Office and Payment Hours

• Monday - Friday:  8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., except City Holidays, Saturday & Sunday.
• 512-974-6797
• Payment Types Accepted:       
  • Anytime:   Online (see online payment guide),      Cash,       or Money Order
  • More than 14 days from the permit/rental date:  Check
• Payment Deadlines:
  • If you book a site or facility today (for example), payment in full is due within 14 days. If booking where there
  • Payments for additional permits are due at the time they are requested, and BEFORE a permit will be released.

Quick Links - Get Where You Want to Go Directly.....

Booking Periods and the Lottery

General Booking Period       6 months to 14 days in advance     Call to book readily available common picnic and facility rental sites.   Observed Holidays (No Reservation Periods)

Lottery      The earliest you can reserve a park/facility is 10 months in advance through the lottery.  For example, submit a lottery request in May for March dates, or December for October dates (see the booking and lottery calendar).  After the lottery, the next period to reserve a park is 6 months in advance of the event month in the general booking period.      Early Reservation Lottery Request        Observed Holidays (No Reservation Periods)

Applications

• Special Request Form Application
  • NOTICE:  Special requests require review and processing time in addition to the 14 day cut off booking period for typical picnic or facility rentals.  A lead request time of 4-6 months is strongly suggested.
  • Commonly used for PARK ONLY events.  For example, a rental of park spaces that requires park services ONLY.
  • USE FOR:  Curfew extensions, holding an event at a typically non-bookable park, or public events with food vending/merchandising (that do not include alcohol sales).
  • For public events at readily available common picnic and facility rental sites, where there is a request for vending, merchandising or similar.

• Comprehensive Citywide Special Event Application
  • www.AustinTexas.gov/CityStage, see the “Event Planning” section. 
  • Use for events which require services/permits for a park AND any one of the following:  public safety personnel/security personnel, medical support services, lake/open water use, use of sidewalks/streets as part of a run/walk route or similar, fire inspections, tents/ canopies, building structures such as stages or platforms, health permits, public events where alcohol will be served or sold.
  • See the Special Events Section of this page for additional information, peark event periods, and sample items required.

Policies, Procedures, Forms, Park Rules and Downloadable Information

PICNIC AREAS/SHELTER RESERVATIONS

       Make sure to ONLY look for dates labeled OPEN!                        

COMMON INFORMATION:  All picnic site rentals start at $60 per site per day for any period between 10 am and 10 pm at most sites.  Bookings start 6 months in advance, or read more here.  Payments are due received in the park events office within 14 days of booking to confirm the reservation.  Use the "At a Glance" picnic site list below and find a site that matches your needs.  Check the online calendar for availability. 

1. Find a site:  Picnic and Shelter Sites at a Glance   (sites, capacity, allowances, times, fees, etc...)
2. See it on a map with photos:    Google Map - Picnic Sites with Images
3. Check availability online!
4. Call to book!  512-974-6797

• Map Tip - Red icons show parks at large, green icons show actual site locations reservable within each park.  You may switch between "map or satellite" views.   
• Map Tip - NOTE - you may also use the navigate function to map a route to the picnic site!
• Tips for a Successful Picnic
• Permit Information - moonwalks, alcohol and sound

FACILITY RESERVATIONS

VIEW FACILITY PHOTO GALLERY

Fiesta Gardens: 2100 Jesse E. Segovia Street - Excellent for small festivals and private events.

• Facility Guidebook                 Facility Site Plan                    
• Facility Grounds Plan            Driving Directions Map

Mayfield Cottage: 3801 Old Bull Creek Road (Next to Austin Museum of Art) - Historic garden location for small private events.  No music allowed at this site.

• Facility Guidebook                 Facility Site Plan
• Ground Site Plan                   Driving Directions Map

Mayfield Photography Policy ($50/session)

• Photography Session Policy and Process
• Check Availability - select the "Mayfield" park location field

Sparky Park Station Building:  3701 Grooms Street - Perfect for meetings/uses central to this neighborhood.  Extremely limited parking.  30 people or less.  NO amplifed sound allowed.

• Facility Guidebook

Zilker Clubhouse: 200 Zilker Clubhouse Road (Off Rollingwood Drive) Perfect for small events of approximately 125 people.

•  Facility Guidebook                 Site CAD Plan
• Fireplace Measurements     Driving Directions Map

Permit Information - moonwalks, alcohol and sound

FILMING AND COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

The events office will make every effort to review and approve filming uses when an application is received.  However, it is more difficult with shorter lead times or at park locations with high public usage such as pools or metropolitan parks.  In order to be most successful, thoroughly detailed applications should be received 7 or more days in advance of the requested start date.  Shoots with at popular or metropolitan parks, with multiple locations, detailed needs, or large numbers of cast/crew should plan to submit requests 14 days or more in advance of the start date.

• Filming Application and Location Form
• Filming Insurance

Policies, Procedures, Forms, Park Rules and Downloadable Information

• Policies, Rules and Helpful Information
• Reservation Procedures, Policies, Rules and Permits Handbook
• Park Rules - Glass, Styrofoam and Smoking are prohibited in all parks.
• 2017-2018 Pricing Sheet
• Observed Holidays (No Reservation Periods)

• Insurance - Standard Specifications,
• Insurance  (standard requirements for all public events, & possible coverages as required by the park system)

• Advisory Information/Forms for Permitted Events and Permit Requestors
• Alcohol Service Standards - Beer Garden Requirements and Mock Layouts
• Alcohol Permitting Process Overview
• Building Permits       (stages, bleachers, structures at events)
• Crawfish Boil Regulations
• Electrical Permits     See "electrical/power distribution section"  (For ex.: wire to wire, tie-in, or pig tail connections)
• Food and Beverage Permit - Health Food Permits and Handling Guidelines
• Food and Beverage/Vendor  - Fire Department Propane and Tent Advisory Guidelines
• Food and Beverage - Mobile Food Vending Fire Department Regulations for  at permitted events
• Single Use Bags Restriction Ordinance - effective March 1, 2013
• Smoke and Electronic Cigarette-free Events Toolkit
• Tent Regulations - Austin Fire Department
• Turf Access and Tree Protection
• Directions for Submitting a Completed Site Plan for Tree Impact Review

Permits

Event Related Permits  (ONLY for confirmed (paid) park reservations)

• Alcohol Sales - $30.  For review of alcohol sales requests, and compliance with city regulations for sales on park property.  The  alcohol sales and consumption requirements apply.
  • Complete one ONLY if directed by City staff:  Alcohol at a Rental     Alcohol at a Cosponsored Event
• Amplified Sound - Please review individual picnic site or facility information, as some properties contain additional limitations or allowances.
  • Commercial or Advertising Purposes     ($30)
  • Private Party                                                  ($20)
  • Public Interest, Political or Non-Profit      ($10)  proof of non-profit status may be requested
• Moonwalk, Inflatable, Dunking Booth, Rock Wall Permits - $10           Vendors with Insurance on File
  • NO Miniature Trains, Water slides orPetting Zoos.
• OTHER AGENCY PERMITS:  With park permission, and depending on the scope of your event, other citywide permits may be required.  Examples include:  Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) Permit, Building Permit (stages, structures, bleachers), Health Permit (food/beverage preparation), AFD Permits for tents (size, requirements vary).  Review the advisory information above.  Please make sure your reservation includes PARD permission prior to making any final arrangements of plans.  The policies and procedures section of this page has information on those agencies, practices, and requirements.

Other Park Permits

• Mayfield Photography Session
• Metal Detecting    Permits are required and typically ONLY issued to searches for a specific item lost due to extenuating circumstances.
• Drones – “Unmanned Aircraft”.  Several regulations impact the use of drones in the park system.  Common resources are listed below for convenience.
  • Federal Aviation Administration - helpful sections, regulations, and requirements.
  • State Government Code – Government Code, Chapter 423
  • City Code Chapter 13, specifically sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15
  • Park Rules – Section 19, C –  “ (C) A person may not operate a model aircraft in a park except in a specifically designated area.”
  • Austin Parks - Commercial Filming/Photography Permit – required in the park system for any commercial photography or filming.

Commercial Use/Temporary Concession Permits

Commercial use and concession permits are required and issued to applicants for training classes, exercise groups or similar commercial activity use requests (vending, merchandise sales, etc) in the park system.  Concession permits are issued at stand-alone park locations where short-term or single concession needs arise that benefit an activity or the public at the requested park location.  Concession permits, are NOT issued for vendors to vend outside or near permitted special events where organizers typically coordinate vendors inside their permitted grounds and spaces.  Per City Code Chapter 8:  COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY means to advertise or provide a good, service, class, or instructional activity for compensation.  COMPENSATION means any money, thing of value, payment, reward, tip, consideration, donation, gratuity, or profit paid to, accepted by, or received by a person.  APPROVAL means a permit, reservation agreement, or other written document that evidences an authorization by the department.  

• Fines:  $100-$500 fine, $250 minimum fine during a special event , Class C Misdemeanor
• Insurance requirements                    See policies and procedures section above.
• Commercial Use Permits                 Training classes, exercise groups, or similar.
• Temporary Concession Permits      Single day or 6 month permits for food, beverage, merchandise.  Bicycle tour group operators.
• Walsh Boat Landing Permit

SPECIAL EVENTS - Festivals, Sporting Events, Concerts