Austin is the perfect urban area for outdoor lovers. The Parks and Recreation Department oversees more than 16,682 acres of land with 206 parks, 12 nature preserves and 26 greenbelts.
Even though they've got all that land to care for, there hasn't been funding for a while. The parks department suffered numerous budget cuts because of the tech bust in the early 2000s. The department is still recovering today.
"The last five years have been difficult on the Parks and
Recreation Department," parks director Warren Struss said.
The Austin Parks Foundation was created in 1992 to fill the gap with what the parks department can't do. Director Charlie McCabe estimates the city is about 100 employees short, which is where volunteers come in.
"Our goal is to try and fill the gap between what needs to be done in the parks and what the current staff can actually do," McCabe said.
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Austin parks
Things are looking up for local parks after voters approved an $84.7 million bond.
 
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The city earmarks about six percent of the annual budget for the parks department, compared with the 65 percent gobbled up by public safety.
"I wish we could spend more in our parks, but we have other interest and needs in our city. We do the best we can," council member Jennifer Kim said.
Thanks to Austin voters, the department will get some much needed money. An $84.7 million bond was approved last year to to buy land, renovate and/or build parks, recreation facilities, public pools, skate parks, historic properties and the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail.
The largest provision is $54.5 million to improve existing facilities. Four million will be used to renovate the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail, which has never undergone a major renovation.
Eighteen million will be used to renovate and bring city pools up to code. There's also $20 million to buy land for future parks. The locations have yet to be determined.
None of the bond money will be used to hire additional staff.
The Austin City Council and bond oversight committee are in charge of deciding exactly how the bond money will be spent.
