Parks and Facililties

Since 1928, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department has been the custodian of the city’s public lands. As a result, we safeguard parkland and our urban forest. Trails are preserved, and we provide a variety of sports, recreation, educational enrichment, arts programs, cultural experiences, and natural and aquatic activities.

The diversity of our department reflects the diversity of the community we serve. The capacity to create a balance between young and old, tradition and innovation, and the demands of one versus the needs of many is crucial to running a successful organization, as it is in so many other facets of life. Our staff aim to honor the past while embracing the difficulties of the future, and to serve an entire community while preserving personal connections with individual participants, all while keeping this in mind.