Parks staff report $50M land-acquisition fund, recent 50-acre purchase and tools to close gaps in park access
July 15, 2026 | Austin, Travis County, Texas
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Austin Parks & Recreation (APR) presented the committee with an update on parkland acquisition goals, indicators of service, and recent activity tied to a $50 million dedicated acquisition fund.
Scott Grantham and Randy Scott described APR priorities: increase the share of Austinites within a 5–10 minute walk of a park (currently about 65%), extend and connect green belts and trails along the Colorado River, and target a new recreation center for Southeast Austin based on gap-analysis findings. APR reiterated the council-adopted city standard of 24 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents and said the current level of service falls short of that target.
On funding and tools, staff explained the effect of recent ordinance changes on parkland dedication fees (including up to a five-year delay in fee collection under the current ordinance) and said the department will rely more heavily on bonds, certificates of obligation (COs) and other creative tools. APR reported that the council-established $50 million land-acquisition fund has been assigned to targeted properties; staff said they closed on a 50-acre property on Old San Antonio Road in May 2026, have another property nearing contract stage, and have about 10 additional potential acquisition properties in negotiation.
On activation between acquisition and full development, APR said initial steps include demolition of hazardous structures, hazard removal, signage and trail creation through nonprofit partnerships (for example, American Youth Works) to make sites safely accessible as passive parks while concept planning and funding for development are pursued. Staff noted CO funds can be used to purchase land but not to fund development; development funding typically comes from other sources (parkland-dedication funds, bonds, grants or in-house programs).
Council members asked for the gap analysis and weighting behind equity-priority mapping, raised questions about rec-center distribution in specific districts, and requested future reporting on how the $50 million fund is being deployed; staff said the properties connected to the fund are expected to come forward to council for approval in the coming year.
Scott Grantham and Randy Scott described APR priorities: increase the share of Austinites within a 5–10 minute walk of a park (currently about 65%), extend and connect green belts and trails along the Colorado River, and target a new recreation center for Southeast Austin based on gap-analysis findings. APR reiterated the council-adopted city standard of 24 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents and said the current level of service falls short of that target.
On funding and tools, staff explained the effect of recent ordinance changes on parkland dedication fees (including up to a five-year delay in fee collection under the current ordinance) and said the department will rely more heavily on bonds, certificates of obligation (COs) and other creative tools. APR reported that the council-established $50 million land-acquisition fund has been assigned to targeted properties; staff said they closed on a 50-acre property on Old San Antonio Road in May 2026, have another property nearing contract stage, and have about 10 additional potential acquisition properties in negotiation.
On activation between acquisition and full development, APR said initial steps include demolition of hazardous structures, hazard removal, signage and trail creation through nonprofit partnerships (for example, American Youth Works) to make sites safely accessible as passive parks while concept planning and funding for development are pursued. Staff noted CO funds can be used to purchase land but not to fund development; development funding typically comes from other sources (parkland-dedication funds, bonds, grants or in-house programs).
Council members asked for the gap analysis and weighting behind equity-priority mapping, raised questions about rec-center distribution in specific districts, and requested future reporting on how the $50 million fund is being deployed; staff said the properties connected to the fund are expected to come forward to council for approval in the coming year.
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