Community PARKnerships
About
Community PARKnerships brings Austin Parks and Recreation and community together to improve and celebrate Austin parks. The program cultivates partnerships with community groups, nonprofits, City of Austin departments, and other organizations that share Austin Parks and Recreation’s values and goals. Opportunities to steward and propose improvements to parks empower the community to actively participate in their development and care.
When Austin Parks and Recreation teams up with these park advocates, we can do more for Austin parks. Together, we expand access to nature and recreation spaces, enrich the experience of park visitors, and take better care of parks.
Photo courtesy of Fruitful Commons
Programs
Austin Parks and Recreation partners, or PARKners, bridge the gap between public funding and what our parks deserve. Working together, Austin Parks and Recreation and PARKners create better outcomes for our parks and our community. Learn more about the ecosystem of park advocates who make Austin parks extraordinary.
The Adopt-A-Park Program helps people like you become stewards who care and advocate for their neighborhood parks. Adopt-A-Park is a collaboration between Austin Parks and Recreation and Austin Parks Foundation that aims to build community pride and ownership around every neighborhood park in Austin. Learn more about park adoption.
Austin Parks and Recreation appreciates the volunteers who steward our parks. From creek clean-ups to mulching and invasive removal, there are opportunities for everyone. Check out our partners' websites to find an opportunity that best fits what you’re looking for!
Austin Parks and Recreation partners, or PARKners, bridge the gap between public funding and what our parks deserve. Working together, Austin Parks and Recreation and PARKners create better outcomes for our parks and our community. Learn more about the ecosystem of park advocates who make Austin parks extraordinary.
The Adopt-A-Park Program helps people like you become stewards who care and advocate for their neighborhood parks. Adopt-A-Park is a collaboration between Austin Parks and Recreation and Austin Parks Foundation that aims to build community pride and ownership around every neighborhood park in Austin. Learn more about park adoption.
Austin Parks and Recreation appreciates the volunteers who steward our parks. From creek clean-ups to mulching and invasive removal, there are opportunities for everyone. Check out our partners' websites to find an opportunity that best fits what you’re looking for!
Austin Parks and Recreation welcomes park improvement projects that enhance access and upgrade parks and greenspaces in key areas. The Community Activated Park Project (CAPP) program streamlines the process for proposing improvements to Austin parks. Neighbors, community groups, and partners can propose an improvement project by completing a CAPP form.
Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN) is a national initiative that seeks to create more equitable and abundant access to nature in cities. CCCN supports robust citywide action plans to implement policy, develop new partnerships, amplify nature-based programming, and create more equitable nature access.
School Parks, or Joint-Use Sites, are outdoor spaces next to schools that are available to the public during non-school hours through an interlocal agreement between City of Austin (COA) and Austin Independent School District (AISD).
Impact
The Community PARKnerships Annual Impact Report summarizes significant projects and accomplishments over the previous fiscal year.
- FY25 Community PARKnerships Annual Impact Report (20 MB)
- "Celebrating a Year of Impact" blog post - highlights of FY25 report
- FY24 Community PARKnerships Annual Impact Report (8 MB)
- “Last Year in PARKnerships” blog post - highlights of FY24 report
Las Calaveras at Muertos Mercado at Republic Square. Photo courtesy of Downtown Austin Alliance
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Peasecology School Field Trip. Photo courtesy of Pease Park Conservancy
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Volunteer cleanup of the Butler Trail. Photo courtesy of The Trail Conservancy
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Nature play area at Ron Rigsby Pocket Park. Photo courtesy of North Austin Civic Association