$4M to fund new shade structures at Austin parks, pools

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AUSTIN (KXAN) — A combined $4 million will go toward enhanced shade structures at Austin parks and pools, the city's Parks and Recreation Department confirmed Monday.

The City allocated $2 million toward improvements for this fiscal year, with a matching $2 million provided by the Austin Parks Foundation. The funding will go toward new shade projects being developed alongside existing projects in the works.

"Shade structures are vital to the enjoyment and safety of our park users, so making this investment alongside PARD was a priority for our team," said Joy Casnovsky, Austin Parks Foundation's chief mission officer, in a release. "A significant portion of our $2 million match came from contributions generated by our ACL Music Festival Partnership. This support has enabled us to work closely with PARD in identifying priority sites and needs across the city."

Parks set to receive new shade structures with projects in the construction phase include:

• Ponciana Neighborhood Park: new shade installations over 5-12 play areas
• Onion Creek Metropolitan Park: New picnic shelters, nature trail enhancements on the southern side of the park
• Oertli Neighborhood Park: Phase 1 park work to include picnic shelters, shade tree plantings
• Colony Park Aquatic Facility: New facility development work, such as shade structures
• Givens District Pool: Pool redevelopment work to include shade structures over the pool
• Brownie Neighborhood Park: Phase 1 park development to feature picnic shelter, play equipment "with structured shade and shade tree plantings," per PARD
• Dottie Jordan Neighborhood Park: New playground shade structures
• Parque Zaragoza Neighborhood Park: Added shade trees and irrigation for the playground
• Pomerleau Pocket Park: Pavilion over the picnic tables

Parks set to receive new shade structures with projects in the design phase include:

• Agave Neighborhood Park: Shade enhancements over play structures
• Metz Neighborhood Park: "Integral shade" incorporated into playground replacement
• Montopolis Neighborhood Park: Playground replacement to include shade additions, along with shade structures at the pool as part of its renovation

Parks set to receive new shade structures with projects in the planning phase include:

• Kennemer Pool: Shade add-ins over pool, picnic areas
• Dove Springs District Park Pool: Shade structures added over the pool
• Gustavo "Gus" L. Garcia District Park: Programming in process to develop larger, unshaded areas
• Rosewood Neighborhood Park: Shade structures, shade trees via playground replacement

“Adding shade in parks is one of many strategies to make our recreational amenities more enjoyable during times of heat,” PARD's Park Development Project Management Supervisor Lindsey Machamer said in a statement. “It is also one small part of a larger effort to create a heat resilient community.”