Austin Parks and Recreation received an Award of Excellence recognizing the Davis White Northeast Neighborhood Park Playscape Replacement Project from the City-County Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA) at the 2025 Savvy Awards during a ceremony at the Planet Hollywood Hotel in Las Vegas on September 4, 2025. The Savvy Awards, presented in conjunction with 3CMA’s Annual Conference, honor outstanding local government achievements in communications, public-sector marketing and community engagement.
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Austin Parks Foundation in partnership with Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment and Austin Parks and Recreation came together at Highland Neighborhood Park, 401 W. St. Johns Ave., to celebrate a new pedestrian bridge connecting the park to nearby trails, as well as help dedicate "The Gathering Place," a new Art in Public Places sculpture by artist Samara Barks on the morning of Monday, September 8, 2025.
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Austin Parks and Recreation Community Gardens program invites the public to a free Community Seed Share on Saturday, September 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Turner Roberts Recreation Center, 7201 Colony Loop Dr.
The event features a lecture on local climate-adapted crop varieties, a seed swap, cooking demonstrations, and seed saving workshops. Educational content will be offered in both English and Spanish, and seed saving handouts will be available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.
Highlig…
Starting the week of August 11, 2025, Austin Parks and Recreation will begin annual mowing of selected wildflower meadows across parks in Austin, part of their seasonal maintenance.
Why Do We Mow the Meadows?
The annual mowing of wildflower meadows serves several important purposes:
- Vegetation Management: Helps control the growth of undesired plant species.
- Wildfire Risk Reduction: Minimizes fire hazards by reducing dry biomass.
- Ecosystem Health: Encourages the health and long…
Register for Youth Sports: Fall Soccer and Winter Bask…
Knowing how to identify and avoid poison ivy is essential for staying safe while enjoying Austin's parks and trails.
What Is Poison Ivy?
Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a native perennial plant that can grow as a vine, shrub, or ground cover. It typically features clusters of three leaflets with smooth, wavy, or serrated edges. While the saying “leaves of three, let it be” is a helpful rule of thumb, not every three-leaflet plant is poison ivy, so careful identification is key.
Why It Matt…
On June 7, the Givens District Park Pool reopens to the public for future generations to enjoy. New amenities include lap lane pool, zero-entry activity pool (toddler pool), spray ground features, diving board, bathhouses, family restroom, training/party room, picnic pads with shade structures, and aquatic office space. For more information about the project, visit AustinTexas.gov/GivensPool.
Givens District Park is located east of Downtown Austin. This historically African American co…
In Episode 6 of Latchkey Legends, Recreation Programs Specialist Santanu Rahman talks with Dr. Fred L. McGhee, an Anthropologist, Historian, Teacher, Activist, and Public Servant, about life as a Gen Xer.
Latchkey Legends is a Varsity Generation Podcast project that features Gen Xers, people born between 1965 and 1980. Many Gen Xers have turned 50 or are in their 50's, and as such, are qualified to be part of Varsity Generation programs! But Gen Xers have a unique take on the world that is a little different from the Baby Boomers. In this podcast project, hosted by…
There is a gap between what public funding can provide for our parks and what Austinites deserve. Fortunately, Austin Parks and Recreation has partnerships that help bridge that gap. Many community groups, nonprofits, and other organizations share our goals and values. When Austin Parks and Recreation teams up with these park advocates, we can do more for Austin parks.
Community PARKnerships grows and supports these park partnerships, or PARKnerships. Our fiscal year…
In Episode 5 of Latchkey Legends, Recreation Programs Specialist Santanu Rahman talks with Buzz Moran, a multimedia sound engineer in Austin, about life as a Gen Xer.
Latchkey Legends is a Varsity Generation Podcast project that features Gen Xers, people born between 1965 and 1980. Many Gen Xers have turned 50 or are in their 50's, and as such, are qualified to be part of Varsity Generation programs! But Gen Xers have a unique take on the world that is a little different from the Baby Boomers. In this podcast project, hosted by Santanu Rahman, a Gen Xer Recreation Programs…