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Austin Parks and Recreation Department George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center Facility Expansion Phases 1a and 1b African American Resource Advisory Commission Tuesday, March 4, 2025 Overview • Meet the Team • Council-Approved 2021 Facility Expansion Plan • Carver Facility Expansion Phase 1a and 1b Improvements • Community Engagement • Next Steps • Stay Informed Meet the Team Parks and Recreation Department • Anthony “Tony” Hron, Associate Project Manager (SPOC) • Adrienne O’Keefe, Communications and Engagement Specialist • Marjorie Flanagan, Division Manager Museums and Cultural Programs • Carver Staff: Carre Adams, J. Savannah, Christine Pasculado, Dawn Burnside, and Freddie Crocheron Adisa Communications • Shuronda Robinson, CEO/President • Millie Williams, Project Manager Council-Approved 2021 Facility Expansion Plan A 2000 Feasibility Study outlined an expansion plan for the Carver Museum which led to the construction of the facility you see today. In 2021, Council approved a new Facility Expansion Plan, which incorporated extensive community engagement, ensuring the Carver remains a hub for history, education, and culture. Phase 1a and 1b are the first facility expansion recommendations identified in the 2021 plan. Carver Phase 1a and 1b Improvements Phase 1a: Building Renovations • New multi-purpose room in existing administrative suite • New mezzanine-level administrative suite above the museum • New elevator for accessing administrative suite • Relocation of Juneteenth statues Phase 1b: Outdoor Spaces & Site Improvements • New outdoor classrooms • New community garden • Renovation of existing public restrooms • New flexible event lawn with covered pavilion Community Engagement Scope Inform: • New mezzanine-level administrative suite above the museum (collaborate with Carver staff) • New elevator for accessing administrative suite • Renovation of existing public restrooms Involve: • New multi-purpose room in existing administrative suite • New outdoor classrooms • New community garden • New flexible event lawn with covered pavilion • Relocation of Juneteenth Statues Community Outreach Activities Social Media Neighborhood Meetings & Public Events Email Invites • • • Social Media Parks & Recreation George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center Adisa Communications • Meetings • Survey • Partnership with SoulCiti Flyers • Newsletters • • Distributed by Parks & Recreation COA Recreation Centers George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center Adisa Communications Carver Vision Semi-Permanent Installation Informational displays installed onsite • • Transparency Trust Relationship Building Stakeholder Meetings Website Online Survey Community Engagement Nine Community Meetings in December through February 10 Participants @ 12.5.24 Ambassador/ATX Foundation Meeting 3 Participants @ 12.7.24 Open House 14 Participants @12.10.24 Carver Staff Meeting 4 Participants @ 12.10.24 Open House 1 Participants @ 12.17.24 Small Group Discussion 10 Participants @ 1.7.25 Small Group Discussion 16 Participants @ 1.11.25 Small Group Discussion 12 Participants @ 1.16.25 Small Group Discussion 20 Participants @ 2.8.25 Community Input Results Open House 14 Participants – Staff Survey 59 Participants – Public Survey • • • • • • • • • • • Community Input 9 Meetings Held 90 Total Participants 14 Staff Participants 46 Liberatory Insight Statements 42 Insight Statements Related to Design 59 Total Surveys Completed 70 Survey Comments Received Next Steps • March 2025: Adisa delivers final Community-engagement Report • April 2025: COA hires architect • Spring 2025: Architect begins design • Winter 2025: Project team shares conceptual design with community Current available funding will provide preliminary design documents and construction cost estimates. Future Bond funding will be necessary to complete construction design documents, permitting, and construction. Stay Informed • Stay informed on all project information on our project webpage: www.austintexas.gov/carverphase1 Questions? Additional Information Additional Information Demographic Data – Age and Race/Ethnicity 55-64: 33% 45-54: 29% 35-44: 21% 25-34: 9% 65 or older: 8% African American/Black: 73% White/Caucasian: 23% Hispanic/Latinx: 4% *Participants were not required to provide demographic data Demographic Data – Type and Council District What Council District do you call home? District 1: Harper-Madison District 2: Fuentes District 3: Velasquez District 4: Vela District 5: Ryan Alter District 6: Kelly District 7: Pool District 8: Ellis District 9: Qadri District 10: Alison Alter I don't know I don't live in Austin 39.13% 8.70% 8.70% 13.04% 4.35% 4.35% 4.35% 13.04% 43% Community Member, 23% COA Employee *Participants were not required to provide demographic data 3. 2. Indoor Multipurpose Room 1. Community Input Process Open public discussions were held to better understand the community’s wants and needs in five specific areas of the new facility. Event Lawn With Covered Pavillion 1. What kinds of events, classes, or workshops would best support the needs and interests of the community in the new multi-purpose room? How can we make sure there’s space for both large and small gatherings? How can we ensure that people of all ages and backgrounds—whether kids, adults, or elders—feel welcome and can fully participate in using the new multi-purpose room? What features or tools would make this space most useful for everyone’s needs, so that it can support a wide variety of events, activities, and learning opportunities? As we design this space to be accessible to all, what important features (like lighting, seating, or space for mobility) should we prioritize to make sure it’s comfortable and easy for everyone to use? How can we make sure these spaces help people learn together, share ideas, and give everyone a chance to be heard? What kind of events or activities do you think could happen on the event lawn with the covered pavilion? This space will be designed to be easy for everyone to use. What special features (like lighting, seating, or space for moving around) do you think are most important? What could we add to the covered pavilion to make it better for outdoor events? How important is it for this event space to be easy to access? Are there any special needs for people who might have trouble moving around or need other help? 4. 3. 5. 4. 2. Outdoor Classrooms 1. What kinds of classes, talks, or workshops do you think would work well in outdoor classrooms? Are there any Carver programs that could use this space? How could outdoor classrooms be used by different groups of people, like kids, older adults, families, or school groups? What would make an outdoor classroom the best place for learning and having fun at the museum? Community Garden 1. What role do you think the community garden should play in the new museum space? How can the garden show the history and culture of Austin’s African American community and George Washington Carver’s work with farming? What kinds of plants or features would make the garden both fun and educational? Should the garden be more about people getting involved and working together, or should it mainly show off local plants and farming? Relocation of Juneteenth Statues 1. Is there something special about where the Juneteenth statues are now that might make it a bad idea to move them? How do you feel about moving the statues to a different spot on the museum grounds? Which of the new spots do you think would be the best place to honor the statues' history and meaning? How could moving the statues to a new place make the experience better for visitors, especially for those learning about Austin’s African American history and culture? 2. 3. 2. 3. 4. 2. 3. 4. Community Priorities Indoor Multipurpose Area New Community Garden Outdoor Classrooms Flexible Lawn w Covered Pavillion Relocation of Juneteenth Statues Make it Flexible Honor Carver's Legacy Make it Cool and Comfortable Celebrate Community and Culture Cultural Interpretation and Storytelling Empowering Community Creatives Add a Kitchen Work Together Welcome Everyone Lean from Carver's Legacy Peaceful Spaces for Reflection Make it Learning Fun and Inspiring Combine Comfort and Culture Move the Statues to a Special Spot Celebrate Juneteenth's Connection to the Carver Make it Easy to Use Keep it Going Freedom and Flexibility Honor Black History Easy for Everyone to Use