10-1: PARD Director's Update, March 2024 — original pdf

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PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD DIRECTOR’S UPDATE DATE: March 2024 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS: Beverly S. Sheffield Education Center Renovation: The groundbreaking ceremony on February 22nd at the Barton Springs Bathhouse marked the start of renovations to the Beverly S. Sheffield Education Center and Splash! exhibit. Staff are working diligently to ensure that the new exhibit will be an engaging educational experience for its estimated 1 million annual visitors. For updates on this project, visit the Barton Springs Bathhouse Rehabilitation website. District 8 Jamestown Neighborhood Park: Austin Parks Foundation is leading the development of a concept plan for this undeveloped park. The first community meeting took place on March 5 (view recording). Now the community is invited to provide additional feedback through April 2 by responding to the community survey. Austin Parks Foundation is connecting with a Community Outreach Group to ensure community members can contribute to the future plans for this park. Community Survey: English | Spanish Project Webpage District 4 Bolm District Park Vision Plan: The second round of community engagement to gather input on preliminary concept designs for the undeveloped park is ongoing. The Community Survey #2: Preliminary Concepts (English| Spanish) is available online through March 24. Project staff will be hosting an in person pop-up at Cepeda Branch Library on Tuesday, March 19. Summary of first round engagement and concept boards will be on display and staff will be on hand to answer questions. Spanish interpretation will also be available. Additional project information and updates can be located on the project webpage. Pop-Up at Cepeda Branch Tuesday, March 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 651 N Pleasant Valley Rd, Austin, TX 78702 District 3 Duncan Neighborhood Park: A ribbon cutting ceremony for the completion of landscape improvements at Duncan Neighborhood Park is planned for 11 a.m. on April 13th. Park improvements include a new ADA-accessible park walkway connecting the park entrances on 9th and 10th Street, enhanced picnic areas, new central lawn and meadow plantings, and an enhanced wetland that collects water from two existing ephemeral seeps. The contractor, Muniz Concrete and Contracting, began work on the improvements in late May of 2023. District 9 https://www.austintexas.gov/department/duncan-park-improvements 1  The newly improved Duncan Neighborhood Park PLANNING UPDATES: Chapter 26 cases on Braker Lane and Old Lampasas Dam: The Parks and Recreation Department (Department) set public hearings for May 2nd to consider the permanent change of use of an existing Park Recreational Easement, adjacent to the Wildhorse Ranch PUD #10 (Braker Lane) and to consider authorizing a temporary change in use of dedicated parkland, not to exceed 540 calendar days, at Upper Bull Creek Greenbelt for drainage and dam improvements (Old Lampasas Dam). The Parks and Recreation Board recommended Braker Lane at their February 26th meeting and Old Lampasas Dam at their January 22nd meeting. Districts 1 and 6 Parkland Acquisition Shadywood Drive: On March 21st, the Department received City Council authorization to negotiate and execute the acquisition of approximately 3.286 acres of property, for an amount not to exceed $730,000, at 7506 Shadywood Drive. This acquisition will function as a neighborhood park, as well as a continuation of the South Boggy Creek Greenbelt, which addresses parkland deficiency in District 2 and closes the gap in the South Boggy Creek Greenbelt system. This acquisition is a voluntary sale by owner and is funded by the Department Capital Budget. District 2 2  Parkland Acquisitions McCarty Lane and AISD Properties: On April 4th, the Department will seek City Council approval of the purchase and sale agreement of a roughly 3.23-acre property at 5506 McCarty Lane, which will provide additional connectivity for the Williamson Creek Greenbelt. The property will be acquired through fees-in-lieu collected under the Parkland Dedication Ordinance and the 2018 General Obligation Bond. The property will expand the park service area to residents along the south side of the creek and provide an opportunity for trailhead facilities. Additionally on April 19th, there will be a request to acquire three properties from the Austin Independent School District. An acquisition near Campbell Elementary, located at 2701 East 22nd Street, is suitable for pocket park amenities and recreation opportunities for children in a park-deficient area. A second near Akins High School, at 10701 S. 1st Street, will function as a trailhead and close a gap in the Slaughter Creek Greenbelt system. The third near Paredes Middle School, at 10002 David Moore Drive, will connect Mary Moore Searight Metro Park to Bilbrook Neighborhood Park. Districts 1, 5 and 8 Approved acquisition at Shadywood Drive and proposed acquisition at McCarty Lane Alley Vacation adjacent to 64 Rainey Street: Department staff have been working closely with the Transportation and Public Works Department on processing a request to vacate a portion of the alley adjacent to the 64 Rainey Street Pocket Park and the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC) main campus. If successful, this request will connect the park to the campus, as envisioned in the ESB-MACC Facility Plan. Public Notices were sent out by the Development Services Department to property owners and renters who reside within a 300-foot radius of 64 Rainey Street announcing the request, and the application received recommendations from the Urban Transportation Commission on March 5th and the Planning Commission on March 12th. A public hearing before Council is needed before a final decision determined, which is anticipated to be scheduled within the next two months. District 9 3  Aerial map indicating the location of 64 Rainey Street Project Connect: The Department continues to coordinate with the Austin Transit Partnership and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on the environmental process for Phase 1 of the Austin Light Rail Implementation Plan. The Youth Hostel Boathouse Feasibility Study website page has been created and staff are reviewing proposals from consultants on the City of Austin's Architecture Rotation List and Environmental Services Rotation List, followed by contract negotiations. All Districts https://www.austintexas.gov/department/boathouse-feasibility-study https://www.projectconnect.com/ DEVELOPMENT UPDATES: Alamo Pocket Park: The Alamo playground has been completed and is now open to the public. The playground includes large accessible areas of poured in place rubber, a sensory climbing structure, a unique 2-person adaptive swings, shaded swing structures, a spinner chair, a freestanding painting panel, 2–5-year-old shaded play structures, new trees, a 3-tiered water fountain, limestone benches, a picnic table and a free little library. District 1 4  Alamo Playground view from climbing structure Free Little Library at Alamo Playground Rosewood Neighborhood Park Doris Miller Auditorium Exterior ADA Improvements: Improvements to the parking lot and pathways serving the Doris Miller Auditorium, located at 2300 Rosewood Avenue in the southwest corner of Rosewood Park, were completed on March 23rd. Improvements include a new ADA-compliant parking pad, landing, and path to the auditorium front door. Parking lot renovations include new asphalt overlay, new paint striping, and improved drainage. The Department Asphalt Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract was used to procure construction. Design, project management, and construction inspection were completed by Department staff. Funding was provided by the 2018 Park Bonds for ADA improvements and capital rehabilitation funds. District 1 5  Entrance to Doris Miller Auditorium BEFORE ADA improvements Entrance to Doris Miller Auditorium AFTER ADA improvements Holly Project: The Trail Conservancy (TTC), in partnership with the Parks and Recreation Department, received approval of the project’s site plan permit on February 23rd. The project is anticipated to go out for public bidding in late spring. This project will provide a fishing pier, additional seating, lighting, and native plant restoration to support the ecological restoration of the urban forest and natural areas and protection of the shoreline for wildlife habitat. District 3 https://thetrailconservancy.org/projects/hollyproject/ 6  Site plan for the Holly Project Brush Square: Austin’s Brush Square was one of six Texas parks honored with designation as a Lone Star Legacy Park by the Texas Recreation and Park Society at the association’s annual conference in Galveston on February 29th. A Lone Star Legacy Park is a park that holds special prominence in the local community and the state of Texas. To qualify for consideration, the park must have endured the test of time and become iconic to those who have visited, played, and rested on its grounds. Nominated parks must be a minimum of 50 years old and meet criteria related to historic, architectural, and natural significance. Brush Square was designated as one of four public squares in the 1839 original plat of Austin. Three of the historic squares – Wooldridge, Republic, and Brush Squares – thrive to this day, each reflecting a unique character. Before Brush Square was developed into a park in 1913, it was used as a public market and cotton yard. Three historic buildings are located on the square: The O. Henry Museum, relocated in 1934; Central Fire Station #1, constructed in 1938; and the Susanna Dickinson Museum, relocated in 2001. District 9 7  Brush Square is now a Lone Star Legacy Park MAINTENANCE UPDATES: Givens Recreation Center: Givens Recreation Center recently began construction on the new Varsity Generation Garden funded by St Davis foundation. The addition of the garden will provide new programming for the Givens Varsity Generation. The scope of the garden construction will take approximately two weeks to complete. District 1 Construction begins on Givens Recreation centers Varsity generation program garden Gustavo “Gus” Garcia Recreation Center: Gus Garcia Recreation Center has finished installing four new security lights on site. Two lights were installed onto previously existing poles, while the other two lights were installed on new poles. The additional lighting will help provide safety around the facility. District 4 8  New Security Lights around the facility turned on after dark Ballfield Light Project at Walnut Creek Metro Park: The light project on Havins softball fields has been successfully completed. The installation of new LED technology not only enhances playability and visibility for players but also contributes to reducing light pollution throughout the park. Over 100 participants have enjoyed the new lights this Spring season. District 4 Ballfield lights at Walnut Creek Metro Park Deep Eddy Pool: The bulkhead repairs at Deep Eddy Pool are complete, and the pool reopened on Monday, March 11th. District 10 Newly repaired Deep Eddy Pool 9  PROGRAM UPDATES: Oakwood Cemetery Chapel: The Parks and Recreation Department received a National Endowment for the Humanities – Digital Humanities Advancement Grant in 2021-2023. The project culminated in a 3D digital model of the Historic “Colored Grounds” of the Oakwood Cemetery, along with related burial information and contextual exhibits. Staff published the research findings on: AustinTexas.gov/OakwoodLegacy. District 1 Oakwood Cemetery Chapel website image Old Bakery & Emporium Art Talk with Francine Funke: On March 2nd, The Old Bakery & Emporium hosted an art talk with Francine Funke to learn about her artistic process and inspiration for her exhibition “Fantastical Flora”. Francine Funke is a multifaceted artist whose artwork includes mixed media archival pigment ink on canvas and paper, acrylic paintings, collages, works on paper, photography, and installations. Ten community members were in attendance. District 1 Francine Funke giving a tour of her work 10  The George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center: The George Washington Carver and Cultural Center hosted an artist talk with exhibiting artist, Aimeé M. Everett. The event was a deep experience for both the artist and the community as participants learned about the inspiration behind Everett’s show, “Two Births and the Afterlife.” Conversation between museum curator, Carre Adams, and Everett offered an exploration of the profound transformations experienced during childbirth and the subsequent journey of self-discovery into motherhood. Twenty-three community members attended the event. District 1 Artist Aimeé M. Everett in conversation with Carver Museum Director, Carre Adams Turner-Roberts Recreation Center: On February 22nd, Turner-Robert's Recreation Center’s after-school program hosted their Black history showcase. The program included a Black history presentation of notable Black American athletes and entertainers chosen by the program's attendees. The event took place between 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Over one hundred participants were in attendance for the event. District 1 Turner-Roberts Afterschool program hosts their Black History Month showcase 11  Delores Duffie Recreation Center: On February 29th, the Delores Duffie after-school program staff hosted their Black History month showcase. The event, held inside Doris Miller Auditorium, highlighted several significant African American representatives, from Civil Right Leaders, World War II Heroes, and fictional Black American movie characters. Each figure selected by the afterschool program staff was researched and presented upon at the event. Eleven figures in total were selected for the showcase. District 1 Delores Duffie Recreation center hosts their Black History Event in the Doris Miller Auditorium 12  Cahoots Art Event at Dottie Jordan: In an effort to provide enriching experiences for the community's youngest members, Dottie Jordan Recreation Center held the Art in Cahoots session on March 7th. Twelve pairs of prekindergarten-aged participants and their adult caregivers thoroughly enjoying the carefully crafted activities, featuring sensory, multi-disciplinary, and process-based art experiences. Art in Cahoots fostered a creative and engaging atmosphere for both children and caregivers. The session not only provided a platform for artistic exploration but also proved instrumental in the development of social-emotional skills for the young participants. The positive feedback received highlighted the event's effectiveness in helping children familiarize themselves with a classroom setting while benefiting from the guidance of their trusted caregivers. District 1 An Art in Cahoots Participant and Caregiver Enjoying Their Craft Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center: Conley- Guerrero hosted Black History Month on February 15th. It was an evening event that focuses on bringing seniors together after hours. The goal was to help gain new experiences for the senior community. The event consisted of a bingo social and a lovely dinner that was provided by staff and volunteers. The program had over 65 participants. District 1 Participants playing bingo 13  Red Dress Exhibition: Join the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center in partnership with Red Sand Project on Saturday, March 9 at 4:30 p.m. for a Red Dress Exhibition. Empty red dresses will be hanging through the lobby of the Carver Museum as a visual representation of the spirits of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2 Spirit individuals, inspired by the work of Métis artist Jaime Black. The Red Dress Exhibition will be on display from March 9 through April 6 at the Carver Museum, 1165 Angelina St. Learn more about the Red Dress Exhibition. District 1 Dittmar Recreation Center Flag Football and Cheer Program: Dittmar Recreation Center started its flag football and cheer program with over 100 participants registered! Parents and participants have expressed their excitement to be out under the Friday night lights! This is a 4-week program includes practices and games and takes place Monday-Friday. District 2/5 Dittmar Recreation Center Flag Football and Cheer 2024 George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center: The George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center hosted the 25th annual “UT Project’’ volunteer event. A total of 800 students from the University of Texas participated in a day of community service for the Dove Springs community. Students helped with park/creek litter pickup, sand volleyball court restoration, and the mulching of trees. District 2 14  UT student volunteers gather in anticipation before the Project Day kickoff Camacho Activity Center: Kayaking season began for the Camacho Activity Center, starting with Family Kayaking for 17 participants on March 1st. Weekly sessions will continue every Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. through May. Registration is available on WebTrac. Additionally, Camacho will host five adaptive kayaking groups from three organizations that serve adults with disabilities. Sessions will occur on the adaptive dock on Lady Bird Lake. One of these sessions will be a river trip with participants from the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation. District 3 The Camacho Activity Center collaborated with Ghisallo Cycling Initiative on March 6th for the Office of Sustainability’s “A Carnival Celebration for a Bright Green Future” event by providing equipment for the bike rodeo. Camacho’s Cubs Club also participated in environmentally conscious activities provided by City of Austin departments and community sponsors. District 3 Montopolis Recreation and Community Center: Montopolis Recreation and Community teamed up with Capital Metro Mobility to host a community engagement event to inform community members about the new Metro Rail. City of Austin Council members, county commissioners and about 100 community members were in attendance. The event took place on February 10th, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. District 3 Community Members looking at Rail Plans 15  Oswaldo A.B. Cantu/Pan American Recreation Center: On February 24th, the Oswaldo A.B. Cantu/Pan American Recreation Center hosted the Little Homies Bike Project/Yellow Bike Project giveaway at Pan Am neighborhood parks Hillside stage, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. The recreation center, in partnership with The Lil Homies group and Yellow Bike project, distributed 50 bicycles to families that signed up with the program. District 3 Rodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center: Forty-three pups and their families came out to the 11th Annual Dog Extravaganza on March 2nd from 12 –2 p.m. Dogs enjoyed games such as the Tunnel Run and Treat Hunt while owners visited with vendors and enjoyed their time in the park. Contest winners were given a prize basket in the following categories: furthest traveled, smallest dog, and largest dog. Families were given free hotdogs, chips, and drinks to conclude their day at the Dog Extravaganza. District 3 Event attendees from Mendez Recreations Center’s 11th annual Dog Extravaganza hosted in Metz Park Texas Veg Fest: On April 6th, Texas Veg Fest will hold an annual community food festival focused on vegan/vegetarian items at Fiesta Gardens. More information can be found at Texas Veg Fest. District 3 Statesman Capitol 10K Run: The Statesman will hold the Annual Statesman CAP10k run held in downtown Austin and at Auditorium Shores on April 7th. More information can be found at Statesman Capitol 10K. District 3 Gustavo “Gus” Garcia Recreation Center Youth Winter Basketball: Gus Garcia Recreation Center Youth Winter Basketball is in the final week of the season. Participants practiced at least once a week and participated in basketball games on Saturdays. There were approximately 70 youth participants throughout this basketball season, and feedback from the participants and parents has been overall positive. District 4 Virginia L. Brown Recreation Center Winter Basketball Program: Winter Basketball is almost at its end. March 4th will be the last game for North Area 6U, 8U, and 10U leagues. Virginia L. Brown’s teams are all currently undefeated! District 4. 16  6U Virginia L. Brown participants playing against 6U Gus Garcia Recreation Center participants Northwest Recreation Center, Youth Basketball Clinic: Northwest Recreation Center partnered with Play It Forward Basketball to conduct a basketball clinic for youth on March 19th. Participants met every Tuesday, 5:45 - 7 p.m., and will continue to meet through May 7th. The clinic is limited to 25 participants and is targeting youth ages 8-13. District 7 Zilker Kite Festival: The annual City Council cosponsored kite event at Zilker Park will be held on April 14th. More information can be found at ABC Zilker Kite Festival. District 8 Total Eclipse of the Central Texas Heart Event Preparations: In preparation for the total solar eclipse event on April 8th, the Austin Nature and Science Center has begun training volunteers and staff who will support ten viewing locations around Austin and host the following events related to the eclipse: • Allyson Bieryla, Telescope Manager at the Harvard University Astronomy Lab, and astronomer of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, partnered with the Nature Center on March 9th for a workshop where the LightSound solar eclipse sonification device was built. This device will be donated to a select viewing location on April 8th to make the solar eclipse event more inclusive and accessible to those with visual impairments. District 8 • Neel Nagajaran of the Planetary Systems Habitability of the University of Texas will be hosting two workshops on March 30th and April 6th at Austin Nature and Science Center to speak about the solar system. District 8 • Family-friendly virtual series, Suppertime Star Parties, was hosted on March 21st and will again be hosted on March 28th. The series explores the solar system and beyond. Registration for this free series is available on WebTrac. District 8 • Planetarium display shows are available at Austin Nature and Science Center on March 23rd, March 30th, April 6th, and April 7th beginning at 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. with 30-minute show intervals. Admission is free but requires a ticket available at the front desk, as space for each show is limited. District 8 Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) Day of Wellness: On March 24th, The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center partnered with the Trail Conservancy for “It’s My Park Day”. They offered a day of wellness activities starting with an hour-long nature walk. Attendees were treated to free breakfast tacos and worked in the MACC garden planting herbs, vegetables and flowers. They participated in guided meditation and yoga, followed by a cooking demo by Common 17  Threads. They made and sampled healthy snacks like cookie dough hummus and fruit skewers. They got to talk to folks from local health programs including CommUnity Care, Herbal Action Project, Latino Outdoors, and PEAS (Partners for Education Agriculture and Sustainability). Fifty community members attended this event. District 9 Dougherty Arts Center Public Artist Training Program: The Dougherty Arts Center’s Spring 2024 Public Artist Training Program held classes every Monday and Wednesday, from January 22 through March 4. Throughout the 6-week program, artists learned about the production of artworks for public places, proposal preparation, artist budgeting, and considerations for site selection and installation of art. By the end of the program participants had developed a package of the necessary materials to apply for public art commissions. Additional information about the program can be found at the Dougherty Art Center’s Artist Resource Center webpage: https://www.austintexas.gov/page/artist-resource-center . Six artists participated. District 9 Artists conversing during a public artist training session Hancock Recreation Center Spring Soccer:  Handcock Recreation Center closed registration for Spring Soccer on March 8th. Practices were held at Hancock with games on Saturdays at Gus Garcia Recreation Center against other North Area Recreation Centers. District 9 Coach Jenny with Hancock’s last season’s 6U Team! 18  Susanna Dickinson Museum’s “Through Her Eyes” Digital Campaign: From February 23rd – March 6th, the thirteen days corresponding with the siege of the Alamo in 1836, the Susanna Dickinson Museum featured daily slices of history through social media, highlighting the experiences that Susanna Dickinson and other women would have had during this time. The series cast a spotlight on music, food, natural features, and tangible items that Susanna Dickinson and others experienced during the Siege of the Alamo. The series can be viewed on either the Susanna Dickinson Museum Facebook page, or the Brush Square Museums Instagram feed. District 9 Graphic featuring details about the "Through Her Eyes” digital content campaign Varsity Generation Programming Day of Service: On March 9th, 54 adult and youth participants from Lamar Senior Activity Center, South Austin Senior Activity Center, Conley Guerrero Senior Activity Center, Circle C Outreach, Pickfair Community Center, and Mendez Recreation Center came together to do a park cleanup at the Roy Guerrero Metropolitan Park on the Craig Field side. With the help of Parks and Recreation and Austin Public Health staff, the participants picked up trash all around the park and then enjoyed music and yard games while eating a picnic lunch. District 9 19  Couple picking up trash Group photo of some event staff and participants Men playing corn hole Special Olympics Golf: Lions hosted the Special Olympics golf tournament. The tournament consisted of 9 and 18 hole play with both 2 person teams and individual play. 88 contestants participated. District 10 Junior Golf Across Austin: Golf courses across Austin hosted several junior golf events including Southern Texas PGA’s Little Linkster 9-hole at Morris Williams, a Junior Tour 18-hole event at Jimmy Clay, and an Austin High School JV Boys golf tournament at Jimmy Clay. In total 192 junior golfers attended these events. Districts 1, 2 and 10 South Austin Recreation Center: South Austin Recreation Center (SARC) held a community engagement event February 24th from 2 – 4 p.m. Kids were able to experience fun programs and parents were able to give SARC staff input on their perspective of the Parks and Recreation Department, the SARC, and what they would like to see more of. About 40 adults and kids were in attendance. District 3 and 5 20  Kids learn about Floorball, adult practice Pickleball and a basketball game is taking place Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail: The Trail Conservancy’s Music on the Trail program celebrated Woman’s History Month in March with performances by Jennifer Foster, Sarah Sharp, Cassandra Elese, Britney Stavar, Ange Kogutz, Emily Shirley, and The Voice of Erica. March also saw the debut of the first two exhibitions in the TEMPO on the Trail program. The murals, “Symbiotic Disappearance” by Chroma Collective and “Cosmos Composition” by Adrian Landon Brooks can be seen under the I-35 overpass on the south side of the lake and under the Drake Street Bridge on the north side of the lake respectively. Eight artists in total will create and install pieces on the Butler Trail as part of the temporary art exhibition, with art including murals, sculptures, lawn art, and light art. Art will continue to be installed around the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail through June and remain in place for a full 12 months once installed. TEMPO on the Trail is hosted by The Trail Conservancy in partnership with the City’s Art in Public Places program. Districts 3, 8 and 9 https://thetrailconservancy.org/programs/music/ https://thetrailconservancy.org/tempo-announces-artists/ “Symbiotic Disappearance” by Chroma Collective and “Cosmos Composition” by Adrian Landon Brooks 21  Lifeguard Hiring Open Hours: Lifeguard applicants are invited to stop by the Aquatic Office, 2818 San Gabriel St., to fill out their application and get free pizza on March 21 and April 5 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Lifeguard hiring open hours are an easy way to get the paperwork out of the way. More information about Lifeguard Hiring Open Hours. All Sites Spring Break Camp: Spring Break camp took place from March 13th through the 17th at all Recreation Centers for ages 5 - 12 years. All Districts All Sites Spring Youth Soccer: All Rec Centers have closed registration for youth soccer ages 3 - 12 years old. The league will begin April 15th. All Districts Nature Benefits Poster Series: Back by popular demand, the Health Promotions Unit began its next installment of the poster series campaign highlighting the benefits of spending time in nature. Health benefits include improvements to the physical and mental well-being of individuals. Posters will be disseminated at Austin Public Libraries and Community Recreation Centers throughout Austin. The Nature Benefits series will include a total of eight posters, so be on the lookout! Additional information can be found at the Parks Prescription website https://austintexas.gov/pardrx All Districts Nature Benefits Poster Austin Civilian Conservation Corps (ACCC) and American Youthworks: The ACCC crew run by American Youthworks has reached the end of its season. This program consisted of 21 people working within a cohort each participating in work that aligned with Climate Equity Plan as well as the Parks and Recreation Land Management Plan. Some of the projects involved removing invasive species, habitat restoration, bringing in native plantings and seeding, and prescribed burns. Additionally, of the 21 participants that worked in this cohort, 14 of them have been offered employment at the conclusion of the program, and 1 member was identified a top candidate for full time employment with the City of Austin. All Districts 22  Abraham Hernandez of the ACCC Preserves Crew receiving instructions during an Arborist tree climbing exercise at Johnny Trevino Park Leave No Trace: The spring messaging campaign for Leave No Trace has kicked off with street banners spanning the First Street Bridge in front of City Hall and an online social media campaign. Simple environmental stewardship and safety messaging reminds both locals and visitors to learn and follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles. ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES: Recreation Management System: The solicitation for a Recreation Management System was published on June 5, 2023, and was extended and closed on July 20, 2023. Six proposals were received, and all proposals were deemed responsive. The evaluation and negotiation processes, led by Central Procurement, are underway. The Department will continue to utilize RecTrac services throughout the solicitation process until a recommended vendor is established. Aquatic Division Recruiting: Aquatics has/will host recruiting events at the following locations:  Ann Richards High School, March 18th District 5  Ann Richards High School, March 19th District 5  Aquatics Division Office, March 21st District 9  Dittmar Recreational Center, March 23rd District 2  Del Valle High School, March 26th District 2  Montopolis Rec Center, March 29th District 3  Pan Am Rec Center, March 29th District 3  Parque Zaragosa Rec Center, March 30th District 3 As of March 8th, the Aquatics division has successfully recertified 245 guards (winter and returning), which is 58 more than this time last year. All Districts 23