11-1: APR Director's Update March 2026 — original pdf

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AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR’S UPDATE March 2026 Recreation Services Division – Mexic -arte Showcase Totally Cool Totally Art th The teen art program, Totally Cool Totally Art, celebrated their 25 Mexic-arte Museum showcase on February 19. Participants from 10 recreation centers and their families gathered downtown to celebrate their accomplishments and appreciate great art. – Adaptive Prom McBeth Recreation Center McBeth Recreation Center held its annual Adaptive Prom on Saturday, March 21, welcoming approximately 100 adults with disabilities for a night of celebration. The event featured music by CJ the DJ with an evening of dancing in a fun and inclusive social environment. Facility Check -In Kiosk Pilot The reservations and RecTrac team set up and trained staff at Northwest Recreation Center with the new kiosk's that are being rolled out. This new kiosk solution allows patrons at our facilities to self-scan when checking -in to facilities. Natural Resources Division Aquatic Division Aquatic Maintenance Continuing to prepare facilities for the summer season. Murchison now has restroom partitions installed, and deck drain covers replaced. Barton Springs Spring cleaning will extend into spring break due to delays caused by the skimmer removal project, current estimated reopening of March 21, 2026. As of March 10, five pipe sections have been successfully removed, significantly improving progress -related delays. despite multiple weather Deep Eddy Sp rin g cle a n in g sch e d u le d fo r 03/28–04/11, sta ff will re p a in t d e ck sign s, h a n d ra ils, a n d o th e r fixtu re s, d e e p cle a n th e fa cility, se rvice e q u ip m e n t, a n d co m p le te ge n e ra l gro u n d s wo rk. Instructional Swim Programming, Marketing and Public Pools ISP is ra m p in g u p fo r th e sp rin g b re a k su rge , with 131 a p p lica n ts a n d co u n tin g, re giste re d fo r Life gu a rd cla sse s. No rth we st is n e a rin g su b sta n tia l co m p le tio n a n d will b e tu rn e d ove r to th e d e p a rtm e n t o n Ma rch 13 th Park Planning Division Roy G. Guerrero Park Basketball Court • Community-initiated project completed in partnership with Austin Parks Foundation. • Project included the new court, shade, benches and tree plantings. • Largest APF grant awarded to date! • Planning and permitting kicked off in Winter 2025 • The Ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on March 14! Photos: Completed court and shade structure, Council Member Velásquez, grant applicant Noé Elias, community activist and politician Susana Almanza, APR Interim Assistant Director Erica Saenz and APF Park Improvement Director Patrick Beyer celebrate the opening. Architectural Development Division Gus Garcia Recreation Center Senior Wing Project • Priority identified in the Citywide Facility Assessment and Gap Report. • Community Engagement kicked-off in Fall 2025 • • A Community Charette Meeting was held on March 10. The results of the charette will be shared at two community pop-up events at the rec center. • Tuesday, March 24th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. • Wednesday, March 25th from 10:00 a.m. to noon Photos: Community members share their ideas through several activities guided by park staff. Park Partnerships Program It’s My Park Day! • March 7, 2026 was the Bi-annual Austin Parks Foundation led event to take on hands-on park stewardship projects, activations and community celebrations • 4,522 volunteers total across 108 parks! • 20 APR staff members lead park projects. • An additional 32 volunteered as civilians. • Big thank you to Austin Parks Foundation for another successful event! Photos: Community Members and staff participating in projects at Kendra Page Neighborhood Park, Sanchez School Park, and Rosewood Neighborhood Park Park Projects Coming Soon The following projects are anticipated to be completed this summer. • The Confluence (Waterloo Greenway) • ESB-MACC Phase II • Zilker Maintenance Barn • Ridgeline Neighborhood Park • Barton Creek Stream Bank Erosion • Zilker Shared Use Path at Stratford Drive Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse (Main • Rotunda and Exhibit) • Montopolis Pool Renovation • Beverly S Sheffield Northwest Pool Renovation • Parque Zaragoza Bathhouse Photos Clockwise from Left: ESM-MACC, the Confluence, Exhibit Sign at JMKBH and new amenities installed at Ridgeline Neighborhood Park QUESTIONS?