REGULAR MEETING OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD AUGUST 24, 2026 – 6:00 PM CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ROOM 1001 301 W. 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Parks and Recreation Board may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak, click here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/Vf169dFDfz or call or email Tim Dombeck, (512) 974-6716, Tim.Dombeck@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Stephanie Bazan (D-5), Chair Lane Becker (Mayor), Vice Chair Shelby Orme (D-1) Pedro Villalobos (D-2) Nicole Merritt (D-3) Maritza Kelley (D-4) Luai Abou-Emara (D-6) Diane Kearns-Osterweil (D-7) AGENDA Kim Taylor (D-8) Jennifer Franklin (D-9) Ted Eubanks (D-10) CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of July 27, 2026. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for the Parks Rx program which seeks to create positive developmental, physical and mental health outcomes through exposing children to nature. (Sponsors: Bazan, Becker) Presenter(s): Marybeth Wootan-Holst, MD and Sam Williams, DO MBA, Chief Residents, UT Austin Dell Medical School Pediatric Residency Program Discussion and approve an appointment to the Parks and Recreation Board’s seat on the Joint Sustainability Committee. (Sponsors: Bazan, Becker) Discussion and amend the 2026 Parks and Recreation Board annual meeting schedule to move the regular scheduled meeting on November 23, 2026 to November 30, 2026. (Sponsors: Bazan, Becker) Page 1 of 2 5. Discussion and approve changing the location of the November 23, 2026 regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board from City Hall Council Chambers to the City of Austin Permitting and Development Center at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX 78752. (Sponsors: Bazan, Becker) STAFF BRIEFINGS 6. Staff briefing on Parks and Recreation Department community engagement events, planning updates, development updates, maintenance updates, program updates and administrative updates. (Sponsors: Bazan, Becker) Presenter(s): Jesús Aguirre, Austin …
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES JULY 27, 2026 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES JULY 27, 2026 The PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD convened in a REGULAR meeting on JULY 27, 2026 at 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Bazan called the PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD Meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Stephanie Bazan, Luai Abou-Emara, Diane Kearns-Osterweil, Maritza Kelley, Pedro Villalobos. Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Lane Becker, Ted Eubanks, Jennifer Franklin. Board Members Absent: Nicole Merritt, Shelby Orme, Kim Taylor. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Katie Robillard - Austin Parks Foundation Aubrea Rudder - Austin Rowing Club Patricia Bobeck - Fishing in Barton Springs Chris Flores - Trail updates added to City website Piper LeMoine - Rancho Alegre APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of June 22, 2026. The motion to approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Board regular meeting of June 22, 2026 was approved on Chair Bazan’s motion, Board Member Abou-Emara’s second on an 8-0 vote. Board Members Merritt, Orme and Taylor absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Presentation, discussion and approve letters of support for Golf staff who completed the restoration of ponds at Roy Kizer and Jimmy Clay golf courses, which both added challenge to course play and created habitat for waterfowl. Lucas Massis, Assistant Director and Steve Hammond, Golf Division Manager, Austin Parks and Recreation gave a presentation and answered questions on the reasons for project delays, how bentonite will perform on the sloped walls of the pond, documentation of waterfowl species, the Christmas bird count and wetland vegetation. Page 1 of 2 PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES JULY 27, 2026 The motion to approve letters of support for Golf staff who completed the restoration of ponds at Roy Kizer and Jimmy Clay golf courses, which both added challenge to course play and created habitat for waterfowl was approved on Board Member Villalobos’ motion, Board Member Abou-Emara’s second on an 8-0 vote. Board Members Merritt, Orme and Taylor absent. 3. Approve the Parks and Recreation Board Annual Internal Review and Report. Board Members discussed a change to section B, changes to prioritized goals, and accessibility. The motion to approve the Parks and Recreation Board Annual Internal Review and Report was approved on Board Member Villalobos’s motion, Board Member Kearns-Osterweil’s second on an 8-0 vote. Board Members …
Prescribe Outside Implementing a Parks Rx Program in a Pediatric Residency Marybeth Wootan Holst, MD & Samuel Williams, DO MBA Project Overview Objective Launch a Nature Prescription Program at Community Care Pflugerville that integrates pediatric resident nature education with practical tools to introduce nature prescriptions into clinical care. Target Population (Ages 4-18): Elevated BMI (>85th percentile) Excessive daily screen time Behavioral or mental health concerns Stressful social situations Clinical Goals Resident Training: Comprehensive education on the therapeutic value of nature and efficient clinical delivery. Goal: Nature prescriptions discussed and documented in at least 50% of applicable visits. Community Scaling: Strengthening local healthcare and community partnerships. Metric Success: Validation through provider surveys and objective chart review. Partnership: Austin PARD Provided Materials Patient Integration • • • • Clinically-designed posters & brochures QR code on each prescription for families to Professional Prescription Pads Interactive Provider Training Kits Localized Travis County Park Maps connect with Austin PARD resources and provide feedback to parks department. www.austintexas.gov/pardrx Project Materials (Sponsored by Austin PARD) Measuring Outcomes Chart Reviews - Baseline chart review (Aug-Nov 2024) - Mid-point chart review (Sept-Dec 2025) - Final chart review (Jan-Apr 2026) Resident and Staff Surveys - Survey conducted before and after resident training Survey Results: Confidence and Frequency Survey Results: Perceived Effectiveness/Importance Survey Results: Resident Knowledge Check Universal Benefit Beyond Exercise - Even healthy children significantly benefit - Activity-based prescriptions are not the from nature prescriptions only way nature provides benefits Key Insights & Lessons Learned EMR Tools Partnership Time Barriers Simple, accessible Strategic relationship with Efficient workflow remains documentation tools are crucial Austin PARD very rewarding. the #1 challenge for busy for sustained clinical success. pediatric providers. Next Steps Program Sustainability: Future residents, outpatient clinic subcommittee PDSA Cycles: - Patient focus groups - Patient outcomes/barriers Expansion: - Consider partnership with Pflugerville Parks & Recreation Dept - ParksRx America Dissemination: Texas Children in Nature Network Summit (2026), TPS/Dell Med Research Day (2027) Questions? References 1. Petrunoff N, Yao J, Sia A, Ng A, Ramiah A, Wong M, Han J, Tai BC, Uijtdewilligen L, Müller-Riemenschneider F. Activity in nature mediates a park prescription intervention's effects on physical activity, park use and quality of life: a mixed-methods process evaluation. BMC Public Health. 2021 Jan 22;21(1):204. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-10177-1. PMID: 33482787; PMCID: PMC7825241. 2. Razani N, Kohn MA, Wells NM, Thompson D, Hamilton Flores H, Rutherford GW. Design and evaluation of a park prescription program …
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD 2026 MEETING SCHEDULE (4th Monday of each month, except May, November and December, and May 19th and November 30th at 6:00 p.m.) January 26, 2026 February 23, 2026 March 23, 2026 April 27, 2026 May 19 18, 2026 – Permitting and Development Center June 22, 2026 July 27, 2026 August 24, 2026 September 28, 2026 October 26, 2026 November 23 30 , 2026
AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR’S UPDATE August 2026 Recreation Services Division Dottie Jordan - Sibshop Summer Squad Dottie Jordan Recreation Center hosted the Sibshop Summer Squad, giving youth the chance to explore Austin and connect with peers through meaningful conversations about being siblings of children with disabilities. Recreation Ambassadors The Recreation Ambassador program provides free recreational activities at underutilized parks, led by City of Austin employee volunteers. The Recreation Services Division coordinated the event, “Art in Nature” at Ponciana Park on Saturday August 8, 2026. There were 9 kids and 8 adults that participated Community Recreation Division Northwest Recreation Center Teen Challenge • Hosted the Final Teen Challenge on July 31 with 100+ teens from across Austin. • Featured volleyball, Mario Kart, and rock-climbing challenges. District 7 George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center – Annual Back to School Bash • Distributed 5,000+ backpacks to local families on August 8. • More than 2,500 people attended, and all backpacks were distributed. District 2 Montopolis Recreation Center – VG Aqua Tai Chi • Launched its first Aqua Tai Chi program, reaching 20 participants each week. • Participants reported reduced stress, improved endurance, and increased energy. District 3 South Austin Recreation Center – Banana Blitz • Partnered with H-E-B for a summer initiative addressing childhood food insecurity. • All 60 Summer Camp participants participated in the event. District 3 Natural Resources Division Austin Nature and Science Center and Camacho Summer Camps Summer rains brought cooler temperatures and a vibrant backdrop for outdoor adventures during Nature Programs’ summer camps. More than 1,130 campers hiked, biked, kayaked, caved, climbed, and camped across Austin and Central Texas, covering more than 1,500 trail miles. Arborist Training Program APR Forestry implemented a standardized training program combining online coursework with hands-on field assessments to strengthen crew technical skills. After two years, the program has improved retention and proficiency, with five employees completing the program and two advancing to crew lead positions. Photo Credits: Camacho Activity Center, Lil Bikers Program Aquatic Division Aquatic Maintenance • A new UV system was installed at Eastwoods Splashpad to enhance water treatment reliability. • Walnut Creek received multiple upgrades; a replacement diving board and a new ADA-compliant shower in the women’s restroom; the men’s shower is scheduled for installation on August 11, 2026. Barton Springs • The final session of the snorkeling class was successfully completed, marking a positive end to the program for …
