The Austin Parks Foundation (APF) has announced the recipients of its latest ACL Music Festival Grants, aimed at enhancing parks throughout Austin. These grants are part of the foundation's ongoing commitment to investing in local parks, with funding sourced from the ACL Music Festival.
The grants are divided into two categories: Neighborhood Grants, ranging from $500 to $5,000 for small-scale projects, and Community Impact Grants for larger initiatives exceeding $5,000. The funds also support various other park-related activities such as capital projects and city-wide events like It’s My Park Day.
Recent grant-funded projects include improvements at Onion Creek Dog Park and Georgian Acres Neighborhood Park. At Onion Creek Dog Park, a Neighborhood Grant of $4,870 was used to install limestone seating blocks. A community member highlighted the need for seating due to frequent flooding that prevents standard amenities. In Georgian Acres, a Little Free Library was installed with an $800 grant to further engage neighborhood children.
Several projects are nearing completion under the Community Impact Grants program. The Clarksville Community Garden Leadership Team received $26,900 to create a heritage garden at the Hezikiah Haskell House. This project aims to connect visitors with early Clarksville history through gardening.
Another notable initiative is at the Elisabet Ney Museum, which received a $25,000 grant for revising its Comprehensive Restoration Master Landscape Plan. The updated plan seeks to enhance visitor experience by improving connectivity with adjacent Shipe Park and updating maintenance strategies.
Upcoming projects include the construction of new basketball courts at Roy G. Guerrero Metropolitan Park with a $550,000 grant awarded to Montopolis Community Development Corporation. This initiative addresses the removal of previous courts that affected local youth access to recreational facilities.
In Dottie Jordan Neighborhood Park, free youth tennis lessons will continue thanks to a $6,100 grant covering court reservation costs for up to 30 children weekly.
Finally, Rosewood Neighborhood Park will feature a Wall of Honor commemorating L.D. Washington and other community contributors. This project is supported by a $4,000 grant and honors Washington's legacy as an influential coach and mentor within East Austin's Black community.
These efforts underscore APF's dedication to enhancing public spaces across Austin through strategic investments funded by ACL Music Festival proceeds.