04-01: Director's Update, June 2026 — original pdf

Backup

AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR’S UPDATE June 2026 Recreation Services Division Summer Meals Kick Off In partnership with Central Texas Food Bank providing free summer meals across programs. This celebration took place with the Summer Playgrounds Program at Garrison Park on June 10 . HEB Banana Boat Bash In partnership with H -E-B at our six Summer Playgrounds. Each participant received a book, HEB bag of fruit/ healthy snacks, banana chip snack, frozen banana treats from Banana Betty and decorated a banana. This event was held on June 10 at Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park and provided healthy snacks to 90 youth. Summer APD Cadet Class Event brought together 200 youth participants and 60 members of the Austin Police Department Cadet Class for a day of kickball and team -building activities. The event fostered positive interactions between youth and cadets while providing a fun start to the summer program. Natural Resources Division Prescribed Burns & Wildland Fire Interagency Collaboration S-270 Basic Air Operations Training Walter E. Long Metro Park – June 4, 2026 Unified training for pilots and firefighters and staff from 10 area land management agencies and fire departments. Prescribed Fire Strategy Holistic strategy for ecosystem health and wildfire risk mitigation using burns year-round and this burn met ecological restoration goals. Interagency Synergy Invaluable experience strengthening relationships and operational readiness across the region. Prescribed Burns are implemented at select sites year round as conditions allow. More info at: austintexas.gov/ parkrxfire - Community Recreation Division Gus Garcia Recreation Center staff had a fantastic time building, creating, and letting their imaginations run wild! From creative designs to teamwork and problem -solving, every session is filled with fun and learning. : LEGO Club members and Cinco De Mayo event: Ditmar Recreation Center Dittmar hosted a successful Cinco de Mayo event on May 5th from 5pm to 7pm. The event included, crafts, face paint, walking tacos, Mexican and Tejano musical hits and a Ballet Folklorico show. Over 140 people in attendance. Conley Guerrero Senior Activity Center The Center hosted a Mother's Day celebration, which attracted more than 100 participants. The Charles Jordan Hall was filled with music, joy, and community spirit as participants gathered to celebrate together. – Mother’s Day Adult 50+ Services Area – Water Aerobics The senior centers started their annual Water Aerobics program on June 2. The class includes 36 participants from all three sites and focuses on upper exercises - and lower -body Aquatic Division Aquatic Maintenance Replaced one deck shower at Shipe Pool and completed repainting of Ramsey Pool, improving overall guest experience Barton Springs/ Deep Eddy Preparations have begun for hosting components of the Greater & Greener Conference, scheduled for June 13, 2026. On June 15, Deep Eddy Pool will host a Greater & Greener tour, including a swim. Led by representatives from Planning and Watershed Protection. Instructional Swim Programing, Marketing and Public Pools Swim team will hold its first summer neighborhood meet on June 13, with 669 participants enrolled this season. 593 lifeguards ready to work, with a total of 2,076 applicants. Parque Zaragoza bathhouse held its grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony on June 10, and Montopolis Pool celebrated its ribbon ceremony opening on June 11. Architectural Development Division Grand Opening of the Confluence! • Led by Austin Watershed Protection, in partnership with The Waterloo Greenway Conservancy. • Ribbon-cutting ceremony held on June 6 • Congressman Lloyd Doggett and Congressman Greg Casar were in attendance. • The project received $11M in federal funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers • Features 200,000 new plants, 1,600 new trees! • Multiple bridges, a boardwalk and new trails enhancing bike and pedestrian connectivity downtown • Amenities include the shaded Lakeview Terrace and Explorers Garden Asset Management Division 2026 Federal Advocacy Visit Rachel Morris, our Asset Management Division Manager who oversees grant applications, participated in the Austin Chamber's annual federal advocacy trip to Washington, D.C. in June. Since 2024, park projects have received $6.15M in federal Community Project Funding, demonstrating the value of strong relationships and continued advocacy with our congressional representatives. Community Project Funding for Park Projects • $3.15M for Onion Creek All Abilities Playground in FY26 • $625K for the Sunken Gardens, $850K for Sir Swante Palm Park, and $1.92M for Waterloo Greenway Creek Restoration in FY25 • Ceremonial Big Check Event for Palm Park on June 17, 2026, 10-11:00 a.m.! • $1M for John Trevino Jr. Metro Park in FY24 FY27 proposed projects include Bolm District Park development, a loop trail at Walter E. Long Metro Park, and the Farm Phase of John Trevino Jr. Metro Park Greater & Greener Conference • City Parks Alliance biannual urban parks conference, June 12 - 16 • 1,251 attendees—largest ever Greater & Greener Conference • 280 speakers,130 from Austin • 49 weekend tours and mobile workshops in greenspaces across Austin • 12 morning networking walk & talk's • "Welcome to Austin" presentation with City Manager T.C. Broadnax • Receptions at Waterloo Park and grounds of the Palmer Event Center • Mayors Forum featuring Mayor Kirk Watson, mayors of Fort Worth and Greenville, SC Photos: PLACEHOLDERS; Community PARKnerships will provide G&G photos ASAP Greater Greener Conference Austin Parks and Rec Staff at the Conference Staff played a big role in the conference including.. • 6 staff members speaking! • 14 staff members leader tours! • 15 staff members volunteering! Greater Greener Conference People came from across the country to hear our staff talk about…. • Roots of Resilience: Exploring Black and Latino Legacies in Urban • Peer Conversation: From Tokenism to Solidarity – Six Years After Parks George Floyd • “Play Ball!”: Activating a Historic Black Baseball Landmark • Partnerships for Public Purpose • Wild Swimming & Natural Pools – Designing with Nature for Health, • Nature Play: Sustainability Meets Equity in Austin Comfort, and Connection • Historic Greenspace: A Walking Tour of Downtown Austin’s Original Public Squares • Evening in Austin: Waterloo Greenway, Culture, and Art • Peer Conversation: How a Unique Music Festival Partnership has generated over $70M for Austin’s Parks • How Partnerships with School Districts Are Closing Park Gaps and Advancing Resilience • Green Stormwater Infrastructure in Urban Parks: Maintenance and Workforce • Peer Conversation: SITES at Scale Roundtable – Creating a Policy Playbook for Governments and Institutions • Peer Conversation: Navigating Climate Change in Parks & Community Spaces, Givens Park Community Initiative – A Lesson in Trust-Building • It’s Electrifying! Exploring a Sustainable Austin and the Commercial Landscaping Electrification Pilot at Zilker Park • Lessons Earned from Austin’s Resilience Hub Pilot Program • Activating Cultural History in Cemetery Spaces • Green Building Roots and SITES Innovations in Austin Parks • Downtown Bike Tour of Green Stormwater Infrastructure Around Lady Bird Lake • Wild Swimming & Natural Pools – Designing with Nature for Health, Comfort, and Connection • Colony Park District Park: A Vibrant Park in an Active Sustainable Community • Accessible Nature for All: Designing Public Parks and Programming • Bustling Montopolis: A Modern Park Makeover QUESTIONS?