The City of Austin has selected Jesús Aguirre as its new Director of the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD), effective January 13, 2025. With over 25 years of experience in public parks, nonprofit leadership, and public education, Aguirre brings a wealth of expertise to Austin. He has previously led parks and recreation departments in Washington, D.C., and Seattle, where he developed innovative strategic visions and achieved notable successes in both cities.
Aguirre’s appointment comes after a national search and commu…
Soccer is now one of the most popular youth sports in the U.S., with millions of children participating in organized leagues and tournaments. The sport not only promotes health and physical fitness, it instills valuable life skills such as discipline, perseverance, and resilience. It brings people together from diverse backgrounds, fostering inclusivity, understanding, and mutual respect.
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While traditionally known for its live music scene and, more recently, as a growing tech city or technopolis, Austin has also begun flourishing into a vibrant center for soccer enthusiasts. From pickup games and mini pitches in local parks to organized supporter groups for Austin FC, Austin boasts a thriving soccer culture.
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department actively promotes soccer through scholarships and soccer p…
The Parks and Recreation Department offers opportunities for soccer enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. From structured youth programs at Community Recreation Centers that emphasize skill development and teamwork to adult leagues and tournaments in collaboration with local organizations, the City of Austin helps keep soccer accessible and engaging for Austinites. Soccer programs promote physical activity and foster a sense of community among participants.
With 25 dedicated soccer fields, 70 multipurpose field…
Boasting 25 dedicated soccer fields, 70 multipurpose fields, and a growing number of mini-pitches, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department encourages folks of all ages to get involved in the local soccer scene!
In the fall and spring, Community Recreation Centers offer co-ed youth soccer opportunities that teach the fundamentals of the game and foster teamwork.
For adults and youth wanting to join a soccer league, the City partners with several organizations in the community who offer teams and tour…
Soccer, called football or futbol in most countries, transcends borders and cultures, connecting people from all walks of life all over the world. It's only been five years since Austin welcomed its first professional major league team, Austin FC of the Major League Soccer, to much fanfare in Central Texas. Austin FC joins the Dallas Texans and Houston Dynamo FC to become the third Texas Major League Soccer team.
The arrival of the franchise to the live music capital of the world not only provided locals with a professional soccer team to support but also galvanized the city's soccer community. Austin FC's vibrant supporter group, Los Verdes…
In preparation for the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse in Austin, the Parks and Recreation Department and Austin Nature and Science Center partnered with NASA to present programming and activities that relate to this historic cosmological event. People from all around the country and local Austinites descended into Zilker Park to take part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience, as Austin won’t be in the path of totality again for another 319 years.
On April 4, 2024, an Austin City Council resolution renamed the Bathhouse at Barton Springs Pool in honor of Joan Means Khabele whose courageous act of swimming in Barton Springs to protest segregation at the pool sparked the civil rights era swim-ins that eventually led to the desegregation of Barton Springs Pool.
The name change to the Bathhouse comes two years after the City of Austin declared April 9, 2022 as…
Pete Rivera talks about how he and his brother advocated for the City of Austin to designate Red Bluff as a nature preserve so that future generations can benefit from the natural area.
As a boy, Aleu Aleu moved to Austin with his family, Sudanese refugees who had fled to Kenya where he was born and lived until the age of 12.
He recently graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio where he played basketball. He is now pursuing a master's degree and playing basketball as a honor roll student at St. Edwards University.
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