Rain clouds hovered over Pease Park on a recent Wednesday morning as Dalton Smith prepared for another day of work. Smith, the Park Operations Coordinator at Pease Park Conservancy, gathered weeding equipment to tackle invasive species and maintain the park’s grounds with the help of volunteers.
Smith has been with Pease Park Conservancy for nearly four years. The organization was founded in 2013 to “restore, enhance and maintain (the) 84-acre public green space for the sustainable use and enjoyment of all,” according to its mission statement. His connection to the park dates back even further, recalling visits during his childhood.
“Growing up, I lived in Liberty Hill,” Smith said. “Whenever we would visit Austin…we would always stop in Pease Park.” These early experiences fostered a deep appreciation for the park that he now shares with others through volunteer events held three times weekly.
“The work volunteers do has a tangible impact on the park,” Smith stated. After recent storms, invasive species like Bermuda grass have proliferated in certain areas, necessitating efforts by volunteers and Smith himself to clear them out.
One such volunteer is Aldo Ruiz, who recently joined the Conservancy as an intern. “You actually get involved and get to know the park in other ways,” Ruiz shared about his experience volunteering.
Volunteers often express newfound familiarity with parts of the park they had not previously explored. “A lot of them say, ‘I didn’t even know this side of the park was open past the tree line,'” noted Smith.
Smith frequently hears from returning visitors who recognize their contributions: “(They) come up and talk to me afterwards…going like, ‘oh, remember that project we did?’” He enjoys showing them how their efforts have improved areas of the park.
After completing their tasks for that day—removing weeds and mulching—volunteers thanked Smith before departing along one of the trails. Reflecting on his role within Pease Park Conservancy, Allison Johnson remarked: “Dalton has become a real leader for us in the park.”
With gratitude from both colleagues and community members alike surrounding him daily at this beloved local landmark—the sentiment echoes: “He’s our friendly face in [Pease] [Park].”
