A park’s namesake must be dead. Members of the Land, Facilities and Programs Committee discussed this and other new stipulations as part of a first look Wednesday at a naming ordinance for Austin parks and recreation buildings. After more than an hour of debate, though, proposed rules were sent back to Parks and Recreation Department […]
Parks and Recreation Board
The city’s Parks and Recreation Board members deal with the acquisition, development, improvement, and maintenance of Austin’s parks and playgrounds.
Posted inParks
Naming protocol on the way for city parks
The road to naming city parks and recreation facilities has been strewn with indecision and tough choices. And so, the Parks and Recreation Board on Tuesday said it would begin drafting its own protocol for the naming and renaming of its land and buildings. “This has been an issue that has really troubled us as […]
Posted inAustin
Cemetery Master Plan gets swift approval, some add-ons
Although the city’s 511-page Historic Cemeteries Master Plan has gotten quick approval from relevant boards and commissions before heading to City Council, several bodies have tacked on their own concerns along the way. The master plan, which considers the future of five historic municipal cemeteries in Austin, most recently received unanimous approval from Parks and […]
Posted inCity Council
Climate action plan blows past committee
Climate action advocates can rest assured that a proposed 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas emission plan will go before City Council in June, though it will not come with a committee recommendation. Due to a lack of quorum, the Open Space, Environment and Sustainability Committee was unable to vote Tuesday on a recommendation to Council for […]
Posted inParks
Parks will consider keeping city pools open
After impassioned reactions from neighbors to news that the city would close Metz Neighborhood and Mabel Davis Municipal pools this summer for extensive repairs, the Parks and Recreation Department told the Open Space, Environment and Sustainability Committee on Wednesday that it was looking into ways to keep the pools open. These would only be stopgap […]
Posted inParks, Resources
Residents confront Parks Board over pool closures
East Austin residents demanded answers from the Parks and Recreation Board during its Tuesday meeting over news that Metz Neighborhood Pool and Mabel Davis Municipal Pool will close this summer for extensive repairs. The item was not on the board’s agenda, but after hearing Monday that the two pools, both in District 3, will be closed, residents […]
Posted inRoads, Transportation
Land Committee concerned over Zilker Park lanes
In response to pushback from members of the Land, Facilities and Program Committee last week, engineers said they are open to reconsidering the placement of elevated express toll lanes proposed as part of a MoPac South expansion plan. As the proposed plan stands, two elevated express lanes would start their rise north of Bee Caves […]
Posted inCity Hall
Council puts off controversial appointment
City Council postponed the appointment of a controversial cemetery advocate to two parks committees Thursday, with only Council Member Don Zimmerman, who sponsored Sharon Blythe’s appointment, in opposition. In the past, Council nominations for city boards and commissions have caused little stir. However, Zimmerman’s nomination of cemetery activist Blythe to the Parks Board as well […]
Posted inCity Council, Environment, Uncategorized, Water
Riverboat contract has a sewage problem
Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and City Council Member Leslie Pool raised concerns last week about Lone Star Riverboat’s practices at the regular Council meeting Thursday, postponing the vote on a revenue contract until March 26. A memo to Council regarding the contract outlined sewage and marine toilet compliance issues and questioned whether Lone Star’s […]
Posted inAustin, Parks, Resources, Uncategorized, Water
Plans for Decker golf course divide Parks board
A proposed golf course split Austin’s Parks and Recreation board down the middle Wednesday night when members landed undecided on whether to recommend to City Council a 50-year license with Decker Golf LLC to build a high-end golf complex in East Austin. “It goes forward split to the City Council, and they will be making […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Parks
Parks to consider Decker Golf; Council may punt
Although consideration of an agreement with Decker Golf LLC is on this week’s City Council agenda, Mayor Steve Adler said Monday that staff would be requesting postponement of an item allowing a 50-year license agreement for construction of new PGA-style golf courses at Walter E. Long Park. And Council Member Greg Casar said he would […]
Posted inDevelopment, Parks, Preservation, Resources
Parks Board says ‘no thanks’ to Rainey house
The Parks and Recreation Board voted Tuesday to recommend that City Council “politely decline” the donation of a small historic house for use as the Rainey Street History Center. The vote came after the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican-American Cultural Center Advisory Board members expressed concerns about staff’s identification of 64 Rainey St. as a potential […]