Austin (Kxan) — Thousands of volunteers It will clean and improve 95 different Austin parks on Saturday as part of the city’s biannual “It’s My Park Day.”
This event has encouraged community members to help beautify parks in every corner of the city for more than 20 years. After working from 9 a.m. to noon, the Austin Parks Foundation estimates volunteers will have donated a total of $650,000 in labor value.
In addition to mulching, trash pickup, planting, and more, the Parks Foundation and the city will hold a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at Little Walnut Creek in East Austin. The 206-acre natural area now features improved trails, a park with a playground, fitness equipment, a rock climbing area, an off-leash dog area and more.
“This year we have a brand new park,” said Austin Parks Foundation Vice President of Marketing and Communications Katie Kennedy. “Then, you can stay, and our crew will make seed balls that will be used to fill in some of the plants around this new garden.”
Those who pre-register for this event will receive a free t-shirt that they can then wear around town later that day for some perks.
Among the participating companies are Amy’s Ice Creams, Central Machine Works, Dog Day Coffee and Zilker Brewing Co.
“Later in the day, you can take them to participating businesses and redeem things like free drinks, discounts, half off and buy one, get one,” Kennedy said. “It’s a really great way for the whole community to get involved in this event.”
The previous event, held in the spring, saw a large force of Austin residents spruce up their gardens. More than 3,300 volunteers collected 10,450 pounds of trash, the Austin Parks Foundation said.