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Peace Park Conservancy, Austin Rowing Club and Explore Austin report volunteer and program milestones
Summary
Three nonprofit partners updated the Parks Board on volunteers, programming and partnerships that support parks operations and events across Austin.
Three nonprofit partners gave updates to the Parks and Recreation Board about programming, volunteer work and partnerships with PARD.
Peace Park Conservancy: Nicole Netherton, CEO of the Peace Park Conservancy, said the group operates under a Park Operations and Maintenance Agreement (POMA) executed in January 2023. Netherton said her organization has a staff of 10 and works across 84 acres of Peace Park, with primary responsibility within 7 acres of Kingsbury Commons under the POMA. She said the Conservancy’s 2024 impact report showed operations seven days a week, servicing more than 227,000 visitors from 51 area ZIP codes; volunteers numbered almost 1,600 and programming served nearly 12,000 participants, including almost 1,400 K–6 students (two‑thirds of served schools were Title I). Netherton said the Conservancy will mark the 150th anniversary of the 1875 gift of the first 23 acres later in 2025 and is drafting a phased plan tied to its 2014 vision plan.
Austin Rowing Club: Dana Williams, executive director, said junior rowing teams traveled to regattas in Cincinnati and Indianapolis and planned competition in Oklahoma City. Williams said the club has about 104 athletes competing in the upcoming regional regatta; members volunteered to clean and refresh the Waller Creek Boathouse and held an Earth Day event with 532 volunteers who collected more than 6,000 pounds of trash and involved 25 community partners. Williams thanked staff and volunteers for ongoing support.
Explore Austin: Kathleen Lyon Schneeman, CEO of Explore Austin, described nine months of outdoor youth programs—paddling, backpacking, climbing and mountain biking—and said Explore Austin serves about 300 youth and families. She said the organization, a nonprofit of about 20 years, purchased property near Walter Long Park (referenced in her remarks) and aims to expand outdoor access for youth through partnerships.
Why it matters: The briefings underscore the scale of nonprofit partnerships that support parks maintenance, programming and volunteer events in Austin and point to upcoming milestone celebrations and facility work that will involve PARD and community partners.
(Ending) Board members thanked the organizations and noted these partnerships help extend public programming and maintenance capacity across the city.
