Nearly three years after the city approved funding to upgrade the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex, the project remains incomplete. The wait for new theater seating to complete the upgrade has been pushed back to at least summer 2026 amid departmental transitions and procurement delays. The delay extends a yearslong effort to modernize the sizable East […]
City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department
The city department responsible for the city’s park system, rec centers, and associated infrastructure.
Posted inParks
Erosion issues persist in Zilker Park amid limited resources
In August of 2023, after three years of planning and many thousands of dollars, City Council was forced to scrap its comprehensive Zilker Park Vision Plan, amid a bitter battle waged by detractors and the park’s surrounding residents. But the million or so visitors to the park have not flagged in the years since, and […]
Posted inParks
City document reveals new details on $25 million boardwalk on Lady Bird Lake
Austin’s most famous trail is on track to get a $25 million upgrade. A new boardwalk is planned for the south shore of Lady Bird Lake, replacing a cramped section of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail between South First Street and Congress Avenue. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is paying […]
Posted inAustin
Age-friendly services require more funding, Austin Public Health says
Austin has fallen behind cities of a similar size when it comes to caring for its elders. It’s no longer in AARP’s top 10 cities to live in for older adults as of 2022. In fact, last year, it didn’t even make the top 25. That might not be top of mind, as the median […]
Posted inParks
Parks Board wrestles with proposed criteria for ‘legacy’ concessions
How many years should it take for a concession in city parks to gain legacy status? City staff are proposing 30 years, but some Parks and Recreation Board members say that number is too high. After deliberating whether to recommend lowering the threshold, the board ultimately voted to ask City Council to weigh how women […]
Posted inParks
Parks and Recreation Department urges parkland acquisition in 2026 bond
In 2009, Austin City Council adopted the urban parks initiative, setting a goal to provide parks within a five- to 10-minute walk of all residents. As of 2025, only about 70 percent of Austin residents live within walking distance of a park. The Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) wants to get that number to […]
Posted inParks
City could use Hemphill Park as a drainage site to mitigate flooding
Adams Hemphill Neighborhood Park could serve as a detention basin to reduce flood risk in a Central Austin historic neighborhood. The Parks and Recreation Board last month voted for a recommendation to City Council to approve 138,136 square feet of the park for permanent use, and another 11,997 square feet of parkland for temporary use, […]
Posted inNewsletter
Austin, Monitored: Playing ball, court updates and pension fund progress
Callout: Today’s newsletter is supported by “Austin Parks Foundation’s Party for the Parks” ⚪️ Quote of the Day “It’s been challenging in recent years for residents of the city who wanted to access baseball and soccer fields, which require a fair degree of maintenance… The city had set up a variety of contracts with local organizations […]
Posted inParks
Parks board aims to make city ball fields more accessible to community
The Parks and Recreation Board expects to vote later this month on a resolution that calls for greater public access to city-owned baseball, softball and soccer fields. To accomplish the goals outlined in the draft proposal, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department would need to standardize and clarify the contract language with outside organizations that […]
Posted inParks
Council will delay Zilker Café vote to reconsider ban on alcohol sales
Four years after public outcry nixed a proposal to allow alcohol sales at Zilker Café, City Council now appears willing, if not eager, to permit the use. At Tuesday’s work session, Council members questioned whether the vendor up for approval at Thursday’s meeting could generate sufficient revenue without beer and wine sales, which the city […]
Posted inParks
City, parks boards weigh funding options to stem expected shortfalls
The city could consider new user fees, expanded partnerships, naming rights and even the creation of a regional park authority as part of a broad effort to close a growing funding gap in the parks system, according to a consultant report released last month. Commissioned by the Parks and Recreation Department, the report outlines short- […]
Posted inParks
City makes initial moves for Palm Park makeover with Shelter House restoration
Plans to restore the 92-year-old Palm Park Shelter House cleared an administrative hurdle last week, laying the groundwork for a forthcoming project that will see it fold into a brand new urban park in Downtown Austin. Earlier this month, Historic Landmark Commissioners voted unanimously to initiate historic zoning on the site, which currently belongs to […]