East Austin residents urge city to restore Givens Recreation Center kitchen as board weighs options

Multiple community members told the Parks and Recreation Board that Givens Recreation Centers kitchen is essential to East Austin programming and should be restored to commercial capacity rather than left as a distribution-only space. "It is unacceptable to say that we don't have the money when we have not pursued other means like grants or nonprofit partnerships," one speaker said, urging staff and the board to revisit funding and partnership options to replace the grease trap and bring the kitchen up to code.

Staff explained the grease trap was removed at the direction of Austin Water after inspections showed the existing equipment was noncompliant; division manager Alyssa Thera said the facility can open in a limited capacity but cannot be used to cook or wash utensils until upgrades and permits are completed. "The grease trap had to be removed at the direction of Austin Water in order to open the facility to the public because it was non compliant," Thera said, and staff promised a memo to Council with cost estimates and options for a path forward. Community advocates and members of the Givens advisory board requested that the board add the kitchen to a future agenda, seek funding sources, and form a working group to develop a feasibility plan.

Next steps: staff told the board they will supply a detailed memo to City Council and the Parks Board that lists the capital and operating costs and potential funding approaches; board members moved to create a working group to pursue a feasibility and funding plan for a community kitchen at Givens.