When it comes to free fun around Austin, we’re so thankful for the many wonderful playgrounds and parks that we can enjoy with our families. Want to check out the area’s latest outdoor play space with your kiddos? Take a visit to the newly improved Pan Am Park! Austin Parks Foundation, in partnership with the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, C3 Presents and St. David’s Foundation, recently unveiled Pan American Neighborhood Park’s renovation and playground redevelopment.

Plan a playdate with family and friends to check out the updates! Located at 2100 East 3rd Street, here you’ll notice a new layout that includes a central lawn, a great use of the park’s shaded trees with plenty of seating for families. And the best part for the kids is the brightly colored, engaging new play equipment such as net climbers, swings, spinners!

The park also features improvements to the community garden tended to by seniors in the Health’s Angels Program of St. David’s Foundation Community Fund. This garden was recently rebuilt to include raised planting beds to function better for the needs for the seniors in this program.

Did you know that Austin City Limits Music Festival had a big hand in these park improvements? For the past 13 years, ACL Fest’s partnership with Austin Parks Foundation has provided more than $35 million to improve, maintain and revitalize Austin’s public park system. Therefore, a portion of every ACL Fest ticket purchase supports parks in every corner of Austin!

Since 1992, Austin Parks Foundation has facilitated park improvements as well as offered creative fun programming for the community, such as their Movies in the Park series. Through programs such as the Adopt-a-Park Program, APF has been able to make a huge impact on our area’s outdoor play places.

Pan Am Park isn’t the only recent renovation to note. You’ll notice other improvements made this past  year to Patterson Park, Parque Zaragoza, Gracywoods Park, and St. Johns Park, too! Go have some fun checking out what’s new!

Help Keep Your Favorite Park Looking Great! Visit www.austinparks.org to learn about Austin Parks Foundation’s many programs and projects. On their website, you’ll also find plenty of ways that YOU can get involved in park improvements — from volunteering to donating, participating in special events, or even adopting a park near you.