06-1: PARD Director's Update, June 2024 — original pdf

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PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD DIRECTOR’S UPDATE DATE: June 2024 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS: Beverly S. Sheffield Education Center: Beverly S. Sheffield Education Center (BSSEC) and Austin Nature & Science Center (ANSC) staff partnered with the Parks Grounds Maintenance team to open a new feature to the Zilker Metropolitan Park playscape on Friday, May 31st. The installation features a scientifically accurate representation of the endangered species that calls Barton Springs its home and will provide salamander education for years to come. District 8 Parks Grounds Maintenance and Nature Programs teams celebrate the opening of the new salamander feature at Zilker Metropolitan Park playscape. 1  Oswaldo A.B. Cantu/Pan American Recreation Center: On Saturday, May 18th the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department celebrated the unveiling of a plaque in honor of Tony Castillo. After much deliberation with city council, the Parks Board, along with community advocates and the Castillo family, the decision was made by the board to erect a plaque in honor of Mr. Castillo. District 3 Program invitation for Tony Castillo plaque dedication in Pan Am neighborhood park. Tillery Neighborhood Park PARD staff will host a Virtual Community Meeting to discuss plans for the new parkland and pecan grove. The project will provide visible and safe access to the park and install amenities that align with community needs and environmental constraints. District 3. Tillery Neighborhood Park Community Meeting (Virtual) Wednesday, June 26 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Join us to meet project staff, learn more about the planned park improvements and timeline, and get your questions answered. Spanish interpretation will be provided. Register here! PLANNING UPDATES: 2 DEVELOPMENT UPDATES: Kicking Off: Project kick-off is underway for new park development at 1129 Tillery Street, known as Pecan Grove, in east Austin. The approximately two acres of parkland were officially acquired from the Austin Housing Finance Corporation in 2022 as part of a planned affordable housing development. Concept planning for the park will start with community engagement, anticipated to begin this summer. District 3 Aerial view of 1129 Tillery Street 3  MAINTENANCE UPDATES: Barton Springs Pool & Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse Rehabilitation Project: Possible drawdown to be scheduled before July 4th. The drawdown of water levels will help remove algae from the shallow end of the pool. The Bathhouse Rehabilitation Project is underway. Ticket sales were moved to the café, signage designating the change was installed and staff have been set up to work from designated temporary work areas. A safe is scheduled for installation and an altered emergency action plan is being developed and will be tested in the near future. The bathhouse will be closed during the month of June. While the bathhouse remains closed, temporary showers, changing rooms, and bathrooms have been installed and a pathway is currently being built into the structures. District 5 & 8 PROGRAM UPDATES: Inclusion Services 101 Individualized Support Plans 208 Hours In- Person Training 6520 Direct Support Hours Inclusion Support Services: Inclusion Support Services provided 208 hours of in-person training for PARD staff in March, April, and May. These trainings outlined positive approaches to behavior, inclusion, disability awareness, universal program design and more in an effort to prepare the department to work successfully with a variety of kids this summer. Inclusion Support Services has met with, assessed, and written individualized support plans for 101 children with disabling conditions. Inclusion Support Services anticipates providing 6,520 direct staffing support hours over 10 weeks of summer camp to campers who have an identified direct staffing support need. All Districts 4  Greater East Austin Juneteenth Parade and Festival: On June 15th, Greater East Austin held their annual community celebration and parade ending at Rosewood Park attracting 2,500-5,000 participants. Central Texas Juneteenth District 1 Nature Programs Summer Camp Kickoff: Summer camp programming for Nature Programs began June 3rd with fully registered camps totaling 96 enrollments combined. To prep for the season, the Austin Nature & Science Center and Camacho Activity Center staff underwent adventure program training, CPR/First Aid/Water safety training courses and lifeguard workshops. This summer marks the first time since the COVID pandemic that programming resembles pre-pandemic programming with many staff having at least one summer of experience working with the Department. District 3 & 8 National Junior Tennis League (NJTL): The National Junior Tennis League (NJTL) started in 1969 to teach tennis and life skills to all children. Central Texas Tennis Association (CTTA) is the Austin branch, started by Sarah Pernell in 1978. Over the past 46 years, Sarah has taught tennis and life skills to over 230,000 children. CTTA operates over a 10-week period each summer. During this time, tennis is taught at 16 tennis sites across town, reaching children ages 4-18 years old. This year, CTTA is on track to reach 5,000 children. District 1, 3, 8 & 9 Participants of the NJTL Program Summer Playgrounds Program: PARD’s longest running summer program (1928) kicked off June 10th, serving six park locations across Austin. The Summer Playgrounds Program is a FREE, Drop-In Program for children 5-12 years of age that operates Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for 8 consecutive weeks. Every year hundreds of youth enjoy a high-energy program where staff foster healthy living, character building, teamwork, collaborative and active play, and positive relationships. 50 seasonal staff were hired and trained over 50+ hours in preparation for the start of camp. New this summer is a collaboration with Aquatics to provide a learn-to-swim component for three parks where registered youth will provide free swim lessons during program hours at adjacent municipal pools. In addition, every summer a partnership with the Central Texas Food Bank allows free lunches to be served to participants all summer long. For more locations, visit https://www.austintexas.gov/department/summer-playgrounds-program Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, & 9 information on summer playgrounds program, including 2024 park 5  Girls play in summer playgrounds program Participants making art in summer playgrounds program Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center: Saturday, March 9th, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Conley- Guerrero partnered with Austin Public health to bring Seniors with a Goal (SWAG) event that brought over 235 participants. It focused on providing resources and knowledge on selfcare, including exercises to help maintain mental and physical strength. District 1 Turner-Roberts Recreation Center: Friday, June 7th the Turner-Roberts Recreation Center hosted their summer teen fest. The event was held on the first Friday during the community recreation division’s summer program. Teen participants from supporting recreation centers were treated to a day of games, water balloons, snow cones, as well as burgers and hot dogs. Over 100 teen participants attended from sites such as Montopolis, Northwest, Mendez, and Givens Recreation center for the event. District 1 Dittmar Recreation Center: Dittmar Recreation Center recently held a pre-k graduation ceremony! The event was a joyous occasion with around 50 family members celebrating the accomplishments of all their pre-k students. Congratulations to the graduating class! District 2 and 5 6  Dittmar Recreation Center Pre-K Graduation 2024 George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center: The George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center began its youth summer camp program on Monday, June 3rd. Enrollment for the program maxed out at 72 participants. Youth participants will engage in a variety of activities including swimming, field trips, arts & crafts, kayaking and more. The program will take place for a total of 10 weeks and conclude on August 9th. District 2 Montopolis Recreation and Community Center: The Montopolis Recreation and Community Center hosted their 2nd Annual Summer Camp Conference. 178 Recreation Summer Camp staff from all over the city attended the event. Staff experienced learning crafts, games, classroom management and behavior management. The conference was held Tuesday, May 28th from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. District 3 COA staff participating in an Ice Breaker game. Rodolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center: Thursday, May 16th from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Mendez Recreation center hosted their PARD Community Recreation Division’s monthly bringing Seniors Together event. The event was hosted by Mendez staff and focused on the theme of Fiesta De Mayo. Over ninety-six Varsity Generation PARD participants from throughout the city's recreation centers attended. The event included forty raffles, a taquito lunch plate, as well as entertainment provided by Mendez Recreation Center staff. The event attendees were also treated to carnival games, as well as a community resource hub provided by both internal and external city vendors onsite. District 3 7  Varsity generation participants partake in Mendez Recreation centers, Bringing Seniors Together for events and activities. Gus Garcia Recreation Center Varsity Generation: The "Cricut Crafty" program, a new initiative of the Varsity Generation program, has been a resounding success. This program teaches seniors the art of sublimation and customization of various items such as mugs, shirts, and craft bags. Participants have enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to learn these new skills, fostering creativity and a sense of community. Total registered participants, 10. District 4 Participants proudly display their creations. Virginia L. Brown Recreation Center’s After School Program: Virginia L. Brown Recreation Center After School program came to a close on Thursday, May 23, 2024. All 36 participants enjoyed a surprise pizza party to celebrate the end of the school year. They enjoyed craft projects reminiscing on their favorite times during the year and played their favorite games with staff. District 4. VLB After School participants enjoy pizza, floats, and pickles to celebrate the end of the school year. 8  Lamar Senior Activity Center: Varsity Generation participants from Lamar Senior Activity Center and other centers around Austin had an incredible time showcasing their artistic talents at Lamar's Senior Activity Center Annual Art Off the Wall Art show! With over 40 participants signing up this year, the room was filled with hundreds of eager Austinites ready to get their hands on a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. District 9 Picture of man posing with his artwork Elisabet Ney Museum Ney Day: The Museum held its 10th annual event on May 25 featuring artist-led activities, interactive demonstrations, games, and food by mmmpanadas and Amy’s Ice Cream. Musical guests included Latin Grammy Nominee, Gina Chavez with sets by DJ Suspiros and DJ ConSafos. Ten Eyck Landscape Architects and Co’Design offered a first look at the brand-new landscape plan for the Ney’s grounds, and community booths included KUTX, ATX Gals, Refugee Collective, Austin Creative Reuse, Lady Cans, GENAustin, and Austin History Center. Attendance: 587 District 9 Elisabet Ney Day Children’s table 9  Old Bakery & Emporium Harrogate Gardens Art Reception: The art reception on May 25 featured the millinery voyage of local Austin hat maker Mamie Raynaud. Mamie was born in Hong Kong, and raised in central Los Angeles, California. She received tutelage in England and other master hatters in Europe and Australia. Attendance: 182 District: 9 Image of the exhibition: Harrogate Gardens by Mamie Raynaud 10  Brush Square Museums: On June 1st, Brush Square Museums (BSM), in collaboration with The Living History Foundation (LHF), participated in Bethany Cemetery Association’s Juneteenth Remembrance Day Celebration at Bethany Cemetery in East Austin. BSM and LHF set up a booth featuring six mannequins dressed in authentic replicas of Buffalo Soldier uniforms used throughout history. The demonstration featured hands-on exploration of artifacts and antiques related to the Buffalo Soldiers, and several living historians were present to lead a salute to the soldiers buried in the cemetery. Attendance: 200 District: 1 A living historian explains the use of a historic telegraph wire insulator during Bethany Cemetery’s Juneteenth Remembrance Day Celebration. 11  Dougherty Arts Center Artist Reception for Luster Woo: On Wednesday, May 29th, from 7-9p.m., the exhibit Luster Woo by MuthaGoose held their opening reception. Luster Woo was the debut show of Austin artist duo Jill Garcia and Kim Phu, otherwise known as MuthaGoose. Luster Woo showcases a unique blend of vintage aesthetics and modern technology to shed light on timeless issues faced by women. It features mixed-media sculptures and paintings with upcycled ephemera, fabrics, ceramics, and archaic technologies, all in iridescent muted tones. Attendance: 140 District: 9 People viewing the artwork in the Luster Woo exhibit. 12  The Asian American Resource Center’s Teen Mentorship Program: The Asian American Resource Center concluded its inaugural teen mentorship program (TMP) designed for high school-aged youth. Created as a way to develop intergenerational engagement, build community, and nurture future leaders. TMP spent the past five months brainstorming ways to address the needs of Asian American teens in Austin, learning and discussing Asian American culture and history, interviewing leaders of different cultural spaces to gather data and knowledge, and applying this knowledge towards their final capstone project presented at CelebrASIA in May. In total, 10 adult mentors and 9 teen mentees comprised this cohort, which met 23 times for 566 hours over the course of the program. Their final project consisted of a 30-page storybook, which was conceived, written, and designed by the mentees with guidance from their mentors. It aimed to promote broader perspectives and healing within the Asian American community. Participants shared that they appreciated being able to have space to reflect as a group, and develop a cohesive identity grounded in community. Participants: 19 | District 1 The Teen Mentorship Program cohort meets to present their final capstone project at CelebrASIA. The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) Caminos Graduation: On June 7th, The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center held its 6th Annual Caminos graduation at the Dougherty Arts Center. This year, 14 students were celebrated for their passion and the pursuing of a creative career. Interns worked alongside MACC professionals on a variety of community-oriented activities and artistic endeavors. Out of the 14 interns, 8 of them will continue working in PARD. Additional information about the program can be found at the Dougherty Art Center’s Artist Resource Center webpage: ESB-MACC Teen Leadership Program | AustinTexas.gov. District 9 | Participants 125 Photo of MACC staff at the Dougherty Arts Center 13  ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES: Summer Updates 619 Lifeguards 1,424 Applications Zilker Train Opens SUMMER FUN! Lifeguard Recruitment, Hiring, & Training: The Aquatic Division continues with training and lifeguard recruiting efforts on all fronts. As of May 30th, there are 619 lifeguards ready to work. Additionally, there are 1,424 lifeguard applications. Parks and Recreation Pool Closures: In observance of Juneteenth, the following pools will be open from 12-7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19th. • Dottie Jordan Neighborhood Pool - District 1 • Garrison Municipal Pool – District 5 • Martin Neighborhood Pool – District 3 • Patterson Neighborhood Pool – District 9 • Shipe Pool – District 9 • Springwoods Municipal Pool – District 6 • Stacy Wading Pool – District 9 • Westenfield Pool – District 10 There will be no closure day observed the week of July 4th. All pools, excluding Barton Springs and Deep Eddy, will be open from 12-7 p.m. on July 4th. District 5 and 10 Zilker Train: Austin Parks Foundation opened the Zilker Eagle train to the public on June 12th. A "Plan your Trip" page of the Zilker Eagle Website can be accessed at https://www.zilkertrain.org/plan-your-visit/. 14  The PARD HR Employment/Compensation continues to leverage technology via Microsoft Teams and our in-house temporary hiring systems, Temporary On/Off-Boarding Process Simplified (TOPS), to streamline our hiring processes. • 130 FTE positions have been hired/filled since Oct 1, 2023. • 635 Temps have been hired since Oct 1, 2023. • 861 Life Certification Reimbursements have been paid out since the inception of the program. • 8% is the current vacancy rate. • 30 reclasses have been processed since Oct 1, 2023. • 1 Job Family/Career Progress Plan is approved (Forestry). • 13 Go ATX Interns are working with PARD/Centralized Programs Division (CPD) for the summer. Department Staff Selected for National Leadership Program: Sarah Talkington, the Department Consulting Engineer on Sustainability & Resilience, was selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s 2024 Executive Energy Leadership program (Energy Execs). The program curriculum is designed to assist nontechnical decision-makers from government, corporate, nonprofit, and urban/rural communities as they work to implement renewable energy policies in their respective communities. Sarah is one of only 18 leaders selected nationwide. The full press release can be found at: https://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2024/nrel-names-2024-executive-energy-leadership- program-participants.html 15