Austin's urban trails system is providing physical and mental health benefits in some of the most picturesque parts of Austin. But how is this important asset planned, funded and managed?

Austin Parks Foundation, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Austin Parks and Recreation Department discuss how we can keep our parks open by doing our part and staying safe.

Our next installment of The Parks Summit series will focus on the importance of parks and civic engagement in the time of COVID-19, featuring Council Member Paige Ellis, and members of the Austin Parks Foundation and Austin Parks & Recreation staff.

How do budgets truly impact public assets like parks and the people who enjoy and rely on them? Learn how you can use your voice to make sure parks get the funding they deserve and that Austin creates a budget that reflects our city’s values.

Asvini Thivakaran is an award-winning environmental activist and 6th-grade student at Brushy Creek Elementary. Join Austin Parks Foundation as we chat with Asvini about her mission to save the environment, how kids can get involved in big and small ways, and how Little Hummingbird Society is helping get kids engaged in protecting our parks and our planet!

Equity in the outdoors has serious implications for so many Austin residents’ access to nature, participation in recreation activities, and opportunities to advance in green jobs. Key City of Austin Parks & Recreation and Equity Office staff, as well as community partners will discuss the goals and challenges of racial equity work, current initiatives, and why it’s so important for residents to be aware and engaged in this effort.

Volunteerism is critical to the health of our parks, and coordinated efforts between park stewards and city staff can lead to incredible positive outcomes in Austin’s natural spaces.

How does COVID-19 change how our communities utilize parks? We will discuss attendee’s experiences with parks usage during the COVID-19 pandemic and opportunities to connect COVID issues to broader resilience measures.

The Healthy Parks Plan is an effort to create a shared vision for building healthier communities through parks. The plan incorporates scientific data, technical analysis and community engagement results to answer key questions about the people, parks and environment.

The Youth Leadership Working Group is a collaborative effort by the city and community partner organizations to give young leaders an opportunity to learn and elevate their leadership skills and voices in a supportive community dedicated to equity and access.

During this workshop, we talked with Virginia Spielmann from the STAR Institute about the importance of play for all children with a specific focus on children in certain marginalized groups often categorized as invisible disabilities.

Austin is growing, and so is our park system, thanks in large part to Parkland Dedication (PLD). PLD is a city ordinance that requires new residential or hotel developments to either set aside a portion of land for public parks, or pay a fee that the City uses to acquire and/or develop its parks. Join us for a discussion with the Austin Parks and Recreation Dept. on how the PLD affects our city's beloved parks, trails and green spaces.