November Election: Austin's Parks Need Us
Prop A: $260 M for Parks,
Aquatics and Open Space
Prop B: $35 M
for Public Libraries
Austin's parks are one of the things that make this city special. But right now, our parks don't have the money they need to keep up. Austin used to be known as a city within a park. Let’s support keeping it that way.
The last time Austin voters approved a park bond was in 2018, and those funds have now been completely exhausted. Austin Parks and Recreation has approximately $1.4 billion in identified capital needs.
That includes aging maintenance facilities, pools, recreation centers, park infrastructure and other assets that need repair or replacement. The department's maintenance-facility needs alone are estimated at $223 million. And this isn't just a number on a spreadsheet.
Every year, Parks and Recreation identifies projects that need to be repaired but cannot be funded. For FY2026, the department submitted 39 deferred facility projects totaling more than $7 million—but only $1 million was recommended for funding.
Our parks are falling behind because we haven't invested enough to maintain what we already have.
That's why EverGreen Austin supports Proposition A.
This bond would provide critical capital funding for Austin's parks and recreation system—including maintenance and renovation of existing facilities, park infrastructure, pools, recreation facilities and parkland acquisition.
Austin is growing. More people rely on our parks. And we cannot keep adding demands to a system that already has a massive maintenance backlog.
Not only do we need to take care of the parks we have—but also invest in the parks Austin will need tomorrow. We need to make sure we have the dollars ready to act quickly when the opportunity to purchase key land parcels become available.
EverGreen Austin supports Proposition A because our parks are not a luxury. They are essential public infrastructure. And we support Proposition B because libraries are essential civic spaces that help make our neighborhoods more connected, accessible and livable.
Austin's public spaces deserve investment. Our parks desperately deserve financial support.
2026 City Council
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