Park Projects and Partners
Austin Parks Foundation celebrates the work of community members to maintain and improve local parks. These are just a few of the many volunteer-led park projects currently underway.
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Oh, Give Me a Home - Where the Puppy Dogs Roam
Austin has 12 great off-leash dog areas, but as the city grows more are needed. Austin Parks Foundation has supported several off-leash park projects, including grants for improvements at Norwood Estate Park , West Austin Park, and Red Bud Isle, and multiple volunteer events at Shoal Creek Greenbelt. In 2008, Austin Parks Foundation will be forming an advocacy task force to help identify potential off-leash areas, gain community support, and bring them into being. If you would like to be a part of these efforts, please email us at apf@austinparks.org.
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Copperfield Beautification Team has adopted Copperfields Nature Trail in Northeast Austin near Dessau and Yager. The group officially signed the adoption contract in October, 2006, and kicked things off with a huge clean up event. Their next step is to begin improving the trails, eventually connecting the greenbelt to the Walnut Creek greenbelt now under development by the city. Austin Parks Foundation Executive Director Charlie McCabe reports on a recent volunteer experience at Copperfields: On February 10th, I loaded up some of the Foundation’s tools and headed to Northeast Austin and the Copperfields neighborhood. There I met up with a group of 18 eager volunteers led by Alice Penney of the Copperfields Beautification Team. Our goal that day was to blaze a trail from the dead-end at Blakeney up to the main trail. Read the full story... |
| Building steps at Copperfield Nature Trail |
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Eastwoods Neighborhood Association helps take care of Eastwoods Park. The park was the original location of Austin's Eeyore's Birthday Party. The group recently raised funds for a sculpture to be placed in the playground area, commemorating the origin of Eeyore's and celebrating children's literature. The sculpture, no doubt destined to be an Austin landmark, is by Austin artist Bob Coffee, who donated his time and skills. |
| Greenbelt Guardians: Glee Ingram, Greenbelt Guardians Coordinator, says of the Barton Creek Greenbelt, "The trail gives me a profound feeling of peace and joy when I walk on it. It is an absolute miracle that there is this natural area in the middle of the city. You can hear owls hooting and see swallows darting." |
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Friends of Quarry Park supports Convict Hill Quarry Park. Their goal is to make the park more accessible while preserving its wildland character. Hundreds of hours of labor in the past year have transformed this once neglected park into a beautiful oasis. Highland Park West Balcones Area Neighborhood Association is currently focusing on Perry Park, especially invasive plant removal. In the past year, they have added benches and built a nature trail. |
| Friends of Norwood Estate Dog Park was a 2005-06 Neighborhood Park Grant recipient. Funds were used to plant sod, refurbish water stations, and bring back to life several stately pecan trees. In 2005, the group raised money to install a double gated entry to Norwood Estate Dog Park, protecting dogs from running out into traffic, and to install a separately fenced puppy area. This park has been growing in popularity thanks to the hard work of FNEP - including DAILY cleanups. |
| Gracywoods Neighborhood Association was a 2004-2005 Neighborhood Park Grant recipient for two neighborhood information sign-boards at the North Star Greenbelt. Gracywoods N.A. has turned their greenbelt into a community gathering place. Over the past two years, the group has repaired benches, installed information boards, planted flower beds, and much more. |
SouthEast Trails and Greenways has the mission to create a trail system along Country Club Creek, which runs through Guerrero Colorado River Park in Southeast Austin. This trail system will eventually connect Mabel Davis Park with Guerrero/Colorado River Park. The group holds regular strategy meetings and volunteer events. Contact: Malcolm Yeatts |
Scofield Farms HOA Park Committee has demonstrated a lasting commitment to Scofield Farms Park. Substantial trail improvements and a welcoming entry-way to the park have been among the group's projects. Contact: Mike Brindle The Great Hills Park Committee was formed in 1993 as a grassroots effort to bring a park to the Great Hills area. The resulting park features lovely nature trails and wildflowers, among other amenities. The group holds two major workdays each year. Contact: Marie Laing |
Bull Creek Foundation has 32 square miles of ecologically unique terrain to tend and protect. Bull Creek watershed includes limestone seeps, springs, and waterways; scenic cliffs and waterfalls; interesting archeological and cultural features; and rare plant and animal life. Find out more at www.bullcreek.net. |
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Walnut Creek Neighborhood Association is a 2006-07 Neighborhood Park Grant recipient for workdays at Walnut Bluffs. Volunteers have taken this creek side trail from a trash-ridden, overgrown jeep road to a blazed trail with a mulched entryway loved by the neighborhood. Contact: Don Wappler
Friends of Barton Springs Pool invites swimmers to join them for regular pool cleanings. Barton Springs Pool is fed by a natural spring, and the water is not treated with chlorine. This means regular cleaning with nets, brushes, and other low-impact methods is necessary. Hard work? Sure, but the cool water feels great!
South Austin Disc Association is dedicated to the care of Mary Moore Searight Park and the promotion of the sport of disc golf. The group has made extensive improvements to the disc golf course, including installing benches and moving vast mountains of mulch.
Windsor Park Neighborhood Association actively supports Bartholomew Park, with several projects in the works. This 57 acre park includes a pool, disc golf, a creek, playground, picnic area, and more - so there's plenty of projects to keep neighbors involved. The group is a 2006-07 Neighborhood Park Grant recipient for new play equipment. 
Learn more about Neighborhood Park Grants or volunteer opportunities in a
park near you....
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