Northwest Austin Edition | October 2025

BY BEN THOMPSON

Officials seek millions of dollars to avoid decline in park access Local parks leaders are now eyeing millions of dollars in new land acquisition to ensure adequate access to green space around town. “Moving forward, [Austin Parks and Recreation] will rely more heavily on bond funding to keep up with Austin’s desired level of park service or watch our park level of service plummet,” parkland acquisition planner Robynne Heymans told City Council in September. How we got here Parkland expansion in Austin is typically funded through voter-approved bonds or the city’s parkland dedication system, which has required housing developers to contribute land or fees to offset development impact. But dollars from past bonds are almost gone,

Austin, firefighters union to sign contract Austin firefighters may see pay increases and a reduced work schedule after their union reached a tentative contract agree- ment with the city in late September. The details The agreement reached Sept. 26 was advanced for approval by Austin Firefighters Association membership and City Council. It includes a pay increase for all four years of the agreement, a reduced work schedule, a streamlined promotion process and more. The tentative agreement adjusts fire- fighter pay in the first year of the contract, followed by a cumulative 10.5% wage increase over its final three years. City Council is scheduled to vote on the four-year agreement Nov. 6, after press time.

The impact Every $100 million of new acquisition funds would serve up to 10% more of the city's population by adding:

60 acres of destination parks

60 acres of pocket or neighborhood parks

200+ acres of greenbelts

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT

and Austin’s ability to bring in parkland dedication payments has taken a significant hit after Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 1526 two years ago, limiting cities’ ability to require green space contributions from developers. That change is expected to result in a short-term funding gap of up to $20 million over the next five years. Heymans and others said Austin should now include as much as $100 million or more for new acquisitions in the anticipated 2026 bond package to buy up needed property.

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NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION