05-1: Director's Update, September 2026 — original pdf

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AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR’S UPDATE September 2026 Architectural Development Division The Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse Ribbon-Cutting Ceny date is set! Saturday, October 17 at 10:30 a.m. • Mayor, Council Members, and other elected officials will be in attendance. • The renovated restroom, showers and staff spaces opened October 2025. • The public will get a sneak peek of the main entrance, rotunda and exhibit, scheduled to open in late 2026/early 2027. • The project earned LEED Gold Certification and includes an Art in Public Places installation. Community Recreation Division Turner-Roberts Recreation Center Weekly Adult Yoga sessions have begun at Turner-Roberts Recreation Center, averaging 5–7 participants every Tuesday. Sessions improve flexibility, build core strength, and enhance overall balance while offering a peaceful, supportive environment for all members. Dittmar Recreation Center - N3XT Athletics Program This fall, N3XT Athletics began weekly youth basketball clinics on Tuesdays for ages 5–8 and 9–12, growing to 25 participants. Dittmar Recreation Center also added weekly Youth Futsal contract classes with Texas Football Academy on Fridays, featuring instruction and scrimmages. South Austin Recreation Center Varsity Generation Volleyball brought together around 20 adults aged 50 and older every Monday and Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. at South Austin Recreation Center. The program provided a fun, social, and low-impact way to stay active and connected. Natural Resources Division Community Gardens Updates New Team Member Newly Permitted Expansion Louis Keller, Culture & Arts Education Specialist Grand Meadow Community Garden North Oaks Community Garden  Community Access  Outreach  Volunteer Stewardship Partners: Austin Parks Foundation Funded Fruitful Commons Fiscal Sponsor Partners: Kaboom Grant Workdays Begin: October 17 Park Planning Division New Concept Plan Underway! Eilers (Deep Eddy) Neighborhood Park • The planning process for the park (next to Deep Eddy Pool) kicked off this summer, with the draft plan anticipated to be complete Winter 2027. • RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture selected as the project consultant. • There are three rounds of community engagement planned. The first Community Survey closed on September 14. • Three pop-up events were held in August and small group discussions in September. • Funding provided by Austin Parks and Recreation and Friends of Deep Eddy. The EMS building and Deep Eddy Pool facility are outside of the project scope Park Planning and PARKnerships Division Ramsey Neighborhood Park Playground Ribbon Cutting • Held August 28, with Council Member Marc Duchen and former Council Member Alison Alter in attendance. • Austin Parks Foundation led project that included an upgrade to the play structure for ages 5 through 12, new play components, shaded swings and improvements to the safety surfacing. • Funding was also provided by the Rosedale Neighborhood Association and the office of Council District 10. Credit: Austin Parks Foundation Park Planning and PARKnerships Division Grand Meadow Neighborhood Park Phase I Ribbon Cutting • Held September 15, with Council Member Vanessa Fuentes and State Representative Lulu Flores in attendance • Other partners include the Friends of Grand Meadow & Fruitful Commons. • Community Garden installation and Food Forest planned for Fall 2026. • Phase I improvements include trails, walkways, nature play and a pavilion. Recreation Services Division Adaptive Softball Tournament On Friday, September 11, McBeth Adaptive Softball’s BatX of Austin hosted a four-team community tournament at Krieg Softball Complex with players, families, and community spectators in attendance. Delwood Sports Fall Season Opening Delwood’s Fall baseball season began on September 12 with the newly installed shade structure over the grandstands, and remodeled concession stand. Improvements completed by the Operations & Maintenance and Park Development teams. QUESTIONS?