04-1: Director's Update, April 2025 — original pdf

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AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR’S UPDATE April 28, 2025 Welcome to AUSTIN PARKS & RECREATION VISION The Parks and Recreation Department will be an innovative leader in parks and recreation experiences. MISSION Inspire Austin to learn, play, protect and connect by creating diverse programs and experiences in sustainable natural spaces and public places. Ensure Parkland Offers Relief from Urban Life Recreation Services - Art in the Park Therapeutic Recreation Youth and adults with disabilities created art with many local organizations on April 10th at Fiesta Gardens for the annual Art in the Park event. Approx. Attendance 900 - Fishing Club Therapeutic Recreation Alamo Recreation Center took twelve adults with disabilities on their first fishing trip to Lady Bird Lake learning basic fishing skills while enjoying being with peers on a pier. – TILT Graduation Community Initiatives The Teens In Leadership Training (TILT) program held their graduation on April 10th with 24 students. Graduates will work for PARD this summer as Jr. Activity Specialists! Athletic Programs – South Austin Little League The South Austin Little League celebrated their 75th anniversary on March 30th with games, food, team pictures and fun activities. Approx. Attendance 400 Community Recreation Hancock Recreation Center The highlight of the evening was teens participating in the escape room designed by PARD staff. This year’s theme was the Hunger Games edition. - Tweens Night Out South Austin Recreation Center Parents and children work together while exploring art projects. - Crafty Tots Mendez Recreation Center Over 72 dogs and 130 people made it out to the park for free doggie and human games. -12th Annual Dog Extravaganza Varsity Games ~Yard Games & Pickleball Competitors will face off in Corn Hole, Washers, and Horseshoes on April 11th and 12th. On April 26th and 27th our annual pickleball tournament will occur at Turner-Roberts Recreation Center. Aquatics Aquatic Maintenance Recently completed eco-finishing at Dove Springs Pool and Big Stacy Pool. Repairs have also been completed at the Liz Carpenter Splash Pad, and preparations are underway for the rest of the splash pads in anticipation of summer. Barton Springs Successfully reopened on March 15th following its annual spring cleaning. Deep Eddy Currently undergoing its annual spring cleaning and is scheduled to reopen on April 19th . Instructional Swim Programing and Public Pools As of April 9th, we have 377 lifeguards ready to work. As of April 11th, we have had 963 total lifeguard applicants, with 655 of these applicants enrolled in a lifeguard class. Colony Park and Givens are nearing substantial completion; with the goal of opening both facilities for the summer season. Support Services Human Resources Lifeguard Hiring Campaign: The 2025 lifeguard recruiting process is ahead of 2024’s hiring pace. We are currently promoting these jobs through on-site signage at pools, digital ads, street banners, roadside digital board signage, in-person recruiting at schools and job fairs, newsletters ads, and social media. LifeguardAustin.com Communications and Engagement Community Listening Sessions: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Listening Session scheduled for Saturday, April 26 at Oswaldo “A.B” Cantu/Pan American Recreation Center has been postponed. As soon as the session can be rescheduled, the Department will send out public notification. For more information about future Community Listening Sessions, please visit AustinTexas.gov/PARDlistening. Financial Services City Manger FY26-FY27 proposed budget will be presented to City Council on July 15, 2025. Contracts, Purchasing & Grants Zilker Café: Legacy Hospitality and Entertainment Group LLC was the sole respondent, and their proposal is currently under evaluation. During this no-contact period, all inquiries should be directed to the authorized City purchaser. Asset Management 2018 Bond Prop. B Spending Status (as of April 16, 2025) 2018 Bond Prop. C Spending Status (as of April 16, 2025) Park Planning and Development New Nature Play Installations PARD and partner organizations have opened six new nature play areas to date in 2025. • Davis White Northeast Neighborhood Park • Ron Rigsby Pocket Park • Lantana Neighborhood Park • Rainey Street Trailhead (via The Trail Conservancy) • Walnut Bluffs Greenbelt • Alamo Recreation Center Nature Play Opening Soon • Metz Neighborhood Park (Spring 2025) • Heritage Oaks Neighborhood Park (Spring 2025) • Odom School Park (Summer 2025) • Brownie Neighborhood Park (Summer 2025) Park Planning and Development Earth Day Celebrations • Keep Austin Beautiful held their 40th Keep Austin Beautiful Day on April 12 • The Trail Conservancy held their Earth Day Clean Up and Jubilee on April 25 and 26 Ribbon Cutting: Holly Fishing Pier May 10, at 10 a.m. • New fishing pier • ADA-accessible trail • Seating • Lighting • Native plan restoration Office of Special Events Kite Festival – 4/5/25 Founded as a simple kite contest in 1929 the city’s annual kite festival is the country’s largest and longest running festival of its kind. Approx. Attendance 50,000 Reggae Festival – 4/18/25 – 4/20/25 Founded in 1994, the annual festival helped raise more than $1,000,000 for the Central Texas Food Bank. Approx. Attendance 15,000 – 4/26/25 Dragon Boat Festival and Race The 25th annual Dragon Boat Festival and race is free and family friendly showcasing cultural performances and a Dragon Boat race on Lady Bird Lake. Approx Attendance 500 – 4/25/25 – 4/26/25 Longhorn Invitational 5 Universities compete in an intercollegiate competitive regatta at Lake Walter Long. Approx. Attendance 500 Natural Resources Urban Forestry Tree Planting PARD Forestry planting team partnered with Austin Parks Foundation, ACCC, TreeFolks, and numerous volunteers to plant a total of 513 trees across 6 different parks. 2024-2025 Season Nature Programs Austin Nature and Science Center (ANSC) April 19 Austin Nature Day Celebrated nature with a full day of activities. April 26 Meet the Animals Visitors of all ages met resident animals including the baby alligators being raised for their first year under the ANSC's education permit in partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Park Rangers Installed Security Cameras Security cameras with live video feeds installed at 6 parking lots for the busy summer season to help reduce burglary of vehicles. APD has access to the video. Prescribed Fire at Blunn Creek Nature Preserve 20 piles burned by Land Management team and partners for a total of 2.7 tons of biomass mitigated. QUESTIONS?