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Most Popular Stories
- U.S. accuses six landlords of rent price fixing. See which apartments they own in Austin.
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- Advocates urge immigrants in Austin to plan – but not panic – over new Trump orders
- New areas at Enchanted Rock could open as soon as this fall after park more than doubles in size
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Parks
Lifeguard hiring back on track after wage increase and dedicated outreach
Austin is on pace to hire a sufficient number of lifeguards to open all of its pools and splash pads this upcoming summer – aided by the city’s minimum wage increase to $20 an hour and dedicated outreach from its…
Parks • By Nina Hernandez • Mar 3, 2023
Parks board wants more public engagement on Zilker nonprofit idea
This week, the city’s Parks and Recreation Board recommended further public engagement surrounding the Zilker Vision Plan; in particular, the plan’s proposal to create a “unified umbrella nonprofit” to serve as a point of contact for the park . “The…
Parks • By Nina Hernandez • Mar 1, 2023
Austin misses goal of having direction signs on all urban trails
Austin failed to install directional signs, also known as wayfinding, on all urban trails by 2022, a specific target outlined in the city’s far-reaching transportation strategy. The Austin Strategic Mobility Plan was adopted unanimously by the City Council in 2019. The ASMP – two…
Parks • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Feb 28, 2023
Notley/Monitor Poll: Austinites can't agree on greatest park challenges or solutions
Austin residents regularly use city parks but are divided over how they should be maintained, according to a January/February poll of 429 voters commissioned by Notley and conducted by national pollster Change Research for the Austin Monitor. The poll comes…
Parks • By Nina Hernandez • Feb 15, 2023
Parks board tables recommendation on Zilker vision plan after public debate
The city’s Parks and Recreation Board became an outlet for pent-up concern about the draft Zilker Park vision plan last week. For more than two hours, community members and organizations including the Texas Sierra Club and Save Our Springs Alliance testified…
Parks • By Nina Hernandez • Jan 31, 2023
What happened to the Zilker Park mini-train?
Zilker Park, the crown jewel of Austin’s park system, used to be home to a miniature train amusement ride that delighted families for generations and became one of Austin’s most iconic attractions. “The first one I ever rode, I was…
Parks • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jan 26, 2023
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Contract kicks off second phase of Waterloo Greenway parks project
The next phase of the Waterloo Greenway parks system will begin construction this spring, with Jay-Reese Contractors Inc. winning the contract for the two-year-plus project. The Waller Creek Local Government Corp., the entity that manages much of the administration for…
Parks • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 25, 2023
PARD tries again to approve long-awaited cemetery rules update
For nearly a decade, the city has worked to overhaul the nearly half-century-old rules governing grave ornamentation and maintenance of Austin’s five municipal cemeteries, which are under the stewardship of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. PARD says the new rules are…
Parks • By Nina Hernandez • Jan 10, 2023
Vision plan authors hope for a more sustainable future for Zilker
The current state of Zilker Park, from an ecological perspective, is about what you would expect for a 100-plus-year-old metropolitan park in a city with a population just shy of 1 million. With 2.6 million visitors enjoying nature and amenities…
Parks • By Nina Hernandez • Dec 21, 2022
Three finalists make a splash as they vie for position of Aquatic Division manager
Last Thursday, the Parks and Recreation Department held a public meeting to introduce the three remaining candidates in the running to become Austin’s next Aquatic Division manager, who the department expects to name in early January. The Aquatic Division manager…
Parks • By Nina Hernandez • Dec 19, 2022
Zilker Park plan brings worries over parking, ecology, athletic fields
Concerns about athletic fields, ecological impacts, and plans for major accessibility and transportation infrastructure were among the issues discussed during a recent feedback session with planners working on the future of Zilker Park. Last month the city unveiled its draft…
Parks • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 12, 2022
Trail Conservancy seeks Council feedback on annual programming plan
This week City Council will consider an item to approve the Trail Conservancy’s 2022 annual programming plan for the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail at Town Lake Metropolitan Park. This update on annual programming at the trail…
