Appendix 1 AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION POLICY Subject Section Applicability Director Approval Policy: Policies and Procedures for Concessions in City’s Parks System Finance All Personnel Jesús Aguirre Digitally signed by Jesús Aguirre Date: 2025.12.05 14:02:47 -06'00' Reference Number PR-F-004 Effective Date November 6, 2025 Supersedes Policy Dated March 12, 1998 Signature Date December 5, 2025 It is the policy of Austin Parks and Recreation to maintain the aesthetic and environmental quality of the Parks System, provide positive recreational experiences to park visitors, and ensure a financial return to the City from park concessions. Purpose: To provide a policy for concessions in City of Austin parks. Authority: The Code of the City of Austin Texas, City Charter, Article V Administrative Organization, §4 Directors of Departments. The Director has the authority and responsibility to maintain efficiency within the operation and to determine the methods of operation to accomplish the Department’s mission and objectives. DEFINITIONS Applicable Rules – The applicable provisions of City Code Title 8, the Park Use Rules, and these Policies and Procedures, as they may be amended from time to time. Concession - a business owned by a private citizen or a privately-owned business operating in the Parks System pursuant to an agreement between the City and the citizen or business or a permit issued by the Department. Examples include, but are not limited to, food and beverage stands, boat and watercraft recreation services, bicycle rentals, pushcarts, and souvenir stands. Concessionaire – a private citizen or privately owned business operating a Concession. Director – the Director of the Department or designee. Family Member – means a biological or adoptive parent, biological or adoptive grandparent, spouse (husband, wife, domestic partner), child (biological, adopted, stepchild, foster, legal ward), sibling (biological, adopted, stepsibling), and parent, grandparent, or sibling of a spouse. Effective Date November 6, 2025 Supersedes Policy Date March 12, 1998 Reference Number PR-F-004 Page 1 of 5 Legacy Concession – an existing concession operating in the Parks System pursuant to a concession agreement with the Department that: (cid:120) Has been continuously owned and operated in the same park location by the same person, Local Business, or a Family Member of the person or Local Business for at least 20 years; (cid:120) Has operated under the same or a similar name for the entirety of its existence; (cid:120) Contributes to the City’s history and culture, as determined by the Department in its …
Zilker Park Boat Rental Legacy Concession on Barton Creek Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Austin Parks and Recreation | January 26, 2026 Presented by: Lucas Massie, Assistant Director Denisha Cox, Contract Management Supervisor II Legacy Concession Policy Authority Revised Policies and Procedures for Concessions in City of Austin Parks approved by Council on November 6, 2025, under Resolution 20251106-043 In accordance with City Code Title 8, the Austin Parks and Recreation Director has the authority and responsibility to execute policies and procedures for concessions in Austin parks in accordance with City policies and best practices and under City Code: 8-1-71-73. The Director shall evaluate a proposed Legacy Concession and determine in their sole discretion whether it meets the requirements set forth in these Policies and Procedures. 2 Legacy Concession Policy Legacy Concession Criteria A Legacy Concession is an existing concession operating in the Parks System under an agreement with the Department that: Has been continuously owned and operated in the same park location by the same person, Local Business, or a family member of the person or owner of the Local Business for at least 20 years; Has operated under the same or a similar name throughout its existence; Contributes to the City’s history and culture, as determined solely by the Department; and Has maintained its physical features in good condition. 3 Current Zilker Park Boat Rental Agreement Zilker Park Boat Rentals opened for business in 1969 as a canoe rental service for Barton Creek and Town Lake. Later they included kayaks and stand-up paddle boards (SUPs) among their boat inventories. Current Agreement: On February 28, 2006, the City of Austin entered into a revenue concession agreement. The initial agreement period expired on March 1, 2011, with two additional five-year extensions. The City extended this agreement four additional times with the last extension expiring on February 28, 2026. 4 Current Zilker Park Boat Rental Agreement Revenue Share: The agreement includes revenue obligations: Payment of minimum $18,000 annually plus 10% of any amount over $180,000 gross revenues. Annual Gross Revenue Annual Concession Payments-City FY25: $755,059 FY24: $902,856 FY23: $994,395 FY22: $1,124,276 FY21: $915,893 FY25: $75,506 FY24: $90,285 FY23: $99,548 FY22: $134,607 FY21: $91,589 5 New Legacy Concession Agreement Term An Initial Term of Ten (10) years with Two optional Five-Year Extensions Updated …
Trailers With Security Camera Pilot and Recommendations Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1/26/2026 Background: Rising Property Crime The pilot program was a strategic response to a critical surge in Burglary of Vehicle (BOV)offenses across major park locations. Safety Impact: High crime rates made it difficult for families to feel secure in parks. Strategic Deployment: Locations were chosen based on specific APD historical crime data. MEASURABLE SUCCESS: IMPACT ON CRIME 76% REDUCTION IN BOV 9/15 PARKS IMPROVED Incidents at Mt. Bonnell (Covert Park) dropped from 373 to 88 cases during the pilot period. The majority of participating sites saw an immediate decrease in reported criminal activity Deterrence Factor: Prominently placed trailers served as a high-visibility warning to potential offenders 3 UPHOLIDING PRIVACY STANDARDS LONGTERM CONTRACT Exclusive Ownership: The City of Austin maintains 100% control of all footage. Secure Storage: Hosted in a CJIS- compliant cloud with U.S.-based encryption. Strict Prohibitions: No facial recognition or biometric identification technology used. Auto-Deletion: All data is permanently purged after 60 days unless required for investigation. 4 LOOKING AHEAD: IMPLEMENTATION MASTER AGREEMENT STATUS Contract with Live View Technology (LVT) scheduled for City Council 2/5/2026. 3-Year Initial Term: Plus two 1-year extension options. Community Transparency: Mandatory signage at every monitored parking lot. Targeted Focus: Strategic placement in areas with high property crime historical rates. 5 Questions
AUSTIN PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR’S UPDATE January 2026 Recreation Services Division Athletics: Adult Volleyball Tournament The APR Athletics Office hosted a volleyball tournament on January 10th at the Austin Recreation Center. The tournament reached maximum capacity, with exciting, high-energy play, and look forward to future tournaments. Community Initiatives: Youth Scholarships Through community donations made to the Parks and Library fund, along with support from APF, qualified families are starting to receive scholarship funds to help pay for APR programs like summer camp, sports, and after school programs. Last year, scholarship usage reached its highest total, exceeding $168,000. Design Assessments Therapeutic Recreation: Universal Universal Design promotes environments and services usable by all without the need for adaptation. Assessments identify accessibility improvement opportunities and include written reports and action plans for each site. 75% of APR Recreation Centers have been assessed, with the project concluding in January 2026. Sustainability and Resilience Division Holiday Tree Recycling at Zilker Austin Parks and Recreation and Austin Resource Recovery partnered for the 39th year of Holiday Tree Recycling at Zilker Metro Park during the two weekends after Christmas. Approximately 1,500 pine trees were diverted from the landfill and turned into mulch which was offered free to the public. Over 40 volunteers worked together with Park Rangers, Forestry staff, Zilker Park Grounds staff, Austin Resource Recovery marketing and communications team members and the ARR mulching crew. Special thanks to APR Program Manager Meredith Gauthier for coordinating this event over the last several years! Park Planning Division Circle C Ranch Metropolitan Park DOLA The fenced Dog Off-Leash Area is back in place at Circle C Ranch Metro Park. Located near trail parking area of Donald E. Carpenter Way Temporary fencing will remain in place while the design is developed for a permanent space, sponsored by the District 8 Council Office. Park Planning Division New Playground at Rosewood Neighborhood Park APR partnered with Austin Parks Foundation to renovate the Rosewood Neighborhood Park playground. The existing playscape equipment included swings and a small ship-themed play structure. It offered little shade or play value for visitors. Community members identified values and priorities for the park improvements via onsite pop-ups and online surveys. The new playscape is open to the public! Work on additional improvements including a new pavilion, upgraded sidewalks, seating, and new shade trees are underway. This project was funded by Austin Parks Foundation. https://www.austintexas.gov/rosewoodplayground Park Development Division Upcoming Ribbon …
