D1-1: PARD Director's Report, April 2022 — original pdf

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PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD DIRECTOR’S REPORT DATE: April 2022 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS: Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan: With the close of Community Survey #5 on April 10, the Parks and Recreation Department (Department) and the consultant team are working to compile and analyze the input received on the plan's three draft concepts via survey data, comments, small group discussions, and pop-up events. This included engagement with resident councils of the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA), Black Women Who Kayak, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, and Zilker Park Collective Impact Working Group to name a few, as well as pop-ups at the Kite Festival and several Department Recreation Centers. The team met to discuss the plan concepts with the District 5 Council Office and will soon meet with the District 8 Council Office. Department outreach efforts to increase representation in all districts and to engage in conversations centered on equity and inclusion will continue, including further engagement with HACA, the Boys & Girls Club, and Austin Area Urban League. More information including the draft concepts and survey may be found on the project website at https://www.austintexas.gov/ZilkerVision Districts 5 and 8 Ridgeline Neighborhood Park: Virtual Community Engagement Meeting #2 took place on April 21, 2022, at 5:30 PM. The project team reviewed survey responses from Meeting #1 and presented an illustrative concept plan to the public. Staff had additional survey questions to engage the public on specific preferences for play equipment and amenities. The goal of this project is to provide visible and safe access to the park and install amenities that work within environmental constraints. The current lack of a street sidewalk and safe access to the park inhibits having an on-site outreach event. This project is funded through Parkland Dedication fees. https://www.austintexas.gov/RidgelinePark District 6 Current conditions at Ridgeline Neighborhood Park 1  Dougherty Arts Center Replacement Virtual Community Meeting: The DAC Replacement online event will be held on Monday, April 25 at 7 p.m. The project team will share the current status of the facility design and information on the Art in Public Places (AIPP) opportunities that will be made available through this bond-funded project. Virtual Community Meeting Monday, April 25, 7 p.m. Registration Link Facebook Livestream District 9 Pan Am Park Renaming Virtual and In-Person Community Meeting: On February 17, 2022, a complete application to rename Pan American Neighborhood Park was received, proposing to rename the park to Tony Castillo Pan American Neighborhood Park to honor more than 65 years of service to East Austin and the Pan Am complex. A virtual community meeting will be held Thursday, April 28 at 7 p.m. An in- person community meeting will be held Saturday, April 30 at 10:30 a.m. At each meeting, attendees will learn about the renaming process, background of the park and Tony Castillo, and have the opportunity to discuss the possible name change. Virtual Community Meeting Thursday, April 28, 7:00 p.m. Registration Link District 3 Asian American Resource Center Phase 2 Community Kickoff Meeting: On March 29th, the Asian American Resource Center hosted a Phase 2 Community Kickoff Meeting to introduce the performing arts center and associated programming project to the community, share the community engagement process, and identify community members who would share the survey and project in the community. The project team from PARD, Public Works and Trahan Architects had a short presentation and breakout stations. Interpreters were provided in Vietnamese, Burmese, Korean, and Mandarin along with childcare. The community kickoff meeting was followed by three small group meetings conducted in Vietnamese, Korean, and Burmese. Attendance was 48. More information can be found on the project’s website: https://www.austintexas.gov/department/asian-american-resource-center-phase-2-improvements. District 1. 2  Lifeguard Recruiting: The Aquatic Division will continue lifeguard recruiting efforts at the following locations. • 04/19/2022 -PARD Hiring Fair – South Austin Senior Activity Center – District 5 • 04/19/2022- Anderson High Lunch time recruiting – District 10 • 04/20/2022 – Anderson High Lunch time recruiting – District 10 • 04/20/2022 - Dittmar Senior Event – Casino Evening – District 2 • 04/21/2022 – Brentwood Christian School – District 7 • 04/21/2022 – St. Edwards University – District 3 As of April 8th, there are 298 online applicants and a total of 158 lifeguards ready to work. All Districts Tree Planting: Potential Today Show Tree Planting at Onion Creek Soccer Complex, Friday, April 22nd, 7:30 am. District 2 Nature Day: Austin Nature Day at Austin Nature and Science Center on Saturday, April 23rd, 9 am-12 noon. District 8. In-Person Community Meeting Oswaldo A.B. Cantu Pan American Recreation Center 2100 East 3rd St., Austin, TX 78702 Saturday, April 30, 10:30 a.m. Project Webpage District 3 PLANNING UPDATES: Project Connect: Department staff continues to collaborate with the Project Connect, Blue Line and Orange Line teams. Recent activity includes: • Department staff asked to be involved in more real estate discussions regarding Austin Transit Partnership acquisitions of parkland, including full taking of title, permanent easements, and temporary easements. The Project Connect office will be coordinating. The Department has questions about the effects of each taking and the process. The Department asked that language go into an agreement (such as the Joint Powers Agreement) to give assurance that funds awarded go to the Department rather than the general fund. • The Department has been meeting with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department about the 6F process of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, and how it would apply to Auditorium Shores, Shoal Beach, and Walnut Creek Metro Park. A “conversion” process will replace this land, once the lands are appraised, and the National Park Service agrees that this is appropriate. • The Department reviewed Blue Line 30% drawings and technical documents. • There will be a meeting on the Lady Bird Lake Bridge on April 26. Project Connect has requested that the Department host a separate meeting on Waller Creek Boathouse. More information can be found at the project website: https://www.capmetro.org/project-connect Districts: Multiple 3  305 S. Congress “Statesman” Planned Unit Development Amendment (PUD): The item was approved by City Council on First Reading on April 7 (Item 67), inclusive of Planning Commission recommendations (e.g. the developer will cover the costs of specific park amenities), and inclusive of a requirement for a public planning process for the park to be led by the Department. The item will come back for second (and possibly third) reading in June. District 9 Bolm District Park: Department staff has initiated the Bolm District Park Vision Plan project. Funding in has been secured for the project through the 2018 Bond Program. Staff submitted a request to procure a firm from the Landscape Architecture Rotation List to develop the vision plan. Upon procurement, staff will work with this consultant to develop the scope. The project is anticipated to start in the fall of 2022 with community engagement starting in early 2023. The vision plan process is anticipated to take about a year. District 3 4  DEVELOPMENT UPDATES: Seaholm Intake Building Phase 1 Rehabilitation: Construction began in October 2021 to rehabilitate the Seaholm Intake Facility, a contributing structure to the Seaholm Power Plant National Historic Register District. The building has a strong civic presence in the cityscape of downtown Austin and showcases a unique period of American Art Deco, municipal architecture, and Public Works engineering. The Department will request Council authorization to execute an amendment to the current construction contract on April 21, 2022. The project consists of a series of historically appropriate interventions to rehabilitate the iconic Seaholm Intake Facility and make it safe and habitable for small programs and events. Balfour Beatty Construction Group, Inc. is the selected contractor. The nature of the intake facility allowed the entry of water from Lady Bird Lake to fill ten interior wells and be pumped to the Seaholm Power Plant when it was in operation. Sealing of the intake gates was necessary to eliminate water from being continuously present within the building. Nine of the ten wells have been successfully sealed off. While pumping the water out of the building, leaks were discovered in one of the wells which will require additional work by the underwater construction crew. The amendment will need to be approved to meet the agreed upon construction completion date in June. This project is funded by 2018 General Obligation Bonds, Hotel Occupancy Tax and Parkland Dedication funds. District 9 https://www.austintexas.gov/department/seaholm-intake-implementation Seaholm Intake Building 5  Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC) Phase 2 Improvements: The Joint Venture Miró Rivera Architects + Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO (JV MRA+TBE) has completed the Schematic Design for the Phase 2 project and has received approvals from the required Boards and Commissions. The JV MRA+TBE will present the Schematic Design to the Downtown Commission on April 20, 2022. The project moves forward into Design Development to complete the Design Phase of work. This project follows the guidelines as outlined in the Council-approved ESB-MACC Phase 2 Plan for building expansion and renovation. Funding is available through the voter approved 2018 General Obligation Bonds in the amount of $27 million. District 9 www.austintexas.gov/MaccPhase2 Downs Field Grandstands Rehabilitation: Downs Field is a historic baseball field in the heart of East Austin on E. 12th Street. Designated as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, the field is sited along the Upper Boggy Creek Urban Trail, which connects Downs Field to the MLK Metrorail Station. The property’s history as a sports landmark dates to the 1914 purchase by the leadership of Samuel Huston College, a Historically Black University, which used the field as the college’s baseball stadium beginning in the late 1920s. Eventually becoming Huston-Tillotson University (HTU), the field continues to be used as the HTU Rams home field and hosts the games of the Austin Metro Baseball League. The renovation of Downs Field Grandstands is scheduled to be complete by May 6, 2022. The rehabilitation preserved the grandstands’ historic architectural features and included structural upgrades to replace the roof framing and reinforce the steel columns and footings. The project also addressed lead-based paint abatement and remediation. This project was funded through Hotel Occupancy Tax allocation, and the construction work was performed by Brown & Root Industrial Services. Planning for an event to celebrate the renovation is underway, targeting early summer. District 1 Former baseball players stand at the entrance of the newly renovated Downs Field. Photo credit: Hakeem Adewumi 6  Waterloo Greenway – The Confluence (formerly Creek Delta): On April 13, 2022, the Waller Creek Local Government Corporation approved both Addendum 5 to The Confluence Construction Documentation, Permitting and Bidding Phase Plan for the TxDOT/ATD Grading Study at 4th and the Day for Night Art Project presented by the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy. Additionally, a press release will be issued on April 25 to announce receipt of a $2.5 million grant by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last month. This marked the first infusion of federal dollars into the Greenway and is part of the U.S. Army Corps’ 2022 Fiscal Year nationwide investment provided through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Through further discussions and scoping exercises with the Corp over the past month, they have committed an additional $6.5 million to be allocated to the project for this Fiscal Year, bringing the total to $9 million for FY22. Districts 1 and 9 Walsh Boat Landing Restroom Renovation: Construction at the existing Walsh Boat Landing Restrooms began on April 13, 2022, to bring the restroom building into ADA compliance. Improvements will include new plumbing fixtures, stall partitions, and lighting. The parking lot and boat ramp will remain open during construction and portable toilets will be provided for public use. The project is anticipated to be completed in June 2022. Funded by 2018 Bonds for ADA Improvements. District 10 Renovation floor plan and current conditions of the Walsh Boat Landing Restroom Construction Completion – Emma Long Metropolitan Park – Phase I Implementation: Emma Long Metropolitan Park is located at 1706 City Park Road and is a popular destination for residents and vacationers. On September 14, 2020, construction started and the park remained open while implementing a phased approach. However, the project experienced construction delays due to weather, the pandemic, labor shortages, and material delays. Substantial completion for the project is expected in May 2022. The project was funded through the 2012 & 2018 GO Bond, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Local Parks Urban Outdoor Recreation Program grant, site parking/entry fees, and Parkland Dedication fees. District 10 https://www.austintexas.gov/department/emma-long-metropolitan-park-improvements 7  MAINTENANCE UPDATES: Dick Nichols District Park - Parking Lot Rehab & ADA Improvements: Maintenance and ADA compliance repairs will begin at Dick Nichols Park on April 25 as part of the Asphalt IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery/ Indefinite Quantities) Contract. Work will include the replacement of existing non-compliant sidewalks and parking spaces near the pool and basketball court. Other improvements will include new wheel stops, new asphalt overlay for the entire parking lot and new striping. This project has been prioritized to reach completion prior to the pool opening on June 1, 2022, and will provide ADA compliance for pool users. The contractor will stage work so the parking lot and the park could remain open during construction. Funding comes from 2018 Bonds for ADA and Parking Improvements. District 8 Current conditions at Dick Nichols District Park Turner Roberts Recreation Center Facility Repairs: Facility renovations and repair continue at Turner Roberts Recreation Center. The project sub-contractors have completed the necessary inspections and reports of the facility space before moving forward with the next stage in repairs. Completion of the project has been pushed back to early June. District 1 Givens Recreation Center: Givens Recreation Center recently completed the demolition of flooring in the lobby and office area in anticipation of the facility renovation. In addition to the demolition, an asbestos abatement was also done in preparation of the project. New flooring was laid down in the lobby, and office areas. District 1 Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center: Reconstruction of the sidewalk and walkway at Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center is set to begin late April/early May. The project should take around 45 calendar days to complete and will require the site to close the front entrance, portion of the drive aisle, and handicap space to build the new walkway and handicap parking. The parking lot will remain open during this work and access to the west drive, dumpster, and west side of the building will be open. Once complete, the site will open the front entrance and close the parking spaces, both entrances, dumpster access for 8  repaving. The public will need to park on the street but will be able to walk to the main entrance. District 3 Pan Am Recreation Center: Pan Am Recreation Center continues to move forward with the renovation of the building space to include the addition of security cameras inside and around the exterior of the building. The site recently hosted their maintenance week that included repairs and repainting of the facilities indoor space. Remaining tasks in the project includes new basketball goals and new gym wall pads. District 3 Conley Guerrero Senior Activity Center – Drain Issues: Drains in the women’s shower and men’s shower have been analyzed with repair plans being implemented. Completion estimated to be end of April. Hot Water Heater: Working on drain repair at Conley Guerrero Senior Activity Center. The hot water heater is not working in the main building. We are in the process of developing a plan to correct the issue with the hot water heater. District 1. Lamar Senior Activity Center – Asbestos Abatement: South Hall (four program spaces, two offices and two rest rooms) will close mid-April for asbestos abatement. Central Maintenance Complex will complete the needed wall and will hire contractors to install new flooring in the rooms and lobby office. Repair estimated to be completed by end of May. District 9 The Aquatic Division will continue getting pools operational for summer with cleaning shifts and coordinating with maintenance for any repairs. A tiered opening schedule has also been established that is reflective of the number of guards who can be onboarded. Headguard/Manager trainings and cashier trainings continue in order to be ready for the charging season. Many of the paper forms being used on site have been digitized in an effort to reduce the amount of paper used, collected and filed. Microsoft Forms is being utilized then stored in Department Sharepoint folder allowing quicker access to onsite chemical readings, Maintenance and Supply needs. All Districts Roy Kizer Golf Course Closure: Roy Kizer Golf Course will be completely closed April 11th for greens resurfacing with the expected re-opening date of August 1st. The sod stripping has been completed on holes 10-18. During the closure, the entire family of golf courses will be open as well as all practice facilities. District 2 Dittmar Recreation Center: Athletic field lights have been installed on the sports field in Dittmar Park. These lights will allow youth and adult sports leagues to practice and play games in the evenings after the sun goes down. District 2 9  Montopolis Recreation and Community Center: The rain garden at the Montopolis Recreation and Community Center was overgrown with invasive trees and plant. The Parks and Recreation Department has completed the clearing of a rain garden at the Montopolis Recreation and Community Center. District 3 Gus Garcia Recreation Center: Construction workers are finished erecting the light fixtures and installing electrical power at the Outdoor Basketball/Pickleball court & Soccer field at the Gus Garcia Recreation Center. Grass is being planted around the area surrounding the court. Lines for both basketball and pickleball will be painted as soon as the concrete completely dries. Electrical power source is being installed at the soccer fields for their lights. Expected completion of these two projects is the first or second week of April 2022. District 4 PROGRAM UPDATES: Parque Zaragoza 90th Anniversary Celebration: The Department’s Historic Preservation, Tourism and Wayfinding Program is supporting efforts to promote and celebrate the history of Parque Zaragoza Neighborhood Park. The Department is currently coordinating the listing of Parque Zaragoza to the National Register of Historic Places and has developed a promotional video about the history of the park that will be released this spring. The Amigos de Parque Zaragoza, a park partner group, is holding at celebration of the park’s 90th Anniversary on Saturday, May 14, 2022. District 3 10  Nature Play Guidelines: The Cities Connecting Children to Nature initiative recently published a new document guiding City staff and Partners on the best practices for the design, installation, maintenance, and management of nature play. Nature Play aligns with wider City goals, including Strategic Direction 2023, Imagine Austin, and the Parks & Recreation Long Range Plan, through the reuse of natural materials, play installations which provide healthy and accessible means for recreation, leveraging partnerships, and community co-creation. In addition to PARD-led projects like the nature play features seen at Walnut Creek Metro, we are also starting to see Partners and community members advocate for and install nature play spaces throughout the city. These Guidelines will help bring clarity and consistency around the most frequently asked questions about nature play, including safety and liability concerns. Districts: All Examples of nature play at Walnut Creek Metro Park Alamo Recreation Center - Lone Star Award from the Texas Recreation and Parks Society: The Lone Star Award from the Texas Recreation and Parks Society was awarded this year for the expansion of Therapeutic Adult Day Programming at Alamo Recreation Center which is a new facility offering therapeutic recreation programming. Establishing three new programs thereby expanding Therapeutic Recreation Services to the underserved community of adults with disabilities on the North and East sides of Austin. Three programs, Healthy Aging, The Hangout, and Capital City Explorers, focus on promoting independence through goal driven recreational programming, community integration, and leisure education. Each of these programs has filled needs that were not previously addressed including a community-based program from young adults, a program for participants needing support and a program for seniors. District 1 11  McBeth Recreation Center – Special Olympics Texas Basketball Competition: On Saturday, March 12th athletes from McBeth Recreation Center’s Adaptive Basketball program participated in the Special Olympics Area basketball tournament at Texas State University. McBeth Recreation Center was represented by six basketball teams and 50 participants. All teams represented the City of Austin with pride and demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship while being awarded two gold, one silver and three bronze medals. District 8 McBeth’s Good Neighbor Adventure Club, Alamo Recreation Center’s Capital City Explorers, and residents from the MaryLee Foundation. District 8 McBeth Recreation Center – Community Connect APD Field Day: On April 4th McBeth Recreation Center partnered with the Austin Police department for the second annual field day event. The event is a unique opportunity for APD cadets in training to engage with adults with intellectual disabilities while participating in yard games and sport activities. This event is part of Austin Police Department’s Community Connect program which is focused on offering progressive opportunities and a well-rounded understanding of Austin’s disability community. Activities offered included kickball, t-ball, corn hole, obstacle courses and soccer. APD had 80 cadets in attendance with 85 adults with intellectual disabilities from 12  Pan Am Recreation Center: The City of Austin Pam Am Recreation continues the S.T.E.M. program every Wednesday in partnership with Austin Police Athletic League (PAL). The program is held once a week in the gym and includes curriculum focused on science and technology for after school program youths 10-12 years of age. The PAL team provided different units within the police department interacting with the participants through instruction and practice of police procedures. The first class included the police robotics unit that provided a demonstration of drone usage. Each child was allowed to operate a drone under instruction. Special thanks to APD and the PAL unit for their collaboration to provide auxillary programming for Pan Am’s afterschool program. District 3 Pan Am Recreation Center: This past month, Pan American Recreation center partnered with the University of Texas (UT) to provide a new activity called Dream Outside the Box (DOTB) for the after- school program. Week one included getting to know the staff and creating “dream journals” that talked about what they aspire to be when they grow up. The new program began last week and will run to the end of the school year every Monday from 4:30-6 pm. Each week’s curriculum centers on a job or a skill, with the participants learning about that skill hands on. An industry professional will also come out to talk to the group. This past week the children learned about gardening and got a chance to work with the University of Texas volunteers in the Pan Am Community Garden. District 3 Dittmar Recreation Center: • Dittmar Recreation Center is hosting a youth soccer clinic for ages 5-12 from April 4th through April 29th. Participants will learn more about soccer through drills and skills challenges. There were 61 registered to participate. • Dittmar Recreation Center is teaming up with Westlake High School for their Senior Service Day on April 8th. Westlake High School will be sending 10 student volunteers to Dittmar Recreation Center to assist Dittmar with trash pickup in the park and landscaping projects. • Dittmar Recreation Center hosted a Bringing Seniors Together event on March 24th from 10 am- 1 pm. All recreation centers transported their Varsity Generation participants to Dittmar Recreation Center to participate in casino style games during this fun event. The event had 27 participants. District 2 13  Montopolis Recreation and Community Center: Montopolis Recreation and Community Center is continuing to team up with Austin Public Health and Foundation Communities to offer free tax preparation services for community members. Tax services will run from February 28th-April 17th. 250 families were provided assistance with tax preparation services. District 3 South Austin Recreation Center (SARC): Bark in the Park, March 25th from 5 pm-7 pm. With field renovations complete, South Austin Park has become a popular dog and owner hub for the neighborhood. In appreciation of the furry friends and their owners SARC hosted a Bark in the Park! Goodie bags were distributed, games for the dogs. Bark Rangers were in attendance to inform owners of proper park etiquette regarding dogs in the park. 30 community members and their K9’s attended this event. District 3 Hancock Recreation Center – It’s Game Time!: Free Basketball Challenges were held at the Hancock Recreation Center March 23rd-April 13th. The event allowed people to compete against others for prizes. There were 20 participants for the game time event. District 9 Hancock Recreation Center Kids Night Out-Mario Kart Tournament: Kids Night Out was held on Friday, April 8th, 6-9 pm at the Hancock Recreation Center for ages 5-11. Children enjoyed an evening out playing active games, eating pizza and playing Mario Kart! 22 participants at the Mario Kart event. District 9 Community Recreation EGGstravangaza Event: On Saturday, April 9th the Community Recreation Division hosted their annual Spring Event, Eggstravaganza from 10:30 am-12 noon at six district centers. Recreation centers and various vendors collaborated to provide a festive experience for the community that included an egg hunt for participant’s ages 1-12 years old, carnival games for everyone to enjoy, prizes, a jump house and food. In total, approximately 2700 people were in attendance across the six events at Dittmar, Givens, Turner-Roberts, George Morales Dove Springs, Montopolis, and Gus Garcia Recreation Centers. Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4 14  Mendez Community Easter Eggstravaganza: Mendez Recreation Center hosted their community Easter Eggstravaganza on Thursday April 14th in Metz Park from 5:30-7 pm. The outdoor event was free to public and will include table games, door prizes, vendor freebies, music and an Easter egg hunt for children ages 1-12. The event had 618 participants attending the event. District 3 15  Hancock Recreation Center Teen Virtual Escape Room: Time is running out! Gather your friends and join Hancock Recreation Center’s Virtual Escape Room and work together to solve puzzles, riddles, and decipher codes before time runs out! Event is scheduled for Friday, April 29th at 7 pm for ages 11-14. Zoom link will be sent out the day before the program. District 9 Dougherty Arts Center: Totally Cool Totally Art’s 26th annual Art Exhibition and award ceremony on April 28th showcases 200 works made by Austin’s teen community. Part of the City of Parks & Recreation Department, Totally Cool Totally Art (TCTA) unique enrichment program providing free classes where Teens various art techniques by working directly alongside professional artists. Please visit www.austintexas.gov/department/julia-c-butridge-gallery. District 9 Carver Museum and Cultural Center: The Carver Museum presents "Legacy Crafts", a six-week beginner to intermediate sewing class. Students will enhance their sewing skills by completing individual projects that reflect traditional African American history and culture. The class will be instructed by Archette Holmes, of GeNell’s Custom Designz. Each week students will complete projects they are able to customize and make their own. 7 attendees at the event. District 1 Teen over Austin is a learn Oakwood Cemetery Chapel: A new online exhibit To Liberate was published to shed light on the heritage of The Watson Chateau as it relates to Oakwood burials. Staff continues to work the NEH Grant Project, exploring the identities of the burials in the historic “Colored Grounds”. It received KVUE media at this link: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/oakwood-cemetery-austin-seeking-descendents-for-3d- model/269-597ec355-1a29-43a2-9744-4789081d5580. District 1 16  Elisabet Ney Museum: NEY DAY is Back! After two years of pandemic, Ney Day returns to commemorate Elisabet Ney and her legacy, celebrating women in the arts, sciences and civic culture. Like in years past, there will be several artist-led projects, demonstrations, booths, and music by Chulita Vinyl Club. The event was held on April 16th with 200 in attendance. An additional 200 people attended a Celebration of Life in honor of Ney Curator and Manager Oliver Franklin. District: 9 Old Bakery and Emporium: “Paths of Light: A Sculptural Exploration of Color & Light,” opened April 9th at the Old Bakery Emporium with food, music and great Saturday attendance. The artwork of both Andrea Loomis and Larry Akers shares not only this exploration as common ground; their work also shares a grounding in science and mathematics. Their visual language is based on a kinetic relationship between light, the art objects that make light visible, and the viewer. There were 200 people in attendance. District 9 17  Honoring Joan Means Khabele: Austin Parks and Recreation hosted a ceremony to honor Joan Means Khabele on Saturday, April 9th at Barton Springs Pool. After not being allowed to swim at her high school senior picnic, Joan was the first Black person to jump into Barton Springs Pool in an act of civil disobedience. In doing so, she sparked a movement of swim-ins that took place on a weekly basis throughout the summer of 1960. A performance by the Smooth and EZ dancers kicked off the ceremony. PARD Director Kimberly McNeely was the event MC. Speakers included Mayor Steve Adler, Dr. Larry Wallace, Chief of Staff to Mayor pro tem Natasha Harper-Madison, followed by Council Member Chito Vela, Council Member Ann Kitchen as well as Council Member Paige Ellis who read the City proclamation. Saundra Kirk, Joan’s contemporary, and Inonge Khabele, Joan’s daughter also spoke. Geraldo Perez of the Native American Church performed a water blessing ceremony. Barton Springs pool was cleared for the event and the event concluded with a moment of silence and an invitation for everyone to jump in the pool. The event was planned and executed by Jessica Gilzow, Culture & Arts Program Manager. Attendance was not taken at the event but at least 100 people were in attendance. Districts 5 and 8 Mayfield Cottage and Gardens: The Friends of Mayfield hosted the return of their annual symposium and plant sale, Trowel and Error, on Saturday, April 2nd. The event brought in about 150 attendees and included guest lectures held outdoors, along with heirloom bulbs for sale. 18  Zilker Botanical Garden: The Garden hosted a new and unique exhibit-cum-event experience, called The Surreal Garden, on two weekends (April 21st-April 23rd and April 28th-30th). Like the Trail of Lights, the event is a rental. The artwork creation, installation, and exhibit management was implemented by Ion Art - a local Austin company that creates neon and metal sculptures for art and commercial installations here and across the country. The installation will be free with regular admission during regular hours so that all visitors can enjoy the artwork and is a ticketed event after hours. The Garden’s public-private partner, the Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy, is also working with Ion Art to manage ticket sales. Ticket sales from the Opening Night will benefit the Conservancy, which works to support the Garden. Pictured below is Salvador the Elephant, which resided in Austin City Hall for several years before coming to the Garden. The Surreal Garden promises to be a memorable experience and is creating stronger visibility and drawing new visitors to the Garden. More information and ticketing can be found here. This is the first time that Ion Art has created an art installation/exhibit outside of their commercial projects. Siting the exhibit at the Garden combines neon and nature for a phenomenal evening experience for Austinites and has drawn many new visitors to the Garden. There were 1,500 attendees at the event. District 8. 19  Park Rangers: Park Rangers handled daily operations including 2,525 contacts regarding Laws, Safety, Service and Education. 181 contacts were logged for Dogs off leash during this time frame. Park Rangers began issuing warning citations after several months doing outreach at Longview Park and The Mexican American Cultural Center. All Districts Overall contact breakdown: March 14th-April 1st: Park Rangers successfully transitioned to limited in-person programming. As of March 14th, 2022, Rangers, and the Park Ranger Cadet Interns have held 17 programs, for a total of 38 hours with 557 participants. Programs are focused on Leave No Trace recreational practices, and responsible park visitation. All Districts Park Ranger Hot Spots/ Directed Patrols and Notable Operations: • Gillis Park Security Guard Check in’s 2 times per week. • Kite Fest: 11 lost children returned to their families. • Zilker Park Parking Duty. All teams diverted April 9th-10th. 553 contacts, 60 Citations. • Signs for Stratford lot picked up, notifications in progress. 20 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Contacts by location: 1231 Park Ranger Contacts March 14, 2022 - April 1, 2022 259 247 136 88 53 49 35 29 23 Zilker Metro Park Eilers (Deep Eddy) Neighborhood Park Mayfield Park Emma Long Metro Park Auditorium Shores at Town Lake Metro Park Park Ranger Event at Squirrel Fest (Peace Park): District 8 21 Mary Moore Searight Metro Park Mayfield Park Michael Butler Park at Town Lake Metro Park Montopolis Practice Fields Onion Creek Metro Park Onion Creek Soccer Complex Peace Point at Town Lake Metro Park Pease District Park Ramsey Neighborhood Park Red Bluff Neighborhood Park Red Bud Isle Reed Neighborhood Park Rosewood Neighborhood Park Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metro Park Shoal Beach at Town Lake Metro Park Shoal Creek Greenbelt Sir Swante Palm Neighborhood Park Slaughter Creek Greenbelt St. Edwards Greenbelt Stephenson Nature Preserve & Outdoor Education Center Upper Bull Creek Greenbelt Waller Beach at Town Lake Metro Park Walnut Creek Metro Park Walter E. Long Metro Park Williamson Creek East Greenbelt Zilker Metro Park Parks visited March 14th-April 1st Armadillo Neighborhood Park Auditorium Shores at Town Lake Metro Park Austin Recreation Center Barton Creek Greenbelt Barton Creek Wilderness Park Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park Blunn Creek Nature Preserve Brentwood Neighborhood Park Bull Creek District Park Caldwell Treaty Oak Park Circle C Ranch on Slaughter Creek Dove Springs District Park Edward Rendon Sr. Metro Park at Festival Beach Eilers (Deep Eddy) Neighborhood Park Elizabet Ney Museum Emma Long Metro Park Gaines Greenbelt Gaines Park at Barton Creek Greenbelt Gillis Neighborhood Park Givens District Park Grand Meadow Neighborhood Park International Shores at Town Lake Metro Park James A. Garrison District Park Little Zilker Neighborhood Park Longview Neighborhood Park Mabel Davis District Park Mary Ireland Graves Dougherty Arts Center 22  ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES: Historic Montopolis School: The City of Austin (COA) Law Department has notified the Department that the case between COA and Keep Investments, the former owner of 500 Montopolis Drive (Historic Montopolis Negro School), is currently scheduled for a jury trial the week of April 25. The case will be heard in a Travis County civil court (link). The COA has had possession of the property since the condemnation proceedings several years ago. The Department has served as the steward of the property and is working closely with the Montopolis community to prepare for a planning process. COA’s possession of the property is not contested, however, Keep Investments is challenging the purchase price, and negotiations and formal mediation have not been successful. Staff may be called as a witness to testify about issues related to the history of the site and status of planning efforts. Should the jury find in favor of Keep Investments and determine an award and/or other fees, the COA will comply. The original acquisition was from Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) revenue. HOT revenue for historic preservation is now called the Historic Preservation Fund and is managed by the Economic Development Department. District 3 https://www.austintexas.gov/MontopolisSchool Golf Division Revenue: Through the 2nd quarter, the Golf Division is currently at 110% of FY2021 Revenue. This is an outstanding accomplishment that we continue to grow over previously unprecedented numbers and the team continues to raise the bar on customer satisfaction. 2022-2023 Budget Engagement: The City is committed to an inclusive and transparent budget development process that utilizes resident and stakeholder feedback to ensure budget priorities are being met. PARD, along with other City Departments, are currently working on responding to all of the budget recommendations submitted by the various Boards and Commissions. During the months of February, 3 virtual community meetings were hosted by the 10 Quality of Life Commissions. Recordings of the meetings are now available:  Affordability and Resiliency: Watch recorded meeting (AR)  Access and Engagement: Watch recorded meeting (AE)  Public Safety and Health: Watch recorded meeting (PH) (Source: speakupaustin.org/2022-2023-budget- engagement)  CALENDAR April 15 May 6 May 6 July 15 August August 9 & 11 August 17-19 Financial Forecast Report delivered to Council 5-year CIP Plan due from Depts. Proposed Budget due from Depts. Proposed Budget Presentation to Council Budget hearings Council Budget Work Sessions Tax Rate Hearing and Budget Readings PARD has submitted its FY2023 Financial Forecast, and the PARD Finance Unit is currently working on the various FY2023 Proposed Budget deliverables which are due on May 6 to the COA Budget Office. Here are some other upcoming key dates from the COA Budget Timeline: The Rowing Dock and Zilker Boat Rentals: Staff is closely monitoring the progress of the Vision Plan process to determine any possible impact on existing concessions. The resolution of these outstanding matters will allow both PARD and the concessionaires to determine the best path forward for the management and operation of the boating concessions. In lieu of releasing an RFP to solicit vendors for these concessions considering the ongoing planning process, the current concessionaires will be given the opportunity for a two-year extension prior to the termination of their contracts. The two-year extension request for Zilker Boat Rentals was presented to City Council for approval on February 17, 2022 and executed on February 18, 2022. The Rowing Dock extension approval was postponed by City Council until March 24, 2022. The Rowing Dock operator requested a one-year extension instead of a two-year extension. City Council approved a one-year contract extension on March 24, 2022, and the contract extension was executed on March 31, 2022. Zilker Train: The Parks and Recreation Board (PARB) received an update on January 5, 2021, regarding the execution of the Construction, Operations, and Maintenance Agreement for a Miniature Train Operation at Zilker Metropolitan Park with the Austin Parks Foundation (Foundation). The Foundation anticipates the amenity will commence operation by end of April 2022. The Foundation has a website that provides details on opening and activities related to the train at https://www.zilkertrain.org/. Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA): Interlocal agreement (ILA) with LCRA for the installation of buoys at Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, Decker Lake, and the area surrounding Water Treatment Plant #4 on Lake Travis. This agreement will replace the current agreement expiring on December 30, 2022. Per the agreement, PARD and LCRA agree to mutually determine locations and number of buoys needed at each. LCRA will install buoys with PARD reimbursing LCRA for materials and labor. PARD anticipates presenting the ILA to PARB in June 2022 for recommended action of approval by Council. Recreation Management System: The contract with the current vendor, Vermont Systems (RecTrac), for recreation management, expires in September 2022. PARD, with the assistance of the Communications and Technology Management Department (CTM), published a Request for Information (RFI) to survey current technology solutions in the Recreation Management Industry. PARD/CTM received three responses and conducted vendor question and answer sessions and vendor system demonstrations, along with meetings with current user organizations, between September and October 2021. Based on the information gathered, PARD will work with CTM to establish a scope of work (SOW) 24  and conduct a formal solicitation for a future Recreation Management System. As CTM is the principal information technology department that focuses on the delivery and operations of vital IT infrastructure network and telecommunications services for the city, they will facilitate the competitive solicitation process. This includes establishing a CTM project manager and creating a timeline for the solicitation process. A CTM project manager assignment and timeline for PARD are pending. PARD anticipates the solicitation process will take over a year to complete. PARD will continue to utilize RecTrac services throughout the solicitation process until a recommended vendor is established. More New Applications Coming Online: Following on the heels of the Temporary Employee Hiring Application, which was deployed in March, the ISM Group has released the new Invoice Processing System for use by the Department’s Accounts Payable unit. Next up will be the Program Tracking System which is a replacement for the Program Planning spreadsheet. Technology Inventory Management: The Parks Department has well over 1000 computer desktops, laptops, printers, and other technology equipment in place to help staff do their jobs. Keeping track of all that gear with Excel spreadsheets has become a nightmare. ISM is currently developing a comprehensive inventory application to track the movements and status of tech gear within the Department. Public Access Computer Filtering – Update: Following a pilot project at the Asian American Resource Center in March, the Parks Department will be deploying Net Nanny to replace the no longer available Content Protect internet filtering software. Net Nanny provides the same protections as Content Protect at a slightly reduced cost. 25