The city’s Parks and Recreation Department announced on Monday morning that they would be removing Flo, the nearly 100-year-old pecan tree that leans over Barton Springs Pool, before the pool opens on Thursday. In addition, the department invited members of the public to celebrate Flo’s life at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the pool. The fate […]
Parks
Posted inParks
New state law limits Austin’s Parkland Dedication Ordinance
The city’s Parks and Recreation Board on Monday learned about the impacts of Texas House Bill 1526 on Austin’s existing Parkland Dedication Ordinance and the future of Austin’s park system. The Parkland Dedication Ordinance, first established in 1985, orders new developments to provide a certain amount of public parkland in the development or pay a […]
Posted inParks
Austin delays removal of Flo, Barton Springs’ century-old tree
Flo, Barton Springs’ iconic leaning pecan tree, will live to see at least a few more days. Just last week, Austin Parks and Recreation announced they would cut down the tree this Thursday because of Flo’s deteriorating condition – but today the department said it will postpone Flo’s removal while it “reviews additional considerations.” A celebration of life, […]
Posted inParks
Parks board to take an (ever-so-brief) pause on Zilker Park plan
Given the sudden collapse of the Zilker Park Vision Plan earlier this month, it’s little surprise that the city’s Parks and Recreation Board has disbanded its working group for the plan. However, the board did so this week with a plan to form a new group in September. “I’m not saying we’re stopping the conversation […]
Posted inParks
City Council puts controversial Zilker Park Vision Plan on hold
City Council will not move forward this month with a controversial plan to revamp Zilker Park, Mayor Kirk Watson said Monday. The announcement comes after Council members Paige Ellis, Ryan Alter and Zo Qadri released a joint statement saying that while there’s some consensus around the Zilker Park Vision Plan, there are other elements that […]
Posted inParks
Environmental Commission can’t agree on Polo Fields parking solution
After a lengthy discussion, the Environmental Commission this week tabled an item that would recommend the Parks and Recreation Department end vehicle parking on the Zilker Park Polo Fields. The discussion happened at the commission’s Aug. 2 regular meeting, and the recommendation was written by Commissioner Richard Brimer. As the recommendation notes, the parks department […]
Posted inParks
Downtown Commission hears plans to address Rainey Street safety
The Downtown Commission last week gave an unofficial thumbs-up to the city’s efforts to improve safety in the Rainey Street nightlife district, in an effort to prevent more drownings in the area. On July 19, representatives from the Parks and Recreation Department and The Trail Conservancy gave an update on the Rainey Street Trailhead project, […]
Posted inCity Council
Council OKs lawsuit settlements related to injuries, land
City Council agreed Thursday to settle five lawsuits, including paying $1.2 million to a protester who was injured during the protests outside the Austin Police Department in May 2020. Bomani Barton, who was shot by a police officer with three beanbag rounds, agreed to drop his suit against the city in return for compensation. Barton […]
Posted inTransportation
City makes Barton Springs Road safety improvements ahead of pilot
The city recently began work on a series of safety improvements to the crash-prone stretch of Barton Springs Road between Stratford Drive – inside Zilker Park – and South Lamar Boulevard, ahead of a yearlong pilot program that has prompted a mixed response. The improvements include a reduction to one westbound lane between Azie Morton […]
Posted inParks
After years of staffing woes, Austin finally hires enough lifeguards by start of swim season
Austin finally has enough lifeguards. This week, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department celebrated the hiring of more than 1,000 lifeguards this swim season. That allowed PARD to open all 32 operational pools in its expansive aquatics system and extend hours of operation at Deep Eddy Pool. In recent years, Austin has suffered from lifeguard […]
Posted inParks
City, conservancy moving ahead with Rainey Street safety improvements
The Parks and Recreation Department has proposed up to $1 million in permanent infrastructure improvements to enhance public safety along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail in the Rainey Street District. A memo released last week by department Director Kimberly McNeeley informed City Council and Mayor Kirk Watson of the progress made on short-term […]
Posted inCity Hall
Insufficient staffing revealed in audit of fraud and waste at Parks and Recreation Department
A former employee of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department fraudulently submitted timesheets stating she was working, according to a report from the Office of the City Auditor, and she collected paychecks for six months in 2021 – although she did no work during that time. The report says that temporary employee Desarae Ybarra, who […]