8-2: CORRECTED PARD Director's Report, November 2022 — original pdf

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PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD DIRECTOR’S REPORT DATE: November 2022 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS: Zilker Park Vision Plan: On November 15th, the draft Zilker Park Vision Plan was released for review by the community. As the first comprehensive plan for this beloved and complex space, the vision plan aims to provide a guide for the future of Zilker Metropolitan Park. To connect with as many people in Austin as possible, multiple engagement methods and efforts are being implemented: • Online Draft Plan Review: Community members can read the entire draft plan and provide comments directly on the plan now through January 8, 2023. • Community Survey: A survey option will also be offered highlighting key elements of the draft plan and guiding principles. Open now through January 8, 2023. • Community Meetings: The planning team will be available to guide community members through the plan and answer questions at two formal community meeting opportunities: Virtual Meeting: Wednesday, December 7, 6 p.m. (Zoom Registration) In-Person Open House: Saturday, December 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., McBeth Recreation Center • Pop-ups in all 10 Districts and Zilker: The planning team will also host pop-ups through Austin between now and January 8, 2023, at various events throughout the city. The updated schedule and additional information can be found on the project webpage. Districts 5 and 8 Adams-Hemphill Neighborhood Park Community Meeting: The Parks and Recreation Department is partnering with the Watershed Protection Department (WPD) and Austin Transportation Department to create a park concept plan for potential future improvements. WPD is planning to build two stormwater ponds at the park as part of the Guadalupe St. Flood Risk Reduction project. The concept plan will help ensure ponds are compatible with any potential plans for the park in the future. The department will also host a Pop-up Event. Adams-Hemphill Neighborhood Park, 201 W. 30th Street Saturday, December 3, 2022, 10 a.m. (alternative rain date December 10) District 9 Armadillo Neighborhood Park Nature Play Open House: As part of Cities Connecting Children to Nature and in partnership with community partners, the department will install nature play features in Armadillo Neighborhood Park. The meeting will build on the previous meeting in February 2020, sharing ideas for the future equipment and providing interactive options for kids in attendance. The department will also host a Zilker Pop-up at this event. Armadillo Neighborhood Park, 910 Armadillo Rd. 1  Saturday, December 17, 10 a.m. District 2 George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center: The George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center, in collaboration with Austin Public Health and Public Works, hosted the ground-breaking ceremony for the Dove Springs Public Health Facility on November 5, 2022. A ceremonial dig and ribbon cutting took place on the corner of Palo Blanco Lane and Ainez Drive to celebrate the upcoming start of facility construction. District 2 Projected exterior image of the Dove Springs Public Health Facility Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Phase II Groundbreaking: Groundbreaking for Phase 2 is scheduled for December 10th, 10:00 AM. A blessing will performed by Daniel Llanes at 9:30am. The groundbreaking will take place directly to the north of the current building site. The ceremony will be followed by hot beverages and snacks. Phase 2 was funded by the 2018 Bond and includes two new buildings and a renovation of the existing structure. District 9 PLANNING UPDATES: Whisper Valley PUD: On December 1st, City Council will be asked to authorize the negotiation and execution of an amended and restated Whisper Valley Master Parkland Agreement alongside the issuance of the Series 2022 Texas Special Assessment Revenue Bonds. The City of Austin has established the Whisper Valley Planned Unit Development (PUD) and Public Improvement District (PID) for a new 2,000+ acre development in Austin, east of SH 130. The development includes requirements for parkland dedication superiority, further described in the Master Parkland Agreement between the City and the Developer. The City has authority to issue Special Revenue Bonds for public improvements within the PID, including park improvements. The PID is expected to develop a 600-acre public park in accordance with the above. The current Master Parkland Agreement requires an amendment to better define the obligations of the Developer and the PID in developing the parkland. District 1 2  Parkland Acquisitions: On December 8th, the Parks and Recreation Department (the Department) will request Council action to approve the purchase and sale agreement of two separate properties for future parkland. The Utotem-Country Club Creek property is an assemblage of parcels to be purchased from one owner. The properties consist of approximately 5.42 acres located along Country Club Creek, east of Burleson Road and South of Oltorf Street. This acquisition is expected to function as a neighborhood park, trailhead, and trail connection. The Anderson-Slaughter Creek property consists 6.85 acres along Slaughter Creek, east of IH-35. This acquisition will function as a destination park and close a gap in the Slaughter Creek Greenbelt system. The site features a pooled section of Slaughter Creek that would allow for water-based recreation. It will rejoin existing parkland to the north. These acquisitions are funded through Parkland Dedication (PLD) funds and the 2018 Parks and Recreation Bond. Districts 3 and 5 The area in pink represents the proposed acquisition near Country Club Creek in District 3 3  The area in pink represents the proposed acquisition near Slaughter Creek in District 5 305 Congress “Statesman” Planned Unit Development Amendment (PUD): The item was approved on second reading by Council on November 3rd and is scheduled for a third reading on December 1st. The LAW Department has drafted an Ordinance with several exhibits. The Department is following these items with interest: • There has been discussion of a fixed or ceiling amount to be paid by the applicant in park fees, regardless of future fee formula calculations. • The applicant has committed to building the Great Steps, plaza areas, amenitized water ponds, ADA access points and reconstructing the trail outside of parkland credit. The remaining park amenities to be considered include the Great Lawn, Pier, Water Steps, nature play area, etc. The applicant has publicly discussed the building of the Congress Avenue Right of Way access . As discussions continue changes to the current draft Ordinance will need to be voted on by Council Members via a motion. • The question of who will maintain the park amenities has not yet been determined. The Department is reviewing cost estimates for maintenance and alternatives with the Downtown Austin Alliance, the applicant and The Trail Conservancy, per Council’s request. District 9 4  Project Connect: Project Connect is re-evaluating several options considering recent findings that put the project over budget. There has been no timeline given for when new alternatives will be shared with the Department, or when work can be resumed on items such as 6F land transfers. The Department has reviewed Equitable Transit Oriented Development documents and has commented that parks can be a vital part of healthy communities. https://projectconnect.com/. Multiple Districts DEVELOPMENT UPDATES: Dittmar Recreation Center: Dittmar Recreation Center is installing a pedestrian crosswalk on Dittmar Road. The crosswalk improves pedestrian safety and makes it easier to cross the roadway. The pedestrian crosswalk is still in the process of being completed. District 2 Pedestrian Crosswalk Gus Garcia Art in Public Places Mural Project: Work has begun on an outdoor community mural in partnership with Art in Public Places. This mural highlights Gustavo “Gus” Garcia and everything the recreation center named after him represents. The mural project officially started on Monday October 3rd and is expected to be completed by late November- early December. District 4 5  Gus Garcia Mural Evergreen Cemetery Road Rehabilitation: On November 3rd, Department staff completed the rehabilitation of 1.2 miles of cemetery road, ahead of schedule and under budget. Project work included the addition of flat concrete “ribbon” curbs on both sides of the road, new asphalt pavement throughout, and drainage repairs to reduce erosion and ponding water. All improvements were made within the existing limits of the old asphalt road and care was taken to remain five feet from all burial plot lines. Completion of the project was a coordinated effort by Cemeteries staff, Department engineering technicians, and Public Works Department technicians. The project utilized the Department Asphalt IDIQ Contract for road construction and repairs and was funded by 2018 Bonds. District 1 Completed Main Street at Evergreen Cemetery Asian American Resource Center (AARC) Phase 2 Improvements: The Schematic Design phase for the Performing Arts Center and associated improvements as outlined in the 2019 Plan approved by the City Council is complete. The Phase 2 project is being led by the City of Austin project team, Trahan Architects, and the Construction Manager-At-Risk, FlintCo. The project team presented the schematic design to Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commissioners on November 15th, and to the Community via an onsite meeting and Zoom on November 17th. The available funding will not cover the 6  entire construction cost of the Performing Arts Center and the associated site improvements that are needed to support the community. The project team continues to evaluate costs alongside logistics to attain the greatest value. This project embraces the AARC’s mission and vision to create a space of belonging and healing for Asian American communities in Austin and beyond, supports and connects the diverse communities, and will be informed by pan-Asian culture and architecture. The Phase 2 project is funded through $7M from the 2018 Bonds. District 1 Asian American Resource Center Phase 2 Improvements | AustinTexas.gov Site plan, Asian American Resource Center Phase 2 George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center Phase 1a & 1b Facility Expansion: In 2021, City Council approved a Facility Expansion Plan that revisited a previous feasibility study and sought additional updates to develop the new plan in line with current requirements. Phase 1a and 1b of the Council-approved George Washington Carver Facility Expansion Plan will include Architecture/Engineering consultant services. The Department will seek Council approval for the negotiation and execution of a professional services agreement in support of this project on December 1st. The project scope will explore relocating administrative functions to a new upper level to expand the area available for community-centric programming near the main entry, and site improvements that include outdoor classrooms, renovations of existing public restrooms, and a new flexible event lawn with a covered pavilion. Project goals include creating community-focused interior spaces and exterior site improvements that weave the facility into the fabric of the surrounding community and exemplify the ethos, history, and culture of the community itself. The design will be heavily influenced by a community engagement phase at the beginning of the project to help determine scope and direction. The Architecture/Engineering consultant services will include site studies, programming services, design phase services, bid phase services, construction phase services, post-construction phase services, warranty phase services, and all related infrastructure necessary to meet the City of Austin development requirements. The design services phase for this project is anticipated to begin in early 2023. District 1 George Washington Carver Museum - Facility Expansion Phase 1 | AustinTexas.gov 7  Nash Hernandez Building Renovation: The Department will present at a special Council work session on December 6th to discuss the result of City Council resolution 20220616-89, a report issued to Council studying the feasibility and financial impact of an Intergenerational Resource and Activity Center (IGRAC, formerly IRAC) program in the Nash Hernandez Building. Council was updated via memo on October 17, 2022. District 3 Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC) Phase 2 Improvements: On December 7, the Joint Venture Miró Rivera Architects + Tatiana Bilbao ESTUDIO (JV MRA+TBE), City of Austin project team and Roger’s O’Brien Construction will present Design Development documents to the ESB-MACC Advisory Board. 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 $27M. District 9 www.austintexas.gov/MaccPhase2 Progress rendering of the ESB-MACC design, published October 2022 MAINTENANCE UPDATES: Security Cameras at Givens Recreation Center: The Givens project to install security cameras to improve facility security is now complete. The Recreation center now has seventeen cameras installed within the facility as well as the immediate perimeter, with the option to add additional cameras in the park if needed. The installation was completed by city vendor Johnson Controls. District 1 8  Delores Duffie Recreation Center: Training from world-renowned nature play expert, Adam Bienenstock, on the design, installation, and maintenance of nature play features for select PARD staff and partners. The Departments playgrounds team will install an outdoor nature playscape for the training that will be used for Nature Based Programs at Delores Duffie in the future. District 1 South Austin Recreation Center (SARC): The Multi-purpose Field is complete. 15,000 square feet of sod has been placed on the excavated infield area. The area will remain unused to ensure proper growth until March of 2023. SARC has already received rental inquiries to utilize the updated space. District 3 New Sod on Infield Arial view of completed field Lamar Senior Activity Center Ballroom Asbestos Removal and Floor Replacement: Lamar Senior Activity Center Multipurpose/Ballroom has had asbestos abatement and a new wood floor has been installed. The room opened back up for programming use on Monday, November 7, 2022. District 9 Ballroom Floor Encampment Removal: Gus Garcia District Park will have an encampment removed in partnership with the Parks and Recreation Department, Austin Public Health and Austin Resource Recovery. The clean-up efforts will likely cost several hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Parks and Recreation Department does not have funding allocated for homeless encampment clean-up and is working on how to accomplish this task with partners. District 4 9  LCRA Agreement: The Parks and Recreation Department and the Lower Colorado River Authority finalized an agreement for managing safety along the lakes through buoy implementation. All Districts Butler Landfill Zilker Metro Park Maintenance Project: Planned maintenance work on the Stratford Drive Butler Landfill lot includes regrading to prevent ponding, gates to control vehicular access to the cap, a pedestrian gate near Lou Neff Road, and an irrigation system to support three re-vegetated acres. A new pump will utilize lake water for irrigation. Clean Scapes has completed the installation of the split- rail fence and gate, and the gravel lot was reopened for public parking in October. The focus for the upcoming weeks will be to complete the irrigation system installation and hydroseeding of the 3-acre revegetation lot. Installation of the new pump at the Zilker Pump House began the week of November 14th. Trail detour signage was coordinated through The Trail Conservancy and Department Operations and Maintenance staff. This work represents the final maintenance phase and it is anticipated to be completed by the end of November 2022. The revegetated lot will remain closed for at least an additional 6-12 weeks for the grasses to be established. Future uses for the lot will be determined according to the Zilker Vision Plan. The project is funded by C3 Presents. District 8 Aerial view of the Zilker Metro Park Maintenance Project. The red outline indicates areas closed to the public during the maintenance period. PROGRAM UPDATES: District 1: Fall Halloween Event: The Turner-Roberts Recreation Center hosted their Fall Halloween event on Monday, October 31st from 5:30-7:30 PM. Over 350 people attended the event held inside the Turner- Roberts gym. Event attendees got to experience a night of fun and games that included ring toss, a photo booth, free popcorn and a spooky haunted house. The event supports Sendero Healthcare. 10  Turner Roberts District Halloween Event Fall Flag Football: Thursday, November 3, 2022, was the last week of Givens Recreation Center Fall Flag football program. The youth flag football program represents the sites first return to youth flag football in over five years and was an overall success. Four teams from three different recreation centers were registered for the program that is held weekly on Thursday evenings at Givens Park. 51 attendees participated in the program. Department of the People + Process Exhibit Opening: The Exhibit Gallery at the Carver Museum and Cultural Center was bustling with anticipation and curiosity for local artist Moyo Oyelola’ s first solo museum show: The Department of the People + Process. Oyelola’s work examined questions of authority and the self-sovereignty of the human journey. The show evolved in real-time and included interactive audience participation which contributed to the narrative and the exhibition. Local performance artists stepped in to guide the experimental, interactive portions of the exhibit. The Department of People + Process is on view at the Carver Museum 10:00 AM-6:00 PM Mondays-Fridays and 10:00 AM-4:00 PM on Saturdays, November 3, 2022-February 25, 2023. For more information and performance dates, visit www.deptofthepeople.org. Anticipating 300 participants. 11  Exhibit audience experiencing a processing session Asian American Resource Center’s Youth Voices Rising!: Youth Voices Rising! is a leadership series for Asian American youth, in which a cohort of 17 children, ages 10-14, met on Saturday mornings between October 1st 31st, 2022. The students read the novel on their own time to learn about Asian American history through award-winning graphic texts. They also learned skills for recording their family’s oral history, creating digital videos and stop-motion animation to activate their family’s histories. In October, students read Kiku Hughes’ graphic novel, Displacement, about the Japanese American Internment Camps in World War II, met with the author herself via Zoom, and created drafts of their own comic strips about their families’ immigration history. 12 Youth Voice Rising Participants reading during the Kiki Hughes Virtual Visit  Save Austin’s Cemeteries’ Murder, Mayhem & Misadventure: The Oakwood Cemetery Chapel collaborated with Save Austin’s Cemeteries to host their 14th annual family friendly tour on Saturday, October 29th, from 10:00 AM-3:00 PM. Over 350 people attended the 45-minute tour where volunteer actors tell the stories of the son of a prominent Austin architect and builder, the victim of a shooting at one of Austin’s saloons, two ambushes, a drowning in the waters of Shoal Creek and a mourning mother who had to bury her children. Attendees tour Oakwood Cemetery with Save Austin’s Cemeteries’ Murder, Mayhem and Misadventure tour Lone Star Programming Award: The Delores Duffie Recreation Center was recognized for the TRAPS Central Region Lone Star Programming award on Thursday, November 10, 2022. The Lone Star Programming award aims to recognize outstanding and innovative first-time recreation programs held within the Leisure and Recreational services. The Delores Duffie's entry consisted of their 2021 event, titled Festival of Trees. The Christmas-themed event, held in Boggy Creek, featured trees set up along the trail for community residents. The Delores Duffie staff, including Julie Fisher, Mariah Silva, Jasmyn Patterson, Tiffany Govea, Alyssa DelaCruz, and site supervisor Claudia Rocha were in attendance to receive the award presented to them at a ceremony during the regional workshop held in Brenham, Texas. Delores Duffie Staff Receives TRAPS Regional Lone Star Programming Award 13  District 2: Mobile Community Resource Fair: The George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center collaborated with United Way to host a mobile community resource fair on Wednesday, October 26th from 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM. A variety of vendors such as Goodwill, Austin Diaper Bank, Dell Children’s Hospital and many more were stationed at this event to offer valuable resources and information to the public. 55 participants attended this event. Councilwoman Vanessa Fuentes engaging with event participants Volleyball Clinic: The George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center began its new fall volleyball clinic program on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. This program features beginner-intermediate level instruction as it pertains to volleyball fundamentals and group play. Program lessons occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00-7:30 PM. 16 participants are currently enrolled in this program. Youth volleyball clinic participants engaging in drills 14  Trick or Treat Event: The George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center hosted their Trick or Treat Event on Saturday, October 29th, from 5:30-7:30 PM. This family friendly event featured a haunted house, costume contest, carnival games, and prizes. Snacks and beverages were also provided to event guests. 1,040 participants attended this event. This breaks a new fall event attendance record for the site. Event participants enjoying the game festivities Trick or Treat Halloween Event: The Dittmar Recreation Center hosted the annual Trick or Treat Halloween event for the community. 870 community members, dressed in Halloween costumes, enjoyed an evening filled with a bounce house, crafts, snacks, games and music. South Austin Recreation Center staff assisted Dittmar staff with the event, along with AT&T, Austin Code, Blue Cross Blue Shield, British Swim School, KIPP Schools, Sendero, Austin Parks Foundation, IDEA Bluff Springs and Austin Independent School District Bond. The event was held on Saturday, October 29th from 5:30- 7:30pm. District 2, 5. Family dressed as Daniel Striped Tiger characters 15  District 3: Halloween Event at Montopolis Recreation and Community Center: The Montopolis Recreation and Community Center hosted their annual Halloween Event on Monday, October 31st from 6:30-8:30 PM with over 600 participants. The event consisted of games, crafts, face painting, treats and two Haunted Houses. Community Members participating in different activities Annual Haunted House and Carnival: The Mendez Recreation Center hosted its annual community haunted house and carnival on Thursday, October 20th from 6:00-8:00 PM. Over 500 participants were in attendance for the outdoor event that included food, fun and carnival games provided by the Mendez Recreation Center staff and notable agencies such as Huston Tillotson Women's Basketball Team, Austin Public Health, as well as the Austin Nature Center. In addition to the outdoor carnival, attendees were also surprised to find the Recreation Center converted to a family friendly Haunted house. Mendez Recreation Center’s Halloweens events (costume contest) 16  Varsity Generation Program: The Mendez Recreation Center continues the expansion of their Varsity Generation program. The program, with over 25 participants, meets on Thursdays from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM to partake in their craft class. Each session rotates between a holiday themed class led by Activity Specialist Ms. Kathy. This past October, in addition to their Fall craft activities, the participants of the program also hosted their Halloween party complete with a trick or treat and pumpkin carving contest. Mendez Recreation Center Varsity Generation participants Day of the Dead Workshop: The Montopolis Recreation and Community Center, partnered with Proyecto Teatro, hosted a Day of the Dead workshop on Sunday, October 30th from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM. The workshop gave community members a chance to create flowery decorations for loved ones lost and help decorate the historic San Jose Cemetery. 10 people participated in the event. Community Members Flower Crafts 17  Movie on the Field: The South Austin Recreation Center continued the Movie on the Field series with a showing of Hocus Pocus held on Friday, October 21st 7:00-9:00 PM. 30 Community members attended the showing. District 3, 5. Movie on the Field District 5: Halloween Spooktacular: Over 100 guests from around the city attended, and enjoyed games, snacks, vendors, raffles, and a costume contest at the South Austin Senior Activity Center’s Bringing Seniors Together Halloween Spooktacular on Thursday, October 20th from 9:00-11:00 AM. District 7: Fall Fest: The Northwest Recreation Center hosted Fall Fest on Friday, October 28th from 4:00-6:00 PM. The event featured games, prizes, a bounce house, popcorn, and music. 100 community members attended the event. Northwest Fall Fest 18  District 8: McBeth Recreation Center held its annual Inclusive Halloween Carnival and Costume Party on Friday, October 28th. The carnival was held from 5:00-7:00 PM and the dance was held from 7:00-9:00 PM. There were over 75 participants of all ages in attendance at the Carnival engaging in field games, interactive arts and crafts activities and trick or treating. Following the Carnival was the ever-popular annual Costume Dance Party for adults with disabilities. There were an additional 85 participants and caregivers in attendance. McBeth Halloween Carnival in the park McBeth Adult Costume Party award winner Zilker Holiday Tree Lighting: The 56th Zilker Holiday Tree Lighting, Zilker Park Moontower, was held Sunday, November 27th at 6:00 PM. Event website Zilker Holiday Tree Nightly Display: The Zilker Holiday Tree Nightly Display is scheduled for November 28, 2022-January 1, 2023, 6:00-10:00 PM. Tree website and Event calendar information Trail of Lights Nights: The 58th The Grand Opening of the Trail of Lights is scheduled for December 8-23, 2022, 7:00-10:00 PM. The Grand Opening is scheduled for December 8th at 7:00 PM. General admission is free for all guests of the Grand Opening on December 8th. Event website and Park information Austin Nature and Science Center Fall Fest: Porcupines were named at the Austin Nature and Science Center Fall Fest at Austin Nature and Science Center on November 12th. The porcupines were named Quillie Nelson and Juniper. Activities included a virtual night sky tour, night hike, animal keeper talks, and seven partner led activities including Park Rangers, Travis County Audubon, Children’s Research Center, Austin Public Libraries, Austin Bat Rescue, MathHappens, and American Chemical Society. There were 300 people in attendance at the event. 19  Visitors Enjoyed Story Time as Part of Fall Fest at the Austin Nature and Science Center Newly Named Porcupines Enjoyed an Edible Welcome Flower Bouquet from Staff at the Zilker Botanical Garden District 9: Let’s Glow Dodgeball: Over 25 participants joined in the fun at Hancock Recreation Center on Saturday, October 15th from 5:00-8:00 PM for its second year of Let’s Glow Dodgeball games! Glow in the dark challenges and prizes are all part of the fun. Tito’s Shorties Classic: Over 500 spectators enjoyed the 2nd Annual Tito’s Shorties Classic hosted by Butler Pitch and Putt on Monday, November 7th at 2:00 PM. The event included four PGA touring professionals, Joel Dahmen, Harry Higgs, Keith Mitchell and Beau Hossler, playing this historic Par 3 Golf Course. Tito’s Handmade Vodka will donate $10,000 to each charity of the professional golfers choosing. All proceed from the $10.00 ticket sales will be donated to Puppies and Golf. In all, $45,000 will be donated to charity in the name of the Tito’s Shorties Classic. The event was professionally filmed and will be available for streaming on YouTube in December and will also be nationally broadcast on the Golf Channel in January. A trailer from the 2021 event can be viewed here Tee Up the Tito's Shorties Classic - YouTube. Spectators Gathered Around the #1 Green at Butler Pitch and Putt for the Tito’s Shorties Classic 20  Hancock It’s My Park Day: Hancock Golf course in conjunction with the Austin Parks Foundation hosted the It’s My Park Day and Open House on Saturday, November 5th from 8:00 AM-6:00 PM. Activities included a cleanup of the golf course, creek and recreation center flower beds, a mini golf tournament, putting contest, golf ball treasure hunt, lectures, nature walks, music, and ice cream for the kids. 50 attendees and volunteers participated in the event. Hancock Golf Course and Recreation It’s My Park Day Collections Return to O. Henry Museum: O. Henry Museum now has collection items returning to the museum in preparation for re-opening after a prolonged rehabilitation project. The first item to return, and one of the most significant items in the collection, is a carefully restored Square Grand Piano built in the mid-1860s. The piano has been restored with the assistance of the Brush Square Foundation and carefully kept at Mollberg Piano Restoration facilities until the building was again ready to house it. Soon, the O. Henry Museum will once again be filled with the sound of music and guests! Learn more about the restoration at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nerh-RtZqGs 21  Bernard Mollberg Standing Next to the Newly Returned Square Grand Piano in the O. Henry Museum Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) Dia de los Muertos: On Saturday, November 5th from 4:00-10:00 PM, the MACC presented the 15th annual festival on the Zocalo Plaza. The Festival featured, for the first time, MexAmeriCon, Austin’s first Latinx Comic Book Convention (Comic Con), local Womxn of Color-centered Marketplace, Frida Friday ATX, an interactive shadow puppet show by the Austin Public Library and children's activities. Activities also included sugar skull decorating & face painting by MACC Education staff. Additional features included sculpture installations by Las Piñatas ATX, screen printing, photobooths, art kits by Austin Veterans Art Festival, a Loteria game by MexAmeriCon, food trucks, pinatas and two art exhibits: Austin Studio Tours (upstairs gallery) and Community Altars (downstairs gallery). The event was hosted by Lorena Placenia of Telemundo Austin. The day was filled with music from the mainstage and 3,200 participants. Visiting the Dia de los Muertos Ofrendas (Altars) Dougherty Arts Center: Love Letters from a Flamenco Heart: Three unique dance, music, and song performances by A’lante Flamenco were enjoyed by live audiences at 8:00 PM on November 18th and from 3:00-8:00 PM on November 19th. Letters from a Flamenco Heart was not only a love letter to dance, but also an intensely personal exploration of different ways of loving. A’lante Flamenco is part of the Artist Access Program, a collaboration of the Parks and Recreation Department, the Museums and Cultural Programs Division, the Cultural Arts Division, and the Dougherty Arts Center. 300 people participated in the event. 22  A’lante Flamenco Show Poster District 10: Fore the Kids Charity Golf Tournament: The Lions Municipal Golf Course hosted PGA golf professional Sergio Garcia’s Fore the Kids Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, November 12th. The tournament benefited the Sergio and Angela Garcia Foundation which supports organizations that provide access to services, healthcare, and community programs for children, regardless of their ability to pay, with a focus on children in the foster care system. There were 100 participants at the event. 2017 Master’s Champion and LIV Tour Professional Sergio Garcia and His Wife Angela Multiple Districts Varsity Generation Programs – Varsity Games: The Department hosted tournaments in Billiards and Pickleball at Turner Roberts Recreation Center (District 1) and South Austin Senior Activity Center (District 5) on November 4-6 as part of Varsity Games Events. 76 participants joined in tournament play. 23  Austin Varsity Games Austin Green Awards Honor Waterloo Park: The Waterloo Greenway Conservancy and the City of Austin received recognition at the 2022 Austin Green Awards for Waterloo Park. The six recipients were announced at the 2022 Austin Green Awards Celebration Night on October 26th at the Sunset Room on East 3rd Street in Austin. The Austin Green Awards (AGA) is a program that aims to recognize and promote sustainability and design innovation in Austin by highlighting the next generation of sustainably inspired best practices and heightening the visibility of a broad spectrum of exemplary initiatives in Austin. AGA is Austin's first recognition program that specifically highlights the outstanding accomplishments in the broad arena of sustainable design and innovation and focuses on buildings and sites, including landscapes and green infrastructure. Projects must be within the Five County Austin Metropolitan Area (Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties). Residential and non- residential projects of any type that have completed construction are welcome to submit. Recipients set an aspirational bar of what is possible by responding to rapidly evolving environmental, social, and health imperatives. Districts 1 and 9 Waterloo Greenway Project Team accepting the Austin Green Award 24  Preservation Austin Merit Awards: Preservation Austin, the city’s leading historic preservation nonprofit organization, will bestow the Department with the Merit Awards for four projects at the 62nd Annual Preservation Merit Awards Ceremony at Waterloo Greenway Conservancy’s historic Symphony Square from 6 to 8 PM on Thursday, December 1st. Established in 1960, the juried program celebrates the hard work and visionary approaches of those preserving Austin’s architectural, cultural, and environmental heritage. The projects to be honored include Downs Field Grandstands Restoration, Preservation Award for Rehabilitation; Haskell House Restoration, Preservation Award for Rehabilitation; Oakwood Cemetery Chapel, “To Relate” Educational Exhibit, Special Recognition for Education; and Parque Zaragoza, Communidad, Cultura, y Resiliencia Documentary Film, Special Recognition for Education. https://www.preservationaustin.org/news/2022pmawinners. Districts 1, 3 and 9 Preservation Austin Merit Award recipients Downs Field Grandstands Restoration (left) and Haskell House Restoration (right) 25  It’s My Park Day: On Saturday, November 5th, Austin Parks Foundation (APF) hosted It’s My Park Day (IMPD), a Citywide event that promotes stewardship of parkland across Austin. IMPD Fall 2022 had 100 different volunteer events on parkland with over 15 events led by City of Austin staff. Multiple Districts It’s My Park Day volunteers and info graphic Creek Show 2022: The annual Creek Show art installation was on display at the Waterloo Greenway from November 11-20, 2022. Since 2014, local nonprofit Waterloo Greenway Conservancy has commissioned local artists to create site-specific, light-based art installations to help raise awareness about the ongoing transformation of Waller Creek and its new 35-acre urban park system coming to downtown Austin. This year’s installation features 8 immersive displays with nightly live music and vendors. https://waterloogreenway.org/creek-show/. Districts 1 and 9 Artist rendering of Creek Show installation, Enter the Dragonfly, by Odonata. Provided by waterloogreenway.org. 26  All Districts: Youth Sports Organization participation numbers: after nearly two years of COVID-19 restrictions shutting down our youth sports organizations, youth participation in sports have rebounded in a big way. In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, 26,602 youth participants were recorded as participating in sports on City land. Mainly consisting of youth baseball and soccer, these organizations utilize City Parks across town including Circle C Slaughter Creek, Beverly Sheffield Northwest District Park, Roy G. Guerrero Park, Garrison Park and many others. With continued growth and opportunity, there’s no doubt Youth Sports Organizations on City land are providing a positive experience for the youth of today and of the future. All Districts South Austin Optimist located at Garrison Park ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES: Recreation Management System: The contract with the current vendor, Vermont Systems (RecTrac), for recreation management, expired 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) 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. In October 2022, PARD began working with a CTM project manager to establish timeline and deliverables for the solicitation scope of work. 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. Watercraft Concession at 2418 Stratford Drive: The contract with the current vendor, Rowing Dock, expires April 22, 2023. The Scope of Work (SOW) was developed and presented at the September CCC meeting. The solicitation was published on November 9th, with responses due back in early January 2023. The new agreement is expected to be executed prior to end of current agreement in April 2024. 27  Management and Operation of the Pharr Tennis Center: This agreement is for the management and operations of the renovated Burnett “Blondie” Pharr Tennis Center (Pharr). The soon to be renovated facility is anticipated to be completed in August 2023. The CCC was briefed at the October 21st meeting on the solicitation, which is anticipated to be released in late 2022 or early 2023 PARD’s Operating Budget Status as of November 1, 2022: Of the $119 million General Fund budget, 9.3 percent or $11M has been obligated as of the end of October as compared to 9.6 percent spent in the same period of the prior fiscal year. $0.7M of the $14.1M budgeted General Fund revenue has been collected as of the end of October. Golf revenue equaling $1.1M has been collected as of the end of October, which is up compared to the $0.39M revenue collected by October 2021. Golf Expenditures of $0.8M have been obligated as of the end of October. Of the $9.2 million Golf budget, 8.8 percent or $0.8M has been obligated. This is $500K higher in spending as of October of the prior fiscal year. Upcoming Financial Services Trainings: In November and December, PARD FSD will offer multiple training sessions including, but limited to the following areas of Accounting and Purchasing: Cash Handling; ProCard Use; Purchasing; Inventory Policy, and; Donations Policy and Procedures. Texan by Nature Honoree: The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department was selected as a Texan By Nature TxN 20 Honoree. The TxN 20 is an effort to recognize the best work in conservation coming from businesses operating and based in Texas. It’s an opportunity to showcase innovation, commitment, and best practices from a variety of industries. Austin Parks and Recreation is being recognized for its efforts to improve building sustainability and create land management plans for natural areas. 2018 General Obligation Bond Program Proposition C - Parks and Recreation ($149 million) Update: Funding from Proposition C has contributed to over 90 projects and 30 parkland acquisition efforts throughout the City of Austin. The Department has spent $47.2 million of the $149 million authorized and has a further $12.8 million under contract. Recent highlights in the program include: • Completed the Evergreen Cemetery Road Rehabilitation (District 1) project in early November • Completed the Seaholm Intake Facility Phase I Rehabilitation (District 9) project in September • Acquired a 4.06 acre parcel as an addition to Latta Branch Greenbelt (District 8) in August • Started construction on the Givens District Park Vision Plan Phase I Implementation (District 1) in mid-July and expect completion in late Spring 2023 • Started construction on the Brush Square Rehabilitation Phase I (District 9) project in late June • Started construction on the Pharr Tennis Center Renovation (District 9) project in mid-August and expect completion by Summer 2023 expect completion in early Summer 2023 • Received approval from City Council to negotiate a construction contract for the Brownie and Highland Neighborhood Park (District 4) projects in October. Construction will begin in Winter 2022/23 • Continued to progress through permitting for the Givens and Colony Park Pool (District 1) projects with construction expected to start in early calendar year 2023 28  2018 Bond Proposition C Spending Status (as of Nov. 15, 2022) Aquatics 3.9 1.9 32.2 2.0 Land Acquisition 23.7 0.2 4.6 16.5 y r o g e t a C Park Improvements 5.2 4.8 10.1 4.9 Building Renovations 5.1 4.4 6.5 5.4 Infrastructure 9.1 1.5 2.6 4.2 0 5 10 15 35 40 45 50 20 25 30 Millions of Dollars Expenses Under Contract Assigned/Unobligated Unassigned/Program Contingency Due to rising construction costs, the Department continues to hold balances in the Aquatics, Building Renovations, Park Improvements, and Infrastructure categories to serve as program contingencies for ongoing work. 29