Parks department looks to the future

The Austin Parks and Recreation Department’s long-range planning process, “Our Parks, Our Future,” began in the fall of 2018 with five community meetings followed by an online survey that was completed by more than 4,400 Austinites. The best ideas have floated to the top and are included in the draft blueprint that will help guide the development of Austin’s parks over the next decade. Now PARD is wrapping up the process and wants to share its draft plan with the community. If you’d like to hear what’s in the plan and offer your feedback, you can attend the final round of community engagement meetings scheduled for late July or one of the pop-up events that will be announced at a later date. The two meetings are on July 25, 4-8 p.m. at Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex, 1156 Hargrave St.; and on July 27, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Road.