advocacy, All Parks, APF News, 
Education
, Featured Projects (Home Page)

It’s been a tough year for Austin’s parks. Already perennially underfunded, Austin’s parks and trails systems have been inundated, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Tens of thousands of new users, overwhelming some of Austin’s most beloved parks, have taken their toll. Whether it be habitat degradation, increased littering and pollution, or just the daily wear and tear from thousands of visitors, …

Investing in Parks: Austin’s Parks + Trails as Economic Drivers

AustinParksFoundationCOVID-19, Blog Page, Park History, Park Development, Park Advocacy, All Parks, APF News, 
Education
, Featured Projects (Home Page)

On April 7th, the civic world in Austin seemed to halt for a few brief moments. John Hockenyos, an Austin based economist, delivered a less-than-rosy economic impact update to Austin’s City Council in the wake of COVID-19. “I’m hoping that is a slightly pessimistic scenario, but I think it is a realistic scenario,” Hockenyos said.  The scenario predicted Great Depression …

Active Transportation + Project Connect in the Time of COVID-19

AustinParksFoundationBlog Page, Hiking & Trails, Featured Top LPs, Park Advocacy, APF News, Fitness in the Park, Featured Projects (Home Page), COVID-19

×Hey there! COVID-19 has changed how we do things, and your safety is our priority. Please keep social distancing best practices in mind if you choose to visit parks, trails and green spaces. Thanks, y’all! Written by Thomas Visco, Advocacy Manager at Austin Parks Foundation Last year, Austin City Council approved the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP). This set an …

Advocacy Update: Help Us Protect Austin’s Parkland

AustinParksFoundationBlog Page, Featured Top LPs, Park Advocacy, All Parks, APF News, Parks, Uncategorized

×Hey there! COVID-19 has changed how we do things, and your safety is our priority. Please keep social distancing best practices in mind if you choose to visit parks, trails and green spaces. Thanks, y’all!As many of you know, Austin Parks Foundation (APF) has been working with our City Council allies and other advocates to ensure Austin’s land-use and development …

What’s Going On With Parks Funding and the City Budget?

AustinParksFoundationCity Budget, APF News, All Parks, Park Advocacy

Each August, City Hall watchers are treated to City Council returning from recess and beginning arguably their most important task. What’s that, you might be asking yourself?  The answer is crafting and adopting the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. Early each August, the City Manager presents to City Council and the public their proposed budget. This stage is both the culmination …

Volunteers picking up trash near the Colorado River

Play Your Part: Leave No Trace in Austin’s Parks

AustinParksFoundationFeatured Top LPs, Park Top LPs Featured, 
Education
, All Parks, Park Advocacy

Hello, Texas Summer! ⁠As temperatures increase, park usage does too, so it’s even more important to make sure we clean up after ourselves in our parks. After Memorial Day, unfortunately, lots of Austin’s beautiful greenspace was left in a mess, which makes it much harder for others to enjoy and for the city to maintain! As Austin Parks Foundation pushes …