Did you know Austin is home to more than 300 parks for you and your family to explore? That’s even more than our average number of sunny days per year! (We average about 230 sunny days a year. Bet you thought it was more!)
Saturday, November 4, 2017 is your day to give back to the trails and green spaces that give you so much enjoyment and fulfillment throughout the year. That’s the day of the fall edition of It’s My Park Day, which is Austin Parks Foundation’s biggest citywide volunteer event. Every year on It’s My Park Day, thousands of volunteers come together to improve our fair city’s parks and greenbelts. This event makes such an impact on Austin parks that it’s now held twice a year, in the spring and fall, so don’t miss your chance to get outside, do some good, and enjoy some beautiful Austin weather!
What Is It’s My Park Day All About?
It’s My Park Day is structured around all kinds of projects in all kinds of parks. You might volunteer to do trail maintenance, tree care, mulching of plant beds, park clean-up, or any of a number of other jobs.
This spring on It’s My Park Day, 3,200 volunteers put in a cumulative 10,000 hours of labor on over 100 projects in parks around town. That’s equivalent to seven park maintenance employees working full-time for an entire year! That single day resulted in a citywide investment of over a quarter of a million dollars in beautifying and improving Austin’s green spaces.
How Do I Become a Volunteer?
Volunteer registration is now open, and everyone is welcome! Parents and guardians of kids 15 years old and younger must accompany their child to the park on the day of the event and sign a Minor Liability Waiver. Teens ages 16–18 can volunteer on their own, and just bring a signed waiver to their Park Project Leader at the start of their volunteer shift.
All you have to do to get started is click here, and then choose the project you’d like to volunteer for. (You can also click here for more information on volunteering.)
And don’t forget to share your photos with the Austin Parks Foundation after the event! Email your photos to [email protected].
Perks for Volunteers
- Shake Shack: both locations (South Lamar and the Domain) will be offering a free order of fries with a purchase
- JuiceLand: local favorite JuiceLand will be offering a 10% off discount as well as a free shot of yerba mate’ at 2 of their locations — Sonesta (13096 U.S. 183 SB BUILDING A) and Braker Ln (10721 RESEARCH BLVD #100.)
- Galaxy Cafe: All locations of Galaxy cafe will be offering 2 for 1 entrees for customers who dine-in.
- Zocalo Cafe: will also be offering 2 for 1 entrees for customers that dine-in.
- Baby Greens: will be offering buy one, get one free for regularly priced salads and wraps (excludes Saturday special).
More About Austin Parks Foundation
Austin Parks Foundation (APF) is a nonprofit organization devoted to building public-private partnerships in order to develop and maintain Austin’s parks, trails and open space. APF has been committed since 1992 to making Austin’s 300+ parks, trails and green spaces better for everyone, including by promoting maintenance, accessibility and improvements in Austin and Travis County.
Movies in the Park
Want to do more to help Austin Park’s Foundation? This week, leading up to Halloween, they’re hosting a special movie screening at Palm Park. The Halloween Spelltacular screening of Hocus Pocus includes a costume contest and witching-hour activities including a dance party, broom race, photo booth, and food truck courtyard. The whole party is BYOB, so feel free to bring anything in your cauldron that you’d like to enjoy! Tickets are $5-20 and benefit the Austin Parks Foundation.
October 26 | 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. | Palm Park | 711 East 3rd St.
They’re also hosting their final movie in the park screening on November 9 with Muppet Christmas Carol. Close out the season with some holiday cheer! Join APF at Ramsey park for a very Muppet Christmas Carol. The movie begins around 6 p.m., but get there early to grab your spot!
November 9 | 6:30 p.m. | Ramsey Park | 4301 Rosedale Ave.
Featured photo courtesy Austin Parks Foundation
