Givens District Park Improvements

Givens District Park is a 40-acre park acquired by the City in 1957 and named after Dr. Everrett H. Givens, dentist, World War I veteran, and beloved civic leader in 1962. Since 1979, the recreation center has served this vibrant and historic community of East Austin. The Givens District Park Vision Plan was approved in January 2019 to provide a framework for improvements to the park. Using 2018 bond funding, the first phase of implementing the plan is complete, and several additional improvements are underway including renovations to the recreation center and aquatic facility. City Council District 1

Background

Givens District Park is a 40-acre park acquired by the City in 1957 and named after Dr. Everett H. Givens in 1962. Tannehill Creek runs north to south through the entire park and provides a source of water for many of the large shade trees located along its banks. Park amenities in the park include a recreation center, a swimming pool with a bathhouse, two covered pavilions, one stage, restrooms, a playscape and swingset, 2 basketball courts, 2 tennis courts, picnic tables, grills, and two ballfields with bleacher seating. The recreation center opened to the community in 1979. More information on the center and the programs provided can be found at Givens Recreation Center | AustinTexas.gov

The park vision plan was approved in January 2019.

Project Description

Below are several projects planned or in progress as part of the Givens District Park Improvement implementation.

In Progress

Pool Renovation

Updates

Background

Givens District Park is located east of Downtown Austin. This historically African American community was established in the beginning of the twentieth century. The 40-acre district park was acquired in 1957 and named after Dr. Everett H. Givens in 1962. The pool was developed in 1958.

Givens District Park is a highly valued open space in East Austin. The Givens Recreation Center serves the greater community with youth and adult programming. The park contains a playground, two ball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, a pavilion and numerous open lawn areas for passive recreation and numerous small trails through tree and vegetated areas. The park site is characterized by the Tannehill Branch Creek, which bisects the park site. The surrounding community gains access to the park site and existing pool through E. 12th Street from the north, Oak Springs Drive from the south and Springdale Road from the east.

Project Description

Givens Pool is classified as a Community Pool based on the 2018 Council approved Aquatic Master Plan. This scope of work includes the demolition of the existing pools and bathhouses. The Aquatic Master Plan classification of a Community Pool provides for the following aquatic characteristics and amenities: lap lane pool, zero-entry activity pool (tot pool), water slide, spray ground feature, diving board with well, gender-neutral bathhouse, family restrooms, training/party room, deck space, and aquatic office space. The project will also participate in the City of Austin Arts in Public Places (AIPP) program, which will commission a permanent art installation at the pool facility. As documented in the aquatic master plan, a robust community engagement process was conducted to gather feedback on the amenities and to assist in identifying the character of the Givens aquatic facility. The community engagement process helped inform the design team of stakeholder input related to the development and design features of the new pool.

Anticipated Schedule

Please note that as in any construction project, schedules are projected as accurately as possible. All dates are subject to change due to the nature of construction and the weather.

January to August 2021: Community Engagement for Pool Concept (Completed)
August 2021 to early 2023: Design, Development, Permitting (Completed)
Summer 2023: Construction start (Ongoing)
Spring 2025: Construction end
Swim Season 2025: Pool Opens!

Funding and Resources

This project is funded through the 2018 General Obligation Bond.

Contact Information

For more information or questions, email PARDGivensPool@austintexas.gov or contact D'Anne Williams by email or phone at (512) 974-9456.

Rendering of future Givens Pool that is currently being built

Interpretative Signage

The PARD Historic Preservation and Tourism Program (HPT) team will prepare an interpretive sign package for the park. HPT consulted with community members about the topics and, utilized the Ambassador Program to attain better information from the community regarding the topics chosen. One marquee sign will celebrate Dr. Givens for whom the park is named. Three interpretive signs about topics selected through a community survey will be placed in three locations within the park. The bronze plaque for Martin Banks near the pavilion named for him will be replaced with an identical bronze plaque set in limestone rock. This project is in the design phase.

Givens District Park Recreation Center Renovation Project

On December 12, 2024, Council approved the execution of a contract for Parks and Recreation Department’s Givens District Park Recreation Center Renovation project with Brown and Root Industrial Services, LLC.. The project will enhance the facility’s functionality and ensure it continues to serve the community. Key upgrades include a complete replacement of the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning system, a new roof, and accessibility improvements. Public use of the facility will be impacted during this renovation project. The construction schedule and updated programming information will be communicated to the community as needed. The center will close and cease all operations inside while the heating and air conditioning system and upper gym windows are replaced. Construction began in February 2025 and is anticipated to be complete Spring 2026. This project is funded through voter-approved Proposition C of the 2018 General Obligation Bond.

Completed Projects

The following projects have been completed.

Playground Replacement

Replacement and upgrade of the playscape in the northeast corner of the park, adding recreation value including music games, improvements to accessibility with new seating, and a sidewalk connection to 12th Street. Work was completed in April 2021.

Image of new Givens Park playground equipment

Resurfacing and Repair of Sports Courts

Resurfacing and striping of existing Basketball and Tennis Courts in the southeast area of the park. Work includes fencing and basketball backstop repairs, new striping, and added fencing to accommodate Futsal as a new use to one of the tennis courts. Work was completed in March 2020 with the assistance of Austin Parks Foundation funding.

Givens Basketball and Tennis courts

North Ballfield Lighting Improvements

The upgrade and replacement of existing ballfield lights to reduce utility and maintenance costs and extend the life of the fixtures. Improvements include a remote control and monitoring system and an extended warranty that leads to faster response time to address repairs or other issues. Completed March 2021.

Givens ballfield lighting aerial

Security Lights

The Parks Department will replace lights in the Martin Banks Pavilion and add three solar, LED lights on poles within the park. Completed early 2022.

Solar Light fixture

Givens Recreation Center Interior Improvements

The Parks Department recreation programming staff placed new laminate flooring in the front lobby and staff offices. They recently completed the repainting of the interior giving it a fresh new look. They also purchased and installed a new entry reception desk to complete the interior improvements. Completed in early 2022.

Interior Recreation Center Floor Improvements

New Restroom, Multi-Use Field, Field Lighting, and Plaza

Replacement of a small restroom south of the recreation center with a new, larger, accessible restroom, adjacent to a new plaza with shaded picnic seating and an accessible walkway that will connect to the recreation center. The project will also replace an under-utilized ballfield with a multi-purpose field including new fencing and field lighting. Work began in the summer of 2022 and was completed in October 2023.

Water Quality

The City of Austin Watershed Protection Department has installed a water quality/wildflower meadow proposed in the approved Vision Plan, south of the Recreation Center and north of the proposed multi-use field. The installation includes a series of shallow terraces and a small infiltration pond. The Watershed Department will maintain the pond within the park. This project is complete.

Community Engagement

Community input was instrumental in the planning process and has guided the first phase of the vision plan implementation to reflect the desires of the community. Previous engagement efforts are detailed below.

Vision Plan

The Parks and Recreation Department hosted four community meetings and corresponding surveys in 2018 to create opportunities for community members to share their visions for the park.

Community Meeting #1: July 14, 2018
Community Meeting #2: July 28, 2018
Community Meeting #3: October 9, 2018
Community Meeting #4: December 4, 2018

Review the summary of engagement here (PDF).

Phase I Implementation

Givens Working Group Meetings

October 9, 2019
November 6, 2019
December 18, 2019
March 11, 2020

Community Meeting, November 13, 2019

Community Updates

Givens Aquatic Facility Renovation

Community Survey #4: Features

Closed October 10, 2022: View Results (PDF)

Givens Swims Community Feedback

In July 2019, Givens Swims by Forklift Danceworks highlighted the history of Givens Pool and the community members who have enjoyed the pool since it opened. Below are two documents with input on the pool and the performances.

"What do you love about Givens Pool?" Responses (PDF), asked before each performance Givens Swims survey evaluation (PDF), compiled by Civic Arts, August 2019