Advocacy from the Austin Parks Foundation

It’s Time for a Fresh Look at Parks Funding

The city manager is projecting a $9.8M budget shortfall for 2011-12. The Parks Department has been asked to identify $4M in reductions to help close the budget gap.

Staff cuts, a three-year hiring freeze, aging infrastructure of many park amenities such as recreation centers, pools, trails, and playgrounds have all contributed to a weakened park system stretched far beyond its limits.

Past demands for funding of programs or facilities have been addressed by taking the money from some other area.  This “robbing Peter to pay Paul” is not a sustainable strategy. APF is urging our 90 official park adopter groups, thousands of volunteers, and every park supporter to speak up for ALL parks throughout Austin.

Parks are more than just “nice to have”: they are necessary for a great quality of life for our community.  They deserve to be properly funded.  This is the over-arching message all park advocates should share.

APF Requests City Council:

1. Provide $171K to fund up to three staff to support and approve projects funded by APF, The Trail Foundation, and other community groups. APF and TTF currently contribute in excess of $1M per year but see a four to six month delay per project in obtaining approvals from the city. An increase in staff would result in quicker turn-around and the probability of more funds raised for additional projects.
   

2. Hire eight grounds, facilities and athletic maintenance personnel to restore staff removed by hiring freezes and attrition.
   

3. Keep neighborhood swimming pools open for FY12, allowing non-profit partners, community groups, and PARD to develop an overall evaluation of facilities and needs and look at possible fundraising and partnerships to fund pools in future years.

What Park Advocates Can Do:

1. Document all funds, in-kind donations, and “sweat equity” resources your group has raise to improve your park.

2. Use photos, videos, and social network sites to tell your story.

3. Urge your neighborhood association to make a financial commitment to operational expenses of the park.

4. Develop relationships with business sponsors who may want to underwrite programs or operations with your park.

5. Above all, propose the solution for YOUR park within the context of the overall Parks Department budget.  Insist that your cause not be resolved at the expense of another park that perhaps does not have the leadership and neighborhood support it needs.

6. Urge City Council to properly fund and support our park system so that it is second to none. Opportunities for public participation in budget discussions will happen sometime in August. The City of Austin fiscal year begins on October 1.