Fiscal Year 2024
Annual Report
Approved Operating Budget | |
Community Services | $72,847,936 |
Park Planning, Development and Operations | $34,602,119 |
Support Services | $10,902,468 |
Transfers, Debts, and Other Requirements | $19,030,061 |
Total | $137,382,584 |
Funding Sources | |
City of Austin General Fund | $107,953,829 |
PARD General Fund | $17,548,598 |
Golf Fund | $11,880,157 |
Total | $137,382,584 |
Personnel | |
Total Full Time Equivalent Staff | 811 |
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Expenditures | |
Aquatics | $16,532,264 |
Athletics | $725,340 |
Buildings and Improvements | $18,841,979 |
Cemeteries | $48,938 |
Golf | $832,678 |
Land Acquisition | $10,590,437 |
Parks | $8,378,275 |
Plans and Studies | $370,486 |
Playscapes | $486,845 |
Trails | $9,223,002 |
Grand Total | $66,030,242 |
CIP Funding Source | |
Grant | $3,496 |
Historic Preservation Fund | $3,213,263 |
Non-Voter Approved Debt | $5,825,243 |
Other Revenues & Transfers | $7,037,024 |
Parkland Dedication | $14,258,481 |
Public Improvement Bond | $35,692,734 |
Total | $66,030,242 |
FY24 Financial Overview
T.C. Broadnax
City Manager
As the City of Austin’s City Manager, I’m proud to share the Austin Parks and Recreation
Department’s (PARD) progress in supporting the values and priorities that are essential to our
city. Austinites value access to parks, open spaces, and recreational programs, and we
recognize how vital these resources are to the well-being of our communities.
In 2024, PARD protected our city's parkland and ecological systems, striving to mitigate the
impacts of climate change and safeguard these unique natural resources for future generations.
We increased community preparedness and resilience, ensuring that our parks and open spaces
play an integral role in improving our ability to adapt to and recover from disruptions and
disasters. Most importantly, we advanced equitable access to our parks, trails, and recreational
opportunities, ensuring that every resident, regardless of background or neighborhood, can
benefit from Austin's natural spaces.
These efforts reflect our commitment to creating a more sustainable and resilient Austin,
where every resident has access to the green spaces that make our city a great place to live,
work, and play.
A Note from the City Manager
A Note from Leadership
Jesús Aguirre
Director
At Austin Parks and Recreation, we strive to uphold the values and vision the community has for
their parks system and public spaces, ensuring that all Austinites, including historically
marginalized people, can access the services they want and need. System-wide improvements
have led to more equitable access to recreational opportunities and parks that are safer and
better-maintained. In partnership with supporters and stakeholders, the Department aims to
continue to improve and expand parks, recreation facilities, and public programs to meet the
needs of our city's fast-growing population. Building on the previous year's achievements, we
aim to enhance core services, encourage park stewardship and advance the objectives outlined
in the Long Range Plan.
Pedro Villalobos
Board Chair
Austin’s parks and recreation facilities are the soul of the city, offering spaces where people
come to celebrate wellness, community, and connection. Festivals bring these parks to life,
filling them with music, food, and joy that reflect Austin’s vibrant culture. Dog owners stroll
through scenic trails, while fitness enthusiasts take advantage of recreation centers for
exercise, whether through swimming, biking, or group classes. These spaces host community
events like farmer’s markets, outdoor movies, and cultural gatherings, fostering deeper bonds
among neighbors. Austin’s parks and recreation facilities inspire beauty, connection, and a
shared sense of belonging for all who visit.
Parks and Recreation in Numbers
75 ball fields
20,582 Acres / 376 parks
34 pools
11 splash pads
6 golf courses
5 cemeteries
10,347 acres of
Nature preserve
48 basketball courts
15 pickleball courts
71 mixed use fields
17 nature play spaces
13 off leash dog areas
193 playgrounds
5 cultural centers
14 performing arts
venues
3 museums
7 disc golf courses
65 multipurpose courts
275 miles of trail
87 tennis courts
25 recreation /
senior centers
25 Soccer fields
4 Futsal courts
Long Range Plan
Our Parks, Our Future is the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Long Range
Plan (LRP) for Land, Facilities, and Programs. The LRP, developed every ten
years, is the guiding document for parks system planning and growth in Austin
and creates the foundation for individual park master plans and capital
projects. This plan was informed by a collaborative process with Austin
residents, park partners, elected officials and other stakeholders.
The future of Austin’s park and recreation system is impacted by a multitude of
forces, trends and shifts, including unprecedented population growth,
increasing reliance on private and philanthropic funding, and the emergence of
best practices in sustainable park development and management. Our Parks,
Our Future contains information on how PARD developed the plan as well as a
listing of five major goals that resulted from the process. The five goals are
supported by strategies that are broken down into specific objectives. These
were created to advance outcomes. PARD will use these objectives to track
progress on the goals through 2030.
Goals
A. Ensure parks act as a relief from urban life
B. Expand and improve park access for all
C. Activate and enhance urban public spaces
D. Align programs with community interest
E. Optimize and improve efficiency of operations
The impact of Austin’s rapid growth is becoming
apparent as Austinites increasingly confront the loss of
natural areas and increased development. While this
growth provides PARD with new resources and more
opportunities, it also means PARD has to guard the parks
system’s role as a relief from, and counterpoint to,
Austin’s increasingly urban context. Likewise, the parks
must become more flexible and multi-purpose to support
a higher intensity and wider variety of park users.
Ensure parks act as a
relief from urban life:
Long Range Plan Goal - A
PARD continues to work with Transportation and Public Works (TPW) and
the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) on balancing the planned
expansion of I-35 with Austin greenspace. PARD has been acquiring
parkland along existing greenbelts in preparation for key passages. A
preliminary engineering report expected to be complete in 2025 will
identify additional land that can be acquired.
I-35 Expansion
Plans for a 24-foot pedestrian bridge along the eastern side of the I-35
expansion across Lady Bird Lake continue to develop with PARD’s input.
The bridge will now house 36 bat boxes, diversifying our central bat habitat
in an equitable way. PARD has also agreed to accept a proposed sound
barrier wall along Waller Street that will benefit parkland. PARD worked
with TxDOT to conduct community engagement that helped build
consensus on the potential design and aesthetic features of the wall and
continues to provide planning support to the adjacent community garden
and food forest. Proposed amenities include water meters to irrigate plants
and a drinking fountain.
City Council Districts 9 and 3
This spring, the wildflower meadow at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery flourished.
Staff published a digital tour of the cemetery for visitors. Additionally, the forestry
team removed diseased trees.
City Council District 7
Austin Memorial Park Cemetery
Long Range Plan Goal - A
City code defines a nature preserve as “…a parcel of land or place designated for the protection and preservation of wildlife, including a wildlife sanctuary, and unique ecological and scenic features.” PARD is in the process of updating or replacing signage and installing dodgeways at Stephenson Nature Preserve to clarify and enforce existing preserve rules which prohibit pets and bikes, to provide an immersive experience in nature.
City Council District 5
PARD also completed projects on 1200 acres of natural areas to improve ecological health to help sustain these spaces for future generations and to provide an immersive nature experience. This includes substantial work done at Stephenson Nature Preserve to establish boundaries and improve signage.
Nature Preserve
Collaborated with the Hill Country Alliance, Austin Astronomical
Society, NASA, Department of Astronomy at the University of
Texas at Austin, Havard, and the Smithsonian to provide eclipse-
related programs to over 10,000 people.
Eclipse Programs
Stephenson Nature Preserve
Long Range Plan Goal - A
Providing equitable access to parkland for all residents is a
priority for PARD. Through the planning process community
members commented on the difficulty of accessing and
navigating the parks system. PARD’s goal is to ensure residents
living in the urban core should be within a 1/4 mile of a publicly
accessible and child-friendly park (a five-minute walk) and within
a 1/2 mile (10-minute walk) for those outside the urban core. To
meet this goal, the plan outlines multiple tools that to improve
park access, including partnering with AISD, to develop button
parks, acquiring easements on private property, expanded trail
connections, improved wayfinding, and greater sensitivity to the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
Provide equitable
access to parkland
for all residents:
Long Range Plan Goal - B
PARD partner The Trail Conservancy (TTC) developed a new Rainey Trailhead that includes improved trail connections to Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, ADA accessibility, a nature play area, seating areas, an open play lawn, a small dock, and native plantings. The project opened to the public in July 2024. TTC is responsible
for maintenance of the area in accordance with their agreement with the City.
City Council District 9
Rainey Street Trailhead - Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail
Completed in the winter of 2024, the Earl J. Pomerleau Pocket Park had its ribbon
cutting ceremony on April 10, 2024. It is Austin's newest two-acre park in District 4.
Named in honor of Earl J. Pomerleau, a hero for addiction education in Central Texas
and Mexico. This project underscores the City of Austin and Austin Parks Foundation's
(APF) commitment to equitable park access and will enhance residents' well-being for
years to come. This project was funded through a partnership with APF and PARD, with
City of Austin Parkland Dedication Fees and Urban Forestry funding for shade tree
plantings and tree care.
City Council District 4
Earl J. Pomerleau Pocket Park
The third and final round of community engagement for Bolm District Park’s Vision Plan
is underway. With over 1,500 survey responses in the first two rounds, project staff
pulled together an exciting draft plan to make the most of this beautiful spot adjacent to
the Colorado River and 183. Look through the more than 60 images detailing the
concept design and let us know what you think.
City Council District 3
Bolm District Park
Highland Neighborhood Park Phase 2 was complete and had its ribbon cutting on July
19, 2024. Project highlights include new 125-foot kickball fields, new park lighting, new
dugouts, a loop walking trail, a rain garden, 45 new trees, and a new parking lot.
City Council District 4
Highland Neighborhood Park Phase 2
In continuation of recently completed park improvements, the restrooms
at Bull Creek District Park have been renovated. The restroom
renovations mark the conclusion of all the improvements originally
identified in the 2017 Concept Plan.
City Council District 10
Bull Creek District Park
Long Range Plan Goal - B
On April 4, 2024, an Austin City Council resolution renamed the
Bathhouse at Barton Springs Pool in honor of Joan Means Khabele.
Her courageous act of swimming in Barton Springs to protest
segregation at the pool, sparked the civil rights era swim-ins that
eventually led to the desegregation of Barton Springs Pool. The
Bathhouse closed for construction starting on February 15, 2024,
with substantial completion anticipated in spring 2025.
City Council District 8
Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse
Colony Park Pool began construction in May 2023 and is
anticipated to have a soft opening in the winter of 2025.
This Community Pool will complement the recently completed
Colony Park District Park amenities.
City Council District 1
Colony Park Pool
1,145
Lifeguards on Staff
32
Pools Open (All Pools)
including 27 with
FREE Admission
and 11 Splash Pads
Garrison and Bartholomew pools held free admission days made possible by
the City Council's passage of Resolution No. 20240418-049 in April 2024.
Key Services and Parkland Access
Long Range Plan Goal - B
Dottie Jordan Ramp
The goal for FY24 was for 80% of all PARD
programming to be held in ADA-accessible locations,
up from 50% in FY23. As of October 2024, the target
was reached with 81.25% ADA-compliant programs.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Inclusion Support Services
In preparation for summer camp, Inclusion Support
Services (ISS) provided 256 hours of trainings for
PARD staff on positive approaches to behavior,
inclusion, disability awareness, and universal program
design. ISS met with, assessed, and wrote
individualized support plans for 115 children with
disabling conditions and provided 6,520 direct staffing
support hours dedicated to meeting ADA modifications
of participants in summer camp programs.
Gus Garcia Generator Training
PARD partnered with the Office of Resilience,
the Building Services Department, and
Homeland Security and Emergency
Management to complete the installation of
transfer switches and generator docking
stations at six recreation centers including
Northwest, Gus Garcia, Turner Roberts,
Parque Zaragoza, Montopolis, and Dove
Springs. These sites serve Austin’s Resilience
Hub Network, and the upgrades will ensure
that the Recreation Centers have redundant
power during emergencies.
Resilience Hubs
Following the adoption of House Bill 1526 (HB1526) in 2023, PARD staff worked with the City’s Legal Department to draft a new Parkland Ordinance to comply with the state law. Per HB1526 requirements, the new ordinance reduces parkland requirements for multifamily and hotel developments, provides new formulas for parkland dedication and fees in-lieu, and places caps on parkland dedication and fees charged. City Council adopted the ordinance in November 2023 and it took effect on January 1, 2024, for applications submitted on or after that date. Those applications can delay payment of the parkland fees until the time of certificate of occupancy. Before HB1526, payment was due when the site plan was approved.
Update on House Bill 1526
19%
of Program
Enrollments Receive
Financial Assistance
3,234
Youth and Teens Participating in Free Summer Programs
2,460
Brighter Bites Program
Participants Received
Fresh Produce
85
Contract Instructor
Classes
2,250
Teen Outreach
Program Hours
64,342
Meals served in
partnership with
Central Texas Food Bank
Long Range Plan Goal - B
PARD offers a scholarship program funded through donations by
the Austin Parks Foundation, Austin Energy customers via the
Parks and Libraries Fund, and individual contributions. The
program has grown in both donations and community financial
need requiring an exploration of strategies to reduce barriers to
participation and increase the utilization of recipient funds.
“I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for
the financial assistance you have provided for my
three adopted children. Your support has been a
tremendous blessing in my children’s lives.
Thank you.” – Scholarship Recipient
Implementation of a partnership with Austin Energy‘s Customer
Assistance Program for financial aid auto-renewals for qualifying
families resulted in a 75% increase in the dollar amount
awarded, a 61% increase in the number of scholarship recipients,
and a 56% increase in the utilization rate from the previous year.
Direct marketing of available opportunities has shown a reduction
in barriers to participation. Additionally, work has been done to
analyze data through usage reports, demographics, participant
surveys, and GIS mapping of families receiving scholarship funds
that allow the department more informed decision-making.
PARD’s financial assistance program and scholarship program
supports the expansion of opportunities for low or no-cost
programming and helps underserved families.
All City Council Districts
Program Scholarship
728
Scholarships Awarded
81%
Utilization of
Scholarship Fund
1105
Participants Approved
for Financial Assistance
Golf ATX had a record number of golf rounds played on the six
City golf courses with over 329,000 rounds played, an 3%
increase over the previous year despite two courses under
modified operations during a greens’ revegetation project. Golf
ATX will closed the fiscal year with $12.9 million in total revenue.
City Council Districts 1, 2, 8, 9 and 10
329K Rounds of Golf Played
Community PARKnerships
Partnerships contributed more than $5.8 million private dollars and 75,000 hours of
volunteer service to improve parkland. PARD Partners brought more than 700 free
public events and 14 Art in Public Places pieces to parks. Cities Connecting Children to
Nature (CCCN) expanded its Loose Parts Lending Kit program to reach over 1,500
people and built new nature play areas such as those at Armadillo Neighborhood Park
(pictured) and the Walnut Bluffs Trailhead.
Community Activated Park Projects included accessibility improvements and trail
connections at the Steck Valley Greenbelt, completed in partnership with Northwest
Austin Neighborhood Association, Texas Conservation Corps, and Austin Parks
Foundation (APF). Community PARKnerships also joined forces with APF to create the
Walnut Creek Metro Park Unified Stewardship Plan. PARD continues to partner with
other City departments, such as collaborating on the Old Lampasas Dam renovation
project with Watershed Protection and Development Services to repurpose removed
trees and boulders for nature play.
All City Council Districts
Long Range Plan Goal - B
Long Range Plan Goal - C
Activate and enhance
urban public spaces:
Urban public spaces require a different approach and have
historically been overlooked and underestimated in terms of
their ability to improve quality of life in denser urban areas. As
PARD looks to expand park access and reach developed areas,
activating smaller urban public spaces will become an
increasingly crucial strategy to extend the benefits of parks to
more people.
To be successful, this will require a flexible, partnership-centric
approach with a blend of PARD programming on non-PARD-
owned spaces, and partner programming and maintenance at
PARD parkland.
14,374
Trees & Saplings
Planted
251,218
Pounds of
Trash Collected
24,312
Volunteers
PARD mobilizes partners and volunteers to facilitate
community-initiated parkland improvements.
PARD is grateful to the dedicated volunteers and nonprofits
who donate time to stewardship of our parks. Parkland
stewardship is any form of protecting and caring for parks—
cleaning up trash, mulching trees, planting native trees and
plants, removing invasive plant species, maintaining park
infrastructure, and much more.
All City Council Districts
Volunteers
It’s My Park Day
Over 23,000 volunteers pitched in to
improve Austin parks in 2024
75,424
Hours of Work
worth more than $2.5M
Asset Management provided program and
financial management for $65.15 million in
PARD capital spending, including $22.3
million from the 2018 Bond Program, on
rehabilitation and improvements to parks
and facilities, parkland acquisitions and
new development.
Asset Management
At the end of the 2023 fiscal year, the City of Austin began work on the new Citywide Strategic Plan (CSP) goal priorities including Community Health and Resilience, Economic and Workforce Development, Equitable Service Delivery, Public Safety, Organizational Excellence, Mobility and Critical Infrastructure, and Homelessness and Housing.
PARD owns one CSP Goal – Community Health and Resilience – ensuring and preserving equitable access to parks, trails, open space, and recreational opportunities. PARD is focused on advancing health, well-being, and environmental resilience citywide, including climate action, ecological stewardship, wellness initiatives, and community readiness. While PARD only owns one goal, the department’s work supports goals in all seven strategic priorities.
Strategic Goals
Long Range Plan Goal - C
Installation of new fitness equipment and renovations to
the fitness room at the following facilities:
Givens Recreation Center and
Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center
City Council District 1
Dittmar Recreation Center
City Council District 2
Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center
City Council District 3
Gus Garcia Recreation Center and
Virginia L. Brown Recreation Center
City Council District 4
Lamar Senior Activity Center
City Council District 9
Fitness Equipment
Volunteers at Zilker Botanical Garden
Solar Saturdays at George Washington Carver
In partnership with PNC Bank and HEB, George Washington Carver Museum and
Genealogical Center, hosted Solar Saturdays, a multi-generational, multi-ethnic
sitewide activation that brings live music, poetry, garden workshops and roundtable
discussions with thought leaders to the community. This quarterly program centers
Black culture, joy, and liberation while creating a space for the exchange of ideas
about art and society, with the goal of strengthening and building community.
City Council District 1
Hancock Golf Course 125th Anniversary
Hancock Golf Course celebrated its 125th anniversary on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
A new historical sign featuring the original 18 holes of the now 9-hole course was
unveiled and is a permanent fixture near the #1 tee box.
City Council District 9
Thomas Dambo Troll in Pease Park
PARD partner Pease Park Conservancy enlisted the renowned Danish artist and
designer Thomas Dambo to create an Art in Public Places installation just north of
Kingsbury Commons. Malin’s Fountain is a whimsical troll sculpture made with
80% recycled and reused wood and other materials.
City Council District 10
New Computer Labs
Gus Garcia, Oswaldo A.B. Cantu/Pan American, and Montopolis Recreation Centers
have new computer labs thanks to a partnership with the Economic Development
Department. Users will have the opportunity to acquire technology skills for personal
and professional development and participate in educational programs offered by
Austin Freenet.
City Council District 3 and 4
Long Range Plan Goal - C
Long Range Plan Goal - D
Align programs with
community interest:
While there is a high demand for more programs at parks,
there is also a strong interest in Austin for natural
experiences and unprogrammed spaces and activities. As
the needs and interests of community members change,
program offerings should be evaluated and adjusted as
needed to reflect the most relevant programs.
Conversation Stones
An art installation on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail by
Austin-based artist, Diego Miró-Rivera, in partnership with The Trail
Conservancy and the Economic Development Department.
Evaluate Needs and Adjust
Long Range Plan Goal - D
Equity Review
PARD was part of the first group of city
departments to complete an Equity Assessment
in 2018. After an Equity Review in 2023, PARD
went through the assessment process again to
ensure diversity of staff participation and
process intentionality. PARD’s Equity and
Inclusion Program Manager recruited full-time
and temporary staff to form an Equity Team.
Information gathered will be sent to a third-party
reviewer to provide recommendations.
All City Council Districts
Equity and Inclusion
Equity and Inclusion Program offered two
workshops for PARD staff:
Building Places of Belonging for LGBTQIA+
Communities led by Daring Difficult Consulting.
The program works closely with the Equity Office
to provide staff opportunities for further
developing their race equity lens.
Undoing Racism workshop led by the People’s
Institute for Survival and Beyond between 2020–
2024. 126 PARD staff members participated.
All City Council Districts
Community Recreation Centers served
17,756 Meals on Wheels Meals to seniors.
Community Recreation Centers provided
transportation for 62,927 seniors.
All City Council Districts
Seniors
Key Services and Parkland Access
Long Range Plan Goal - D
The Asian American Resource Center (AARC)
teamed up with the Smithsonian's Asian Pacific
American Center and local educators to create
an educational resource that highlights local
Asian American histories.
City Council District 1
Asian American Resource Center
AARC organized CelebrASIA on Saturday, May 18 during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month to celebrate Asian Pacific American Islander-centered performances, art, and culture.
City Council District 1
The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican-American Cultural
Center hosted its 17th annual ¡Viva México!
celebration outside of the Oswaldo A.B. Cantu/Pan
American Recreation Center on September 14. This
lively outdoor celebration on the hillside includes live
mariachi music and folkloric dance performances,
family-friendly art activities, and a vendor market.
City Council District 3
¡Viva México!
The Oswaldo A.B. Cantu Pan American Recreation
Center and Neighborhood Park along with the
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural
Center organized the 66th annual Pan Am Hillside
Summer Concert Series in East Austin to showcase
the music and culture of Austin’s Mexican, Mexican
American, Chicano, and Latino/a/e/x communities.
City Council District 3
Pan Am Hillside
Summer Concert Series
Long Range Plan Goal - D
121,645 hours of participation.
City Council District 8
Austin Nature and Science Center
The Julia C. Butridge Gallery saw 33,148 gallery
visitors, a 30% increase from previous years.
City Council District 9
Dougherty Arts Center
The Community Recreation Department (CRD)
successfully renovated and restored several fields
through a combination of diligent budgeting and a
generous grant from the Austin Parks Foundation.
Allocating $136,000 of the budget, CRD
implemented significant upgrades to the historic field
at the Delores Duffie Recreation Center, including
irrigation and new fencing. Additionally, CRD secured
a grant from the Austin Parks Foundation to enhance
seven fields in various ways such as sand leveling,
aeration, fertilization, and seeding.
Community Recreation
Athletic Stats
10,479
Youth in Sport Organizations on
City-Owned Parkland
1,187
Adult Teams in
Athletic Programs
69
Fields Maintained
by Youth Sports
Organizations
2,000
Volunteers with Youth
Sports Organizations
Long Range Plan Goal - D
Leverage partnerships and revenue opportunities to elevate
the quality of PARD operations and maintenance while
upholding equitable park access and ensuring a sustainable
and well-balanced budget.
Optimize and improve
efficiency of operations:
Long Range Plan Goal - E
Old Bakery and Emporium Mural
Created in partnership with Downtown Austin Alliance and local indigenous mural
artist, Ruben Esquivel.
PARD joined the ranks of elite park and recreation agencies across the
country by earning accreditation through the Commission for
Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the
National Recreation and Park Association. CAPRA accreditation is the
only national accreditation for park and recreation agencies. It is a
measure of an agency’s overall quality of operation, management and
service to the community. This mark of distinction indicates that PARD
has met rigorous standards in the management and administration of
lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety and services.
CAPRA Accreditation
Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES) and Leadership in Energy and Design
(LEED) are globally recognized rating systems that guide, evaluate, and
certify sustainability and resilience in the design, development, and
management of outdoor spaces (SITES) and buildings (LEED).
In 2021, Austin became the first city in the world to require SITES
certification for City landscape improvement projects with a budget of
$2M or more. In FY24, PARD partnered with the City’s Offices of
Innovation and Resilience, and the United States Green Building Council
(USGBC) to bring a Sustainable SITES rating system curriculum to Austin
during two days in September. Attendees garnered SITES 101 training;
toured two SITES projects, Mary Elizabeth Branch Park (SITES Certified)
and Burnett “Blondie” Pharr Tennis Center (SITES pending); and
participated in a dynamic SITES Roundtable. The goal of the
programming was to increase City employee and local professionals’
fluency in designing sustainable and resilient landscapes. With 23
sustainability certifications planned or in progress, PARD demonstrates
its commitment to the citywide sustainability and resilience goals.
Sustainability Certifications
Improvements
Long Range Plan Goal - E
Working with Save Austin’s Cemeteries, Cemetery
Operations staff were able to install a monument and
commemorate the life of Juanita Craft, reset several
markers in a lot owned by the Texas School for the
Blind and Visually Impaired, and completed a second
documentary on the lives of those buried in
Evergreen Cemetery.
Cemetery Operations also collaborated with Texas
A&M students to take GPR readings of Plummers
Cemetery and worked with community members to
host a Día de Los Muertos celebration at Oakwood
Cemetery Annex.
City Council District 1
Cemeteries
PARD launched a free summer Zilker Shuttle Bus
program in 2022 to alleviate traffic congestion and
provide better accessibility to Zilker Park and
surrounding amenities including Barton Springs Pool
and the 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike
Trail. Now in its third year, the program operated on
weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 2024,
moving passengers from the City-owned One Texas
Center parking garage to Zilker Park and Barton
Springs Pool, 1.5 miles away. The timing of the
program allowed over 3,700 patrons from Austin
and surrounding areas to access the park and pool
without having to pay for parking or be part of the
traffic congestion problem.
City Council Districts 5, 8 and 9
Zilker Shuttle
The oldest swimming pool in Texas, Deep Eddy
Pool, requires periodic updates to keep it running.
In FY24, PARD made a complete replacement of
the bulkhead wall dividing the deep and shallow
sides of the pool due to growing cracks. The
project was completed during three winter months
to minimize disruption to swimmers. At the same
time, the aging pool lights were replaced with new
LED light towers increasing energy efficiency.
City Council District 10
Deep Eddy Pool
161
Days of Filming
$30,550
Filming Revenue
231
Photo Permits
$4,550
Photo Permits Revenue
$2,466,297
Rental Revenue
1,990
Picnic and Facility
Rentals
90
Special Events
1,088,350
Special Event
Park Visitors
7,120
Fitness Group
Participants
Brush Square was honored with designation
as a Lone Star Legacy Park by the Texas
Recreation and Park Society in February.
A Lone Star Legacy Park is a park that holds
special prominence in the local community
and the state of Texas, must be a minimum
of 50 years old and meet criteria related to
historic, architectural, and natural significance.
Brush Square was designated as one of
four public squares in the 1839 original plat
of Austin. Before it was developed into a park
in 1913, it was used as a public market and
cotton yard.
Three historic buildings are located on the
square, including The O. Henry Museum,
relocated in 1934; Central Fire Station #1,
constructed in 1938; and the Susanna
Dickinson Museum, relocated in 2001.
City Council District 9
Brush Square
Organization | Award / Recognition | Project |
Landscape Architecture Foundation | Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) 2024 Case Study Investigation program | Waterloo Park |
Texas Recreation and Parks Society | Lone Star Legacy Park | Brush Square |
Earth.fm | The Quietest Places in the World's Loudest Cities | Mayfield Park |
Austin Chronicle | Readers Poll (Kids & Family): Best Playground | Pease Park |
Critic's Choice (Sports and Recreation): Best Troll with a Purpose | Malin's Fountain, Thomas Dambo troll, Pease Park | |
Readers Poll (Sports and Recreation): Best Swimming Pool | Barton Springs | |
Readers Poll (Sports and Recreation): Best Hike/Bike Trail | Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail | |
Readers Poll (Sports and Recreation): Best Place to Walk | Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail | |
Readers Poll (Sports and Recreation): Best Golf Course | Butler Pitch n Putt | |
Austin Monthly | Readers Choice: Best Dog Park | Zilker Metro Park |
Readers Choice: Best Hiking Trail | Barton Springs Greenbelt Walnut Creek Hike and Bike Trail | |
Readers Choice: Best Golf Course | Butler Pitch n Putt; Lions Municipal | |
Readers Choice: Best Park | Zilker Metro Park; Pease Park | |
Readers Choice: Best Water Activity | Barton Springs | |
Readers Choice: Best Tourist Attraction | Zilker Botanical Garden | |
The New York Times | Bikes + Water: 5 Rides Perfect for the Fall | Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail |
PARD Projects Pursuing Sustainability Certifications
LEED
Pharr Tennis Center
Parque Zaragoza Bathhouse
Asian American Resource Center Pavilion
Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse
Zilker Maintenance Barn
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Expansion
ENVISION
Sunken Gardens
SITES
Brownie Neighborhood Park
Colony Park Pool
Creek Delta at Waterloo Greenway
Brush Square
Walter E. Long Park
Montopolis Pool
Palm Park
John Trevino Jr. Park
Northwest Pool
Givens Pool
Pharr Tennis Center