The parks system that is expected to rehabilitate Waller Creek and create a series of parks through downtown Austin has received a $9 million federal grant to reconstruct and enhance a portion of parkland between Lady Bird Lake and Fourth Street. The grant comes from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with funding from the […]
Parks
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City still working on a fix for Austin’s lifeguard shortage
The Parks and Recreation Department has put together a plan that “will allow for the successful operation” of Barton Springs Pool and a return to normal hours as soon as staffing numbers can support it. But critics say the city’s strategies don’t go far enough. The Aquatic Division is still looking to hire nearly 600 […]
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Council pushes for plans to hire more lifeguards
The city of Austin, which operates 45 aquatic facilities, is desperately seeking lifeguards. Parks and Recreation Department spokeswoman Kanya Lyons told the Austin Monitor Thursday that her department still needs to hire 614 more lifeguards. Ideally, the city would like to have 750 lifeguard positions filled by the beginning of the summer. The situation is particularly dire […]
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City seeks solutions to Barton Springs lifeguard problem
Spurred by news that Barton Springs Pool will soon be closed two days a week, City Council Member Paige Ellis will be asking City Manager Spencer Cronk to come up with additional strategies to address the city’s lifeguard shortage. In a post to the City Council Message Board, the Council member – and former lifeguard […]
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Parks board continues weighing Zilker Park outreach efforts
The fabled adage, “Please all and you will please none,” seems to be an apt description of many of the city’s community engagement endeavors, with the ongoing outreach around the Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan serving as a timely example. On the one hand, the city goes to great lengths to reach out to various […]
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Parks board not so fond of the Butler Landfill maintenance project
The gravel lot between Zilker Park and the MoPac Expressway bridge, which most Austinites know as the park’s overflow parking lot, also serves a less visible purpose – it’s a landfill. The Butler Landfill, which spans a total of 8 acres, is scheduled for maintenance this spring to protect its cap, part of which doubles as […]
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Zilker Park has sidewalks and safer bus stops headed its way
In an effort to improve pedestrian safety, Austin’s Public Works Department is working on building better sidewalks and bus stops in and around Zilker Park. Most who frequent the park agree that Barton Springs Road and the connecting Stratford Drive lack adequate pedestrian infrastructure, despite the heavy foot and vehicle traffic in the Zilker area […]
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Parks board approves vision plan for Allandale park revamp
Allandale’s favorite park has major improvements headed its way. Planners involved with the Beverly Sheffield Northwest District Park presented their vision plan and final draft concept for the historic neighborhood park to the Parks and Recreation Board last week. The 31-acre park, which was acquired by the city in 1955 but last planned in […]
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Trail Foundation begins major enhancement of Rainey trailhead
The Trail Foundation, which will soon be taking over the management of the city’s hike-and-bike trail, is working on one of its first major enhancements of the trail. The Rainey Street Trailhead, which is situated at the southern end of Rainey Street, will be undergoing a major face-lift, thanks to TTF. The existing park doesn’t […]
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PARD details the search for a new home for a newish boathouse
It’s not every day that 300 people show up for a local webinar, but when a future rail system threatens to collide with a popular rowing center and cafe, community members tend to take note. The occasion in this case was a community engagement forum on Wednesday that was part of City Council’s direction to […]
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Makeover planned for Violet Crown trailhead at Zilker Park
Significant improvements are coming soon to the beginning of the Violet Crown Trail at Zilker Park, including an overlook and an entrance worthy of what may someday be Austin’s longest urban trail. The new overlook, shaded by a heritage pecan tree, will offer views of Barton Creek and include seating and educational signs. Several hundred […]
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Resolution promises further development at Onion Creek park
Southeast Austinites can look forward to renovations at District 2’s Onion Creek Metropolitan Park, thanks to a resolution passed by City Council this past Thursday. The resolution, sponsored by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, calls upon city management to explicitly outline plans for the park that have long been discussed by Council and the Parks and […]