In The Parks

Oakwood Cemetery Chapel and Cemetery Operations are looking for volunteers who can walk the cemeteries to help geolocate and document veteran headstones on specific volunteer days. 

Using their own phones, with the supplemental GNSS location device provided, volunteers can upload the latitude and longitude points of the headstones and contribute to a full listing of every veteran buried within City of Austin cemeteries.

This field work will add to a public-facing searchable map of burials which can be viewed as part of the digital exhibit, To Serve: Honoring Veterans in Austin’s Cemeteries.

To volunteer, please email programs_conservation@austintexas.gov.

Photo Credit: Charles (Charley) W. Lewis, son of C.M. Lewis, Austin, Travis County dairyman ice cream factory, brother of Mae Dee Lewis. The Lewis Family of the Southgate-Lewis home on the corner of Comal and 12th Street, on the City and National Historic Register, courtesy of the George Washington Carver Museum

Moving outside improves our health, can reduce stress, and connects us with our environment. More people will spend time walking, biking, or rolling when they have safe, well-connected, and accessible routes in their community.

Austin Public Works and Austin Transportation invite you to give feedback on plans to expand mobility options that can help get more people outside and moving! ATX Walk Bike Roll is a project to update the Urban Trails, Bikeway, and Sidewalk Plans.

The first virtual public meeting for this project will be held on Aug. 11, 2021 in English and Spanish. Staff will explain how the City will update these plans and how residents can get involved. Community members are encouraged to ask questions, give feedback, and learn about next steps. 

Sign up to attend the first Virtual Public Meeting on August 11 at 7 p.m. 

Residents across the city will have many opportunities to get involved in ATX Walk Bike Roll. An easy first step is to take this quick poll! Three large public meetings will be held over the next two years and small meetings are scheduled to start in late Summer 2021. Learn more at: ATX Walk Bike Roll. 

Kick off photography month a little early with exhibits at Austin Parks and Recreation museums and cultural centers as well as online. FotoATX is Austin’s annual love letter to photography. This annual event presents some top local photographers as well as historic photos representing the city’s broad diversity. Admission to all exhibits is free and open to the public.
 
OLD BAKERY AND EMPORIUM
1006 Congress Ave.
July 2 – August 31, 2021
 
Lesley Bradstreet
Desert Rhythms

Desert Rhythms is a body of work that celebrates the vastness of White Sands National Park in New Mexico.
 
Michael Penn Smith
Alley Shots

Michael Penn Smith’s work captures the back alleys and abandoned lots that have been overgrown and forgotten.

ST. JOHN BRANCH of the LIBRARY
7500 Blessing Ave.
August 2 – October 30, 2021
 
Mery Godigna Collet
Wandering Skin

“In a conceptual way, these works are built around themes like regeneration, memories, emotions, belonging and feelings... the eventual need of leaving a recognizable context in order to survive.” Mery Godigna Collet uses oak trees as a metaphor to address these feelings and the relationship with women.
 
Luis R Gutiérrez
Marfa’s Light

The title is a play on words; the rarely if ever-seen phenomenon in Texas known as the Marfa Lights versus what is not so elusive and always evident, Marfa's Light. Marfa's Light consists of four 12”x 36" photographs on aluminum.

OAKWOOD CEMETERY CHAPEL
Online Exhibits
 
To Elevate

To Elevate speaks to the legacy of Huston-Tilloston University, an historically Black College/University (HBCU) and includes historic photos from digital collections including the Downs-Jones Library and Archive at Huston-Tillotson University. View at AustinTexas.gov/ToElevate.
 
To Serve

To Serve recognizes military veterans buried in all five Austin cemeteries, from the war of 1812 to current conflicts, including historic photos from digital collections such as the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center. View at AustinTexas.gov/ToServe.
 
DOUGHERTY ARTS CENTER
1100 Barton Springs Rd.
June 28 – August 28, 2021
 
Sarah Luna
luminous mo:ments

Luna's background in spiritual psychology has guided her artistic process of sculpture and photography, and her use of color, energy, and form to create a visual poem.
 
Michelle Gardella
River Story

Gardella has devoted twelve years to photographing River Story, a series exploring the reunification of women with water, and what it means to belong.
 
EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER (MACC)
600 River St.
August 6 – November 6, 2021
 
Recuerdos – Celebrating 14 years of Cultura at the MACC!

Recuerdos is a collection of photos taken by staff of events and commemorating 14 years of the MACC’s existence. This selection of work features images from signature events, programs, and the Latino Artist Access Program. 

ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER (AARC)
8401 Cameron Rd.
August 30, 2021 – Jan 30, 2022
 
Amar Gupta
Out of Service

See how Austin's service industry workers were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of photographer Amar Gupta.
 
Peter Shen
Doors

Enter the diverse world of architectural thresholds through Peter Shen’s photographs of doors, which encompass designs from all around the world. 
 
FOTOATX
Discussion Panel via Zoom
August 17 at 6 PM REGISTER HERE

FotoAPA (Asian Pacific Austenite): Five Texas Photographers in Conversation

Join AARC's lineup of contemporary Asian American photographers discussing the art of picture making in Texas. Featuring artists: Amar Gupta, Ben Aqua, Lizzie Chen, Rama Tiru and Sherwin Rivera Tibayan.

For more information, visit AustinTexas.gov/Page/FotoATX.

Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is proud to announce that the Our Parks, Our Future Long-Range Plan has won a 2021 National Planning Excellence Award from the American Planning Association (APA). APA’s National Planning Awards program recognizes outstanding planning efforts that help lead communities forward to a stronger, more equitable, and sustainable future. Award recipients are selected by a jury of planning practitioners and only one award recipient is selected in each of the four award categories.  

PARD's Long Range Plan provides a blueprint to guide land acquisition, capital improvements, and the development of programs and new amenities. The planning effort began with inventory, evaluation of park and facilities, an analysis of demographic data, and trends and industry standards for parks. Public outreach played a critical role throughout the process with in-depth engagement of citizens, park supporters, conservancies, neighborhood associations, nonprofit organizations, and public partners. 

“Austin’s Parks and Rec plan illustrates the vital importance of public and green space within a community, but also demonstrates how those spaces must be accessible to all members of the community regardless of race, ability, or gender,” said Kristen Asp, AICP, 2021 APA awards jury chair. “The jury was impressed with the strong level of accountability built into the plan so the community continues to be part of the planning process.” 

Shoal Creek Conservancy, the environmental nonprofit championing Shoal Creek and its surrounding urban watershed, in partnership with Austin Parks and Recreation, is creating an Audio Walking Tour that will be accessible by smartphone. 

This free, self-guided tour will educate listeners on significant cultural spaces and events that have occurred along Shoal Creek, which has had an incredibly long and rich history. Each tour stop will include a short recording, voiced by members of the Austin community. The Shoal Creek Audio Walking Tour will inform and lay the groundwork for a larger interpretive plan along Shoal Creek. 

Please provide feedback and share your interests via the Public Input Survey now through June 7. The survey is your opportunity to share untold stories and voice your support for the themes and topics that are most important to you.

The audio tour has been made possible by funding from the Heritage Tourism Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department. To find out more information and to get involved with projects like this, please visit www.shoalcreekconservancy.org.

Austin Parks and Recreation (PARD) is now hiring 2021 Summer Camp Counselors. There are nearly 150 open positions including Community Recreation, Cultural and Arts, Nature Based and Adaptive Program Activity Specialists. Applicants must be 18 years or older to apply. Pay starts at $15 per hour.

Why Be A Summer Camp Counselor?

• Be a role model for kids and teens
• Work outside at our parks and in nature
• Teach youth about loving the outdoors
• Lead creative activities and games
• Develop fun, educational programming
• Gain valuable memories and experience
• Opportunity for future employment

  Now Hiring For:

• Temporary - Summer Community Recreation Activity Specialist or Leader (Multiple positions/Part-time)
• Temporary - Cultural Arts Activity Specialist or Leader (Parks and Recreation/Part-Time)
• Temporary - Inclusion & Adaptive Programs Activity Specialist or Instructor (Parks and Recreation Department/Part-time)
• Temporary - Nature Based Activity Specialist/Leader (Parks and Recreation/Part-Time)

In accordance with federal, state and local health authorities, PARD has adopted modified guidelines for COVID-19 health and safety. All staff and campers must wear a mask and complete a daily wellness screening prior to entry. There will be one group or “pod” of no more than 10 people per room: eight youth plus one or two staff.

Visit AustinTexas.gov/SummerJobs for more information.

#SummerJobs #ATXSummerCamp #ATXJobs

As part of the Arts Responders Program in collaboration with ESB Mexican American Cultural Center, Austin band Güateque Son performs original music in their traditional Veracruz style Mexican outfits, masked, and socially distanced. The the song lyrics reflect on how Austinites, especially in Latino spaces, (restaurants, arts spaces, parks) have adapted to the new way of life.

"During these times it has been especially difficult for Austin artists especially musicians to continue our work in person since many bars and musical venues have closed bringing many challenges. We want to normalize the new ways of life to make people feel okay to do things differently in order to protect ourselves, our diverse cultural communities ¡Ponte las máscaras, Austin! Wear your masks!" - Güateque Son

Did you know that stacking rocks impacts soil, plants, and wildlife? 

Rock cairns have traditionally served as trail markers, but have recently become trendy on social media. What’s the harm in stacking a few rocks for fun? Actually, this seemingly innocuous act often has a critical impact on the delicate balance of nature. 

Also known as rock graffiti, stone stacks damage the ecosystem in a number of ways. This is especially true when the rocks are taken from a body of water. 
 

Stacking rocks is harmful because: 

1. Stacking rocks in Austin’s creeks, rivers, and lakes can disturb the macroinvertebrates that call those rocks their home. This can have a cascade effect on the wellbeing of other animals in the ecosystem because the macroinvertebrates are a key part of the food chain. 

1. Many land creatures use rocks for their habitats, too. Often birds build nests in rocks, plants incubate in the crevices, and insects live under them. When you move the rocks that they call home, they can die and this can cause a chain reaction within the food web. 

1. Moving rocks dislodges the soil and disturbs natural habitats which can have a ripple effect on plant and animal life, including endangered species. A Biologist from Watershed Protection found a dead salamander at the bottom of a rock stack in Barton Creek. 

1. Stacking rocks can lead hikers off the trail and cause people who rely on cairns for wayfinding to become lost. 

If you love nature, Leave No Trace (LNT). There are seven LNT principles. The fourth principle speaks specifically to behavior such as stacking rocks. 

Leave No Trace Principle 4: Leave What You Find 

• Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them. 

• Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species. 

• Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches. 

• Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts. 

Learn more and spread the word about Leave No Trace at AustinTexas.gov/LeaveNoTrace.  

#ATXParks #ATXParkRangers #LNT #LeaveWhatYouFind 

As the weather starts to turn warm in Austin, The Parks and Recreation Department’s Aquatics Division looks forward to offering pool services to our community. As COVID-19 cases moderate, emphasis will shift towards expanding pool access through training and hiring lifeguards while observing and implementing comprehensive safety procedures for both staff and visitors.    

Being a lifeguard means prioritizing safety above all else. With guidance from local offices such as Austin Public Health, Center For Disease Control, and top-tier nationally recognized training protocols from Star Guard Elite, our goal is to keep staff safe while offering safe services and facilities to the public. 

Lifeguard Training in times of COVID-19

• In order to maintain 6 feet social distance, courses will be limited to 5 participants per instructor, with a maximum of 10 participants. Participants are kept in the same group throughout the training course.
• The courses will be held both indoors and outdoors. However, most of the instruction will be outdoors.
• All participants are required to wear a mask during training except when practicing in-water rescues or CPR scenarios.    
• Following guidelines set by the CDC and SGE, manikins and any other rescue equipment (rescue tubes, backboards, etc.) are sanitized between each usage using alcohol wipes or a bleach solution. Manikin lungs are also replaced between each usage.  
• There will be no instances where mouth to mouth contact is required. CPR requires the need for lifeguards to administer ventilation breaths as opposed to standard compression-only technique. In these cases, one-way breather masks are used between the unresponsive person and the lifeguard. Practice of this lifesaving technique will be done with medical-grade manikins.  

We are currently accepting applications for lifegaurd positions.

Training and certification must be completed in order to be hired for a position.We are now training new and returning lifeguards for Spring/Summer 2021.

Want to learn more about becoming a lifeguard with the City of Austin? Visit LifeGuardAustin.com.

#LifeguardAustin #SwimATX #ATXjobs

Looking for fun virtual activities for you and your family to do during Spring Break?

Austin Parks and Recreation has a ton of entertaining and educational videos for children of various ages.

Here are just a few examples to get you and your child started:

Ages 6 & Under

Mindfulness Monday - Feeling Faces

Mindfulness Monday - Strong Emotions

Mindfulness Monday - Listening to Your Body

TEKS Tuesday - Hot vs cold

Book: Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld

Book: If the Dinosaurs Came Back by Bernard Most

Book: Walter's Web by Tim Hopgood

Book: Not A Stick by Antoinette Portis

Ages 8 & Under

TEKS Tuesday - Parts of Plants

TEKS Tuesday - Rocks and Soil

TEKS Tuesday - Our Planet's Water

TEKS Tuesday - Conservation

TEKS Tuesday - Natural v. Manmade

Five Senses Friday - Ivory Soap

Five Senses Friday - DIY Playdough

Five Senses Friday- What is Citric Acid?

Ages 10 & Under

Wild Wednesday - Vultures

Wild Wednesday - Jumping Spiders

Wild Wednesday - Great Apes

TEKS Tuesday - Soil

Ages 12 & Under

TEKS Tuesday - Climate v. Weather

TEKS Tuesday - Fossil Layers

Wild Wednesday - Tuatara

Mindful Moment - Buzzing

You can find more videos and subscribe at YouTube.com/AustinParksAndRec.