Unsatisfied with an Aquatic Master Plan that they say endangers many of Austin’s most beloved pools, some City Council members are pushing for a new pools task force to explore ways the city could raise more money to preserve its existing aquatics system. Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo told colleagues on Tuesday that she plans […]
Parks
Posted inParks
Council wades nervously into pools plan
City Council delivered decidedly mixed reviews of the Parks and Recreation Department’s recently unveiled Aquatic Master Plan, with some Council members decrying what they fear is a plan to shut down neighborhood pools and others bemoaning the unequal distribution of facilities throughout the city. Acting Parks and Recreation Department Director Kimberly McNeeley kicked off the […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Proposed bond includes big money for parks
The Austin parks system is looking to win big from a major bond that voters will likely be asked to approve in 2018. A citizen task force is currently in the process of drafting a general obligation bond to fund affordable housing projects, stormwater infrastructure, libraries and a variety of other upgrades to municipal facilities. […]
Posted inParks
Austin pools face major problems
Austin pools are in big trouble. In a presentation to the Parks and Recreation Board Tuesday night, Acting Department Director Kimberly McNeeley described a system of aging pools that are on life-support due to a lack of investment in maintenance and upgrades. Commercial pools have a typical lifespan of 25 to 30 years, said McNeeley, […]
Posted inParks
New proposal connects residents to transit corridors via parklands
Austin residents are calling for a more compact and connected city. Thanks to a proposed strategy to reimagine the use of parklands around the city, Sustainable Neighborhoods might have the solution residents are seeking. Steve Zettner of Sustainable Neighborhoods presented the organization’s suggestions to the Parks and Recreation Board at its June 27 meeting. He […]
Posted inParks
Plan ranks pools to pinpoint where city needs to dive in with repairs
The city of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department will present the latest version of its Aquatics Master Plan to the public in two meetings this week. The city boasts 51 public pool facilities, including everything from splash pads to Barton Springs Pool. The majority of these facilities are neighborhood pools, which offer free admission and […]
Posted inParks
Could pocket parks be the new norm?
Grappling with a number of park-deficient areas around the city, various Austin neighborhoods are struggling to find places that could serve as parkland nearby residents can enjoy. This week, members of the Parks and Recreation Board agreed on a possible solution: pocket parks, an open space of land measuring one-acre or less. Board Member Rick […]
Posted inParks
Parks board embraces plans for Republic Square
Ten years after Austin first announced its vision for the remodeling of Republic Square, the space is finally set to make its debut in the heart of downtown Austin this fall. Mandi Thomas, the partnership and development director of the Downtown Austin Alliance, presented the park’s 2017 Management Plan to the Parks and Recreation Board […]
Posted inAustin
City looks to clean up graffiti program
A program that was originally intended to help at-risk youth gain job skills has evolved into a city-funded graffiti clean-up service that is doing the work that should be left to private property owners. “It’s a great program and we want to keep it,” said Interim Assistant City Manager Sara Hensley about the Austin Youth […]
Posted inParks
For many Austinites, city parks remain out of reach
From the hike and bike trail on Lady Bird Lake to Mount Bonnell, Austin is proud of its parks. But a new study ranking city parks around the country suggests that pride might not be fully justified. Austin ranked just 46 out of the 100 largest U.S. cities. Why? Jenny Hernandez can tell you. For […]
Posted inParks
Parks officials eye hotel tax dollars for underfunded capital projects
With changes expected in how Austin allocates its fast-growing pool of tax money generated from local hotel and motel stays, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department has put forward the first version of its wish list for expensive infrastructure projects. On Thursday, City Council approved the transfer of nearly $1 million of Hotel Occupancy Tax […]
Posted inParks
City moves forward on major park in Onion Creek area
The city is trying to make the best out of a bad situation by turning flood-ravaged land near Onion Creek into one of Austin’s premier open spaces. Earlier this month, City Council approved a resolution to begin the process of rezoning roughly 99 acres of formerly residential property that the city, in partnership with the […]