Intergenerational Program Exploration

In response to City Council Resolution 202212-059, the City of Austin explored the possibility of programming across generations (older adults and younger children) called intergenerational programming. The resolution directed the City of Austin to work with the Intergenerational Resource and Activity Center Advisory Group to explore using the Nash Hernandez Building for an intergenerational center pilot program. In addition, the City will hold additional community engagement around intergenerational programming. After completing community engagement for four City of Austin locations and determining that an intergenerational center was not possible at Nash Hernandez Building, the process was concluded. City Council Districts 2 and 3

Update:

The exploration of an intergenerational activity center at the Nash Hernandez Building has concluded. A joint working group that included Austin Public Health's Age Friendly and Early Childhood staff members, Parks and Recreation Department staff members, and representatives of the IRAC Advisory Group determined that an intergenerational activity center at the Nash Hernandez Building was not feasible. The joint working group recommended that the Advisory Group accept this determination. In May 2024, the IRAC Advisory Group voted to accept the recommendation and rescinded the proposal for a center at this site. With the rescission of the proposal and completion of community engagement, the requirements of Resolution No. 20221209-059 have been completed.

Memorandum to Mayor and City Council, August 12, 2024

Background

The Intergenerational Resource and Activity Center Advisory Group (formerly IDC Advisory Group) began working with the City of Austin in 2020, first exploring opportunities for older adults and then opportunities for intergenerational connections (older adults, younger children, adolescents and teens). During this process, Austin Public Health and the Parks and Recreation Department began exploring opportunities.

Project Description

On December 8, 2022, City Council passed Resolution No. 20221208-059, which has 3 parts:

The City Manager is directed to partner with City departments and the IDC Advisory Group to work towards the implementation of an IRAC that will address the need for resources and provide a better quality of life for the fast-growing senior and low-income population of Austin, while also addressing the needs of childcare in the 78702 zip code area and surrounding areas.
The City Manager is directed to work with the IDC Advisory Group to identify licenses, certifications, and funding resources, including, but not limited to, public private partnerships, creative financing options, revenue generation at the property, and other potential means required for an IRAC, and return to Council with proposals that have been reviewed to ensure compliance with any requirements, legal or otherwise, necessary to fund an IRAC at the Nash Hernandez Building.
The City Manager is directed to conduct community stakeholder engagement meetings to gather input on initiating a pilot IRAC partnership program at Nash Hernandez Building and at the locations recommended by the Parks and Recreation Department [Mendez Recreation Center, Dittmar Recreation Center, and George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center].

Austin Public Health (APH) and the Parks and Recreation Department were identified as the City departments in this resolution. A joint working group was established with staff representatives from Austin Public Health's Age Friendly and Early Childhood units and Parks and Recreation Department's community engagement and senior programming groups. For the first two parts, APH and PARD worked with the Advisory Group to explore the implementation requirements of an Intergenerational Resource and Activity Center at the Nash Hernandez Building is 78702.

Part 3's community engagement was led by PARD and APH with the purpose of seeking to identify the issues and opportunities as well as understand the views of community members about initiating a pilot IRAC partnership program at Nash Hernandez Building, George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center, Rudy Mendez Recreation Center, and Dittmar Recreation Center.

Objectives:

Understand the views of community members around possibility of IRAC in one of the named areas.
Inform community of what an IRAC is or could be in the community and ways it can be modified to the space.
Connect with community groups representing underrepresented community members.
Identify aspects of IRAC that are supported by community members.

Memorandum to Council, August 2, 2023, updating progress