Newly-elected Austin City Council members in districts 4 and 7 are planning to improve upon the limited number of parks and accessible green spaces in North Austin.
District 4 Councilman Greg Casar said the new regional-based council system allows council to look at geographic needs.
"Clearly something that stands out when you look at District 4 compared to any other district in the city is that we have the least amount of park space," Casar said. "We have the highest number of children and some of the most multifamily housing [units] of anywhere in the city."
In August, City Council purchased a 5-acre property at 500 E. Powell Lane near Lamar Boulevard in District 4. Casar hopes to make funding for development of the land a priority in the 2015 budget, he said.
"Clearly the Georgian Acres and North Lamar [neighborhoods] are way behind as far as park space goes. I think that will be the kind of argument that gets us the funding that we need," Casar said. "At the same time, it's not just about Georgian Acres and North Lamar; I would be advocating for anywhere in the city that has those similar issues to get the funding they need to build and maintain park space."
Julia Foree, chairwoman of the North Lamar Combined Neighborhood Plan Contact Team, said she and her team made park location suggestions to the city before the Powell Lane land was purchased. The contact team is charged with shepherding the city's implementation of the North Lamar Combined Neighborhood Plan, which covers the area from US 183 north to Braker Lane and from I-35 west to North Lamar Boulevard, Foree said.
The contact team could work with the city's parks department to host community meetings to gather residents ideas about what amenities might be best for the Powell Lane park, she said. The neighborhoods recommendation to increase available park land available in the area is included in the North Lamar Combined Neighborhood Planning Area plan, which was adopted by council years ago, she said.
Residents have recommended parks include a pavilion, drinking fountains, a community garden, and open space for soccer or football games. Residents have also recommended accessibility and other improvements to Barrington Elementary School Park and the Brownie Pocket Park playground, she said.
"The idea is to directly serve the community but not have so many amenities that we are attracting people from outside the neighborhood," Foree said. "[We are also] trying to find ways to address the cultural diversity that we have in the area. That is one of our most wonderful assets. We have people from all different countries and ethnic backgrounds in our area."
District 7 Councilwoman Leslie Pool said she wants to revitalize the Destination Parks and Greenways Plan, which aims to have parks within a quarter-mile of any home in Austin. Former Councilwoman Beverly Griffith championed the plan in the 1990s, and Pool said she wants to continue Griffiths efforts.
"What I want to do is get a hold of the plan to see what progress the city has made on her vision," Pool said.
Casar said council could also work to utilize existing resources from sources, such as Austin ISD, to find ways to share green space. A citywide analysis could be conducted to identify where children live and how that compares to the locations of existing park resources, he said.
Newly-elected Austin City Council members in districts 4 and 7 are planning to improve upon the limited number of parks and accessible green spaces in North Austin.
District 4 Councilman Greg Casar said the new regional-based council system allows council to look at geographic needs.
"Clearly something that stands out when you look at District 4 compared to any other district in the city is that we have the least amount of park space," Casar said. "We have the highest number of children and some of the most multifamily housing [units] of anywhere in the city."
In August, City Council purchased a 5-acre property at 500 E. Powell Lane near Lamar Boulevard in District 4. Casar hopes to make funding for development of the land a priority in the 2015 budget, he said.
"Clearly the Georgian Acres and North Lamar [neighborhoods] are way behind as far as park space goes. I think that will be the kind of argument that gets us the funding that we need," Casar said. "At the same time, it's not just about Georgian Acres and North Lamar; I would be advocating for anywhere in the city that has those similar issues to get the funding they need to build and maintain park space."
Julia Foree, chairwoman of the North Lamar Combined Neighborhood Plan Contact Team, said she and her team made park location suggestions to the city before the Powell Lane land was purchased. The contact team is charged with shepherding the city's implementation of the North Lamar Combined Neighborhood Plan, which covers the area from US 183 north to Braker Lane and from I-35 west to North Lamar Boulevard, Foree said.
The contact team could work with the city's parks department to host community meetings to gather residents ideas about what amenities might be best for the Powell Lane park, she said. The neighborhoods recommendation to increase available park land available in the area is included in the North Lamar Combined Neighborhood Planning Area plan, which was adopted by council years ago, she said.
Residents have recommended parks include a pavilion, drinking fountains, a community garden, and open space for soccer or football games. Residents have also recommended accessibility and other improvements to Barrington Elementary School Park and the Brownie Pocket Park playground, she said.
"The idea is to directly serve the community but not have so many amenities that we are attracting people from outside the neighborhood," Foree said. "[We are also] trying to find ways to address the cultural diversity that we have in the area. That is one of our most wonderful assets. We have people from all different countries and ethnic backgrounds in our area."
District 7 Councilwoman Leslie Pool said she wants to revitalize the Destination Parks and Greenways Plan, which aims to have parks within a quarter-mile of any home in Austin. Former Councilwoman Beverly Griffith championed the plan in the 1990s, and Pool said she wants to continue Griffiths efforts.
"What I want to do is get a hold of the plan to see what progress the city has made on her vision," Pool said.
Casar said council could also work to utilize existing resources from sources, such as Austin ISD, to find ways to share green space. A citywide analysis could be conducted to identify where children live and how that compares to the locations of existing park resources, he said.
