The Parks and Recreation Board on Monday recommended city approval of a vendor to operate Zilker Café, the long-vacant concession stand located steps from Barton Springs Pool. The vote comes four years after a previous parks board rejected a local vendor over plans to sell alcohol – an idea that drew strong opposition from pool […]
City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department
The city department responsible for the city’s park system, rec centers, and associated infrastructure.
Posted inParks
A plan to end night swimming at Barton Springs is over before it ever began
The city’s parks department has backed away from a plan to close Barton Springs Pool an hour earlier this summer. The change would have eliminated the free daily night swims — full moon or not. “While the Parks and Recreation Department was considering a minor reduction in pool hours to achieve cost savings, the City […]
Posted inParks
Parks funding recommendations expected to go before Council this month
The Parks and Recreation Department is moving forward with an effort to identify new funding options for the city’s park system, with a pair of outside consultants on board that have helped other large cities find and address funding gaps in the past. A memo sent to City Council this week outlines progress on a […]
Posted inParks
PARD’s annual report shows progress toward providing equitable access to parks
City parks in the U.S. may historically get the short end of the stick during budget allocations, but Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department continues working on its 2030 long-range plan with a fair amount of success. According to the department’s 2024 annual report, released May 5, PARD has made notable strides while also acknowledging ongoing […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
ACL Fest generates $534M in economic impact, and $8.4M for citywide parks improvements
The Austin City Limits Music Festival generated a record $534.8 million in economic activity for the Austin area in 2024, according to a new report released this week. The event, produced by C3 Presents, continues to serve as a major driver for the city’s economy while also contributing substantial funding toward local parks through its […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
New libraries, parks, health centers among facilities eyed for 2026 bond proposal
Up to four new libraries, more neighborhood health centers, and a host of new park properties and recreation centers are among the facilities being considered for the city’s next bond election that will likely take place in 2026. Representatives from three city departments presented their bond project goals and plans this week to the city’s […]
Posted inParks
In rare move, Council delays decision on nominee’s appointment to the parks board
For the second time in less than a year, community member Ted Eubanks faced opposition to his nomination to the city’s Parks and Recreation Board. Eubanks, a 40-year parks professional who specializes in heritage and nature tourism, was one of more than 30 nominees on a list awaiting City Council approval Thursday to serve on […]
Posted inParks
As hordes of visitors descend on Austin for SXSW, Barton Springs Pool is closed for cleaning
Barton Springs Pool is closed while it undergoes a deep cleaning to remove unhealthy growth and things like dirt, leaves, sticks and other debris from the pool floor. While the annual cleaning goes back more than a decade, the closure is taking place as so many people are in town for South by Southwest. Last year, the […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Parks and Recreation Department contemplates a 2026 bond, two years overdue
Austin Parks and Recreation Department is in the process of developing its 2026 integrated bond, with the last one created eight years ago for a 2018 bond election. These bonds fund capital improvement projects for parks and recreation, including building new parks, improving existing parks, and acquiring land. The Parks and Recreation Board heard a […]
Posted inAustin
December Parks and Recreation Department report identifies needs for senior and recreation facilities
Last week, Jesús Aguirre, the new director of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD), sent a memo summarizing the findings of the department’s Recreation and Senior Center Facility Assessment and Gap Analysis Report. The report, released in December, identified priority areas in need of new senior and rec centers and highlighted some renovation and repair […]
Posted inParks
Encampment cleanup efforts could cost $1.2 million for dedicated team
Austin may establish a dedicated, in-house team to conduct regular cleanups at encampments across the city’s park system. That’s the recommendation laid out in a memo from three department directors in response to a City Council resolution last year calling for increased litter mitigation efforts in city parks. The creation of a special cleanup team […]
Posted inPolice
Austin is increasing security at city parks and greenbelts following string of car break-ins
After recent vehicle break-ins at parks and greenbelts, the city of Austin is looking to improve security. Each year, thousands of car breaks-in are reported in Austin. In 2024 alone, more than 8,200 cars were broken into, according to crime data from the Austin Police Department. Cpl. Jose Mendez, a spokesperson with APD, said car […]