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Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 1

Austin Parks and Recreation Department

1928-2003

A Living Legacy

Honoring Our Past, Celebrating Our Present and Creating Our Future

2 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 3

Anniversary

of the

Austin Parks and Recreation Department

Greetings

As we prepared to celebrate the 75

Anniversary of the Austin Parks and Recre-

ation Department, we were presented with an excellent opportunity to research

the proud history of the department. It was a task that I assigned to Gloria Mata

Pennington and this booklet is the result of her research. As the information was

compilied it allowed us to reflect on the facilities that were built, the programs

that were created, the land that was acquired and some of the key staff who

worked in the development of a department that would achieve national recogni-

tion.

No attempt was made to write a narrative, instead the verbage used is what was

written in the actual reports. Unless otherwise noted, the information contained in

this chronology from 1928 until 1970 was taken from actual Monthly Reports. Some

of the information selected also includes segments from the reports that are a

reflection of the times and of the community’s thinking and experiences. Apparently,

after 1970, Annual Reports replaced the Monthly Reports. With the exception of

1985 to 1995 when reports were not written, the information from 1971 to the

present was taken from actual Annual Reports as noted.

Reminisce with us and share our pride in the accomplishments of the Austin Parks

and Recreation Department during its 75 years of service to the community.

Jesus M. Olivares, Director

Austin Parks and Recreation Department

4 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

June 1928: The first Monthly Report submitted by James A. Garrison,

Superintendent of Recreation to City Manager Adam R. Johnson.

“Instrumental in bringing about the establishment of the Recreation Department

was a committee from the Austin Lions Club. The five members were: Horace

Barnhart, A.W. Griffith, John Tobin, Gillespie Stacy, and Harris Brush. This

committee worked from 1926 until the department was established by the City

Council in 1928. (Austin Statesman). The Recreation Division was created during

the spring of 1928, and was financed by a special appropriation out of the General

Fund of the City in the amount of $2,500, which took care of the salary of the

superintendent of this department. The work necessarily, on account of lack of

funds, has been carried on in a limited way, but through the cooperation of

outside agencies splendid results have been accomplished. Thirty-six volunteer

Playground leaders were secured from the Physical Education Department of the

University of Texas, and through the courtesy of the Superintendent of Public

Schools, the Austin High School Athletic Field was secured for the Junior Baseball

League, and the Junior High School Gym for the women’s Basketball League.

Other organizations and clubs have shown quite an interest and rendered splendid

assistance. The department recently became a member of the Texas Amateur

Athletic Federation and sent teams to the State Meet for swimming, tennis and

baseball. Several of the civic organizations furnished baseball suits for the different

Junior Baseball teams, and several of the merchants, suits to the Women’s

Basketball teams.”

“The parks system started with: Woolridge Park, acquired by the City in 1840;

Pease Park, donated by Governor E. M. Pease in 1875; House Park donated by

E.M. House in 1903; Barton

Springs purchased in 1918;

Rosewood Park purchased in

1929; the Austin Athletic

Club donated in 1931 by W.

T. Caswell; 350 acres

donated in 1932 by A.J.

Zilker; Deep Eddy Pool

purchased in 1935 and the

Municipal Golf Course

donated in 1937 by the

Austin Lions Club.” (Office

file, neither author nor

research material identified).

1928: “Austin’s first year of

an organized softball

league for men and Junior

hardball league for boys 12-17, is organized by James Garrison, superintendent

of Recreation.”

Woolridge Park

July 1928: “Negotiations are underway to purchase the fourteen acre Huppertz

homestead on Rosewood avenue just beyond the city limits in East Austin for a

Negro park. Currently, the Negroes of East Austin are using Emancipation Park,

a privately owned resort.”

March 1929: “Nine acres of land on Waller Creek, known as Eastwoods is

purchased for $20,000 to be used as park and playground.”

1929: “Two athletic fields will be completed during the winter months for next

year’s operation. The fields will furnish ample facilities for all the major city-wide

contests. A woman’s softball league is also organized.”

1930: “Soon after the $750,000 bonds were voted for Parks, Playgrounds, and

Boulevards, an ordinance was passed creating a Parks and Playgrounds

Commission to act in an advisory capacity to the City Council and the City

Manager in the acquiring, developing, equipping and improving of all parks,

playgrounds and boulevards owned and controlled by the City of Austin. Over 100

acres of land have been acquired, quite a substantial amount of which has been

improved and beautified; nine playgrounds built and equipped and land for part of

the Waller Creek Boulevard acquired and a portion of same is graded preparatory

to paving. The boulevarding and beautifying of Shoal Creek is well under way –

however, this project has been delayed on account of being unable to purchase

some of the land but this the commission hopes to secure at an early date” (1930

City of Austin Annual Report).

Juneteenth celebration at Rosewood Park

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 5

June 1930: “First Juneteenth celebration is held at Rosewood Park.”

August 1930: “Playgrounds: Pease Park, Hyde Park, Mexican, East

Woods, South Austin, East Avenue, West Austin, Rosewood.”

November 1930: “Rosewood Park, this is the first time that any attempt has

been made to offer recreation to the colored people during the fall and winter

months. A room upstairs has been turned into a game room. The room is opened

in the afternoons and early evenings. Table and chairs have been provided.”

1931: “The area known as Zilker Park has 355 acres that includes the original

portion known as Zilker Springs, in which is located the largest swimming center

operated by the City.” (1948 Annual Report).

April 1931: “Girls Athletic Club is organized. “Membership is limited to girls

that have participated in the City Industrial Leagues sponsored by the Recreation

Department. The purpose of the club is to offer the business girls of Austin not

only athletic activities but social activities as well.”

July 1, 1931: “The Austin Athletic Club opens with 20 paid members.

Membership fee is $1.”

July 1931: “Five Mexican hard ball baseball teams are organized in the

City under the care of the Recreation Department. Games are played at

Zaragoza Park and on an average are better attended than any other baseball

in the City. A four team colored hard ball baseball league was organized this

year with each team playing twice a week at the hard ball diamond of the

colored playground.”

August 1931: “KUT radio gives the department one hour of air time each

Tuesday night from 7:45 PM to 8:45 PM to promote programs and athletic

events. Members of the various playgrounds and the industrial leagues host the

programs.”

1932: “This department is now operating under splendidly trained supervision,

9 well-equipped playgrounds, 5 athletic fields, 2 swimming pools, the

Austin Athletic Club, and Rosewood Community House for colored.

Rosewood Park for colored, containing approximately 12 acres, and

Zaragosa Park for the Mexican people, containing 9.52 acres, are given the

same care and attention as the other parks and playgrounds and are both well

attended.” (1932 City of Austin Report).

May 1932: “Cinco de Mayo Celebration is held at Zaragosa Park. This

celebration was made possible through the work and

assistance of the following Mexican citizens: Francisco

Estrada, Amador Candelas, Joe H. Rodriguez, Jose W.

Lopez, Juan Carillo, Frank P. Goodman, Francisco Prado

and Manuel Benavides.”

June 1932: “Free swim lessons are given at Barton

Springs, four mornings a week, taught by two male

and one female instructor.”

June 1932: “The recreation department’s radio

program is now broadcast on KNOW radio.”

July 1932: “Floodlights are installed at five

Playgrounds so activities can be expanded to evening

hours.”

July 1932: “The annual 4

. of July Swim Meet is

postponed to July 9

. due to a rise in the Colorado

River which flooded Barton Springs. State TAAF

meet held as part of the program and two state record

times were broken in the meet.”

Austin Athletic Club (Austin Recreation Center)

6 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

September 14, 15, 16, 17, 1932: “A Mexican committee is organized to

handle the four day celebration of the Independence of Mexico for the

Mexican Colony of the City of Austin.”

October 10, 1932: “The formal opening of the Austin Athletic Club is held.

Palms and wild flowers, brought from the various City parks, predominated in the

decorations. Paintings by a well known artist adorned the walls of the recreation

room. A general reception was held in the lobby and clubrooms from eight until

ten, and a dance was held on the main floor of the gymnasium from ten to

twelve.”

1933: “Zilker Park was voted in December 1932, but its final acquisition was

not approved until 1933.” (1933 Annual Report).

1933: “Through the City Government, Palm and Metz Playgrounds were

added to the Recreation areas by bond purchases in 1933.” (1933 Annual

Report).

1933: “Station KNOW proved to be one of the best supporters of Recreation

in Austin, when the station officials donated a full hour each week to playground

programs and information.” (1933 Annual Report).

1933: “Several traditions have grown up in the Recreation Department and have

become annual events. The biggest of these pageants is the annual Playground

Pageant, presented as the climax to the summer’s work on the playgrounds.”

(1933 Annual Report).

1933: “The Recreation Department operated the following swimming pools in

Austin during the year of 1933: Barton Springs, Westenfield, Palm,

Zarogosa, and Rosewood. In addition, wading pools were open at Hyde

Park, East Woods, Metz, South Austin, West Austin,, and Pease Park

Playgrounds.” (1933 Annual Report).

1933: “One of the biggest events of the spring program is the annual Kite

Contest conducted by the Recreation Department and the Exchange Club. The

Filtration Plant Park was the scene of the 1933 contest.” (1933 Annual Report).

1933: “The Palm School playground was completed and opened to the

public under supervision during the summer months of l933.” (1933 Annual

Report).

1933: “A new playground, Metz, was built on a portion of the land located

around the Sewer Disposal Plant. This ground was opened to the public under

supervision for the first time during 1933, and led all of the other grounds in

attendance.” (1933 Annual Report),

January 1933: “An indoor colored basketball league is played at Royal

Auditorium. This auditorium is the only available indoor gym for colored play,

and although it is better than outdoor play, conditions are far from ideal.”

April 1933: “The first official scheduled games of the Playground Baseball

Leagues for men and women start in early April. Although the men play three

games a night and the women only one, the crowds attending the women’s

games will equal those of the men’s league. With crowds ranging from two to five

hundred for each game.”

May 1933: The Monthly Report is submitted to George G. Grant, Acting City

Manager.

May 1933: “Mayor Tom Miller addresses a crowd of three thousand at the

Cinco de Mayo celebration at Zaragosa Park. The celebration is planned by a

citizen’s committee from the neighborhood , who solicit funds to pay for the

event. In addition, they are required to give back to the City 10% of the profits

from the concession booths.”

Zilker Park

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 7

May 1933: “A swim meet was held to open the new swimming pool at

Zaragosa Park. The technique of the swimmers was very poor, but the races

were as close as possible and just as exciting as if world records were being

broken. It was the first Mexican swimming meet ever held in Austin.”

June 1933: “Mayor Tom Miller declares “Roosevelt Day” and the Recreation

Department is placed in charge of organizing the various parts of the celebration.

“Roosevelt Day started out with a pouring rain and it seemed as if the events

might have to be called, but the sun came out about five o’clock and all of the

activities were run on schedule. Several thousand people came to Barton

Springs to watch members of the University of Texas Turtle Club, Rosner’s

Swimming Team, and the Austin Athletic Club put on an exhibition of water stunts

and diving by star divers of the various clubs. The band concert started at 7:30

PM at Woolridge Park, with one of the largest crowds in history present. After

the concert the band led a parade to the Fire Drill Tower, where the Austin

firemen put on an exhibition of firefighting. Then, from ten o’clock until one

o’clock, two orchestras played for a street dance.”

July 1933: The Monthly Report is submitted to Guiton Morgan, City

Manager.

January 1934: “For the first time in the history of Austin Playgrounds,

activities will start in January. We hope to convince everyone of the necessity and

importance of having the playgrounds open the year round and that the

Recreation Project submitted to the C.W.A. Board was a very worth while

proposition. At present, we have 47 people employed on the playground project.

Others are to be added to this group soon.”

March 1, 1934: “Winter Playgrounds will be closed until further notice after an

announcement that all C.W. A. projects would terminate by April 1.”

May 15, 1934: “The new Shipe Park swimming pool opens to the public.”

June 2, 1934: “The O’Henry Home, which is located in Brush Park and opened

to the public on June 2, 1934, had 163 visitors during January.” (1942 Monthly

Reports).

March 1935: “March 8 and 9, the Men’s State Basketball Tournament was

held in Galveston with the Magnolia Flyers of Austin winning the title. (1935

Annual Report).

July 1935: “Barton Springs pool is closed from June 11 to July 4 due to

flooding in Barton Creek and back waters from the Colorado River, leaving a

deposit of 1 ½ ft. of leaf-mold, mud, silt, and debris on the grounds and in the

swimming pool.”

July 1935: “The Reptile Institution at Zilker Park closes after approximately

one year of operation.”

Flooded Barton Springs Pool

O’Henry Home (later O’Henry Museum)

8 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

August 9 & 10, 1935:

Fourteen teams entered the

State Women’s T.A.A.F.

Softball Meet held here,

August 9 and 10. Austin

Ice of Austin won the state

title. (1935 Annual Report).

September 1, 1935: “Five

playgrounds, for children

and adults, are opened for

the first time for Fall

activities. The playgrounds

are open Monday-Friday from

5 PM to 10 PM. and on

Saturday from 3 PM to 6 PM, and each has one paid leader. The programs

includes touch football leagues for boys, community nights, women’s and girls’

volleyball leagues, basketball, tennis, dramatics, washers, handball, library,

tumbling, handcrafts, soccer, horseshoes, quiet games, speedball, and boxing.”

February 1936: “Austin Athletic Club class instruction and activities are

suspended along with suspension of Public Schools due to epidemic of respiratory

diseases.”

March 1936: “This is the first year that Life Guard Training becomes a

requirement for employment.”

April 19, 1936: “Elton Rutledge and Billy Disch, Jr. open the Zilker Canoe

Club. At present, eight canoes are available at a nominal cost with two people

being admitted for each canoe.”

July 8, 1936: “The Deep Eddy Pool and Bathhouse opens. City Manager

Guiton Morgan introduced Mayor Tom Miller, who spoke about the cost for

construction of the pool and the bathhouse. The project was jointly sponsored by

the Works Progress Administration and the City Recreation Department with the

WPA expenditure at $16,900.19.”

July 16, 1936: “On the morning of the 16

. the highest rise since the June

flood of 1935, came down Barton. At 4 a.m. an approximate 20 foot rise came

down Barton Creek. The swimming pool remained closed until July 23

. when it

again was opened to the public.”

July 1936: “The Band Stand-Comfort Station at Barton Springs is completed

at a total cost of $2,710.75. The band stand is an open air platform on the

second floor with comfort station being housed on the ground floor. This building

replaced the old band stand which was washed way in June 1935.”

August 17, 1936: “August 17

, the new playground on 32

and Wabash

Avenue was opened. The people in this community have been waiting eagerly for

the opening of this playground. The first community night program was held

Friday, August 21

. The program included a band concert, a welcome speech by

the Mayor of Austin, and several musical numbers were presented by the children

from various playgrounds. The playground was named in memory of one of

Austin’s distinguished citizens, Lyman J. Bailey.”

1937: “Bee Creek Park, 137 acres, across from Tom Miller Dam on Bee Creek,

the land is undeveloped and in its natural state.” (1948 Annual Report).

April 1, 1937: “The City obtains title to Municipal Golf Course from the Lions

Club and immediately starts construction of an underground sprinkling system,

top dressing of several fairways, and removal of trees and new locations made for

several greens.”

June 1937: “A new activity of band concerts and sing-song, lead by Rev. Dan

Grieder, are held each Thursday night at Barton Springs. The concerts are

carried live as a public service on KNOW radio from 8:15 to 8:45 PM.”

June 1937: “The Austin Statesman carries a weekly page of playground news

and photographs. In addition, the Austin American and the Sunday American

carry additional news from the department and scores from the softball games.

The department has no financial liability for these services.”

Boys playing checkers in park in 1938

Deep Eddy Pool

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 9

August 1937: “Moving pictures were made of Barton Springs, Deep Eddy,

the Golf Course, and of the playgrounds and their activities. These pictures will

be used for educational purposes and will also serve as a permanent record of the

department’s facilities and activities.”

October 1937: “Austin Athletic Club. The total number of individuals that

have paid their membership fees is 523. This year the fees at the Club were

raised from one to two dollars for general membership for the year. There is also

a special tennis membership fee of $20 for the year, which entitles the holder

to have the privilege of reserving the courts. The old fee of 10 cents an hour for

the use of a court is still used, but the members that pay by the hour are not

eligible to reserve a court.”

October 1937: “Eight WPA (Work Projects Administration) workers are

assigned to work as recreation staff.”

June 27, 1938: “A stage is constructed at the pavilion at Barton Springs,

upon which plays of the Barton Springs Summer Theater will be given. The

first play performed is “Penny Wise”.”

December 20, 1938: “First public concert of Austin’s civic symphony

orchestra, under the direction of Henrik Buytendorp, is held at Hogg Memorial

auditorium. The formation of the orchestra is credited in large part to the

organizational skills of James Garrison, a member of the board of directors and

superintendent of Recreation.”

1939: “The Metz Community Center, which used a school building for its

base, serves the people who live in what is known as the Metz School District. It

was the first year that the

Recreation Department used a

Public School building for a

center of community activities.”

(1939 Annual Report).

April 1939: James A.

Garrison is elected president of

the Texas Recreation

Association.

September 29, 1939: The

Women’s Public Links Golf

Association was formed with 26

women becoming members of

the club.” (1939 Annual Report).

December 1939: “Plans are

finalized for Austin’s second metropolitan park, Lake Austin, with miles of shore

line, a bathing beach and boat docks and 1,008 acres of land.”

August 2-3, 1940: “Tom Attra and Johnny Perales win state championships at

the State T.A.A.F. Boxing Tournament in San Angelo.”

September 20, 1940: City Manager Guiton Morgan is called to active duty

and James A. Garrison, director of Recreation is sworn in as acting city

manager. V. A. Kormeier is named Acting Superintendent of the Austin Recreation

Department.

December 1940: Beverly S. Sheffield, named Acting Director.

January 1941: “Construction of a shelter house at the Zaragoza Playground

was begun during the month, which will include dressing and toilet facilities for

adults and children. A chain-linked fence will be placed around the pool and

connected to the bathhouse to make the pool and bathhouse one complete unit.

Materials for this project furnished by the city and the labor by the National Youth

Administration.”

March 1941: Guiton Morgan returns as City Manager and James A. Garrison

is assigned as a three-state director for the national defense commission.

May 1941: “During the month of May, 96 members of the newly organized

Archery Club took part in the weekly practices on the football field at House

Park.”

August 28, 1941: “The 204

Field Artillery, Anti-Aircraft Division from

Louisiana composed of 600 men were entertained with a program and dance at

Barton Springs. The department assisted in the entertainment by making

arrangements for 300 girls who were invited to the dance and staged the floor

shows, and conducted games on a lighted area directly in back of the pavilion.”

September 4, 1941: “Mayor Tom Miller appoints a committee of 19 persons to

form the Austin Defense Recreation Council. The purpose of this council is to

organize the resources of the city for the welfare of the service men during their

leisure time visits to the city.”

October 1941: “In cooperation with the Austin Defense Recreation Council

the department offers recreational activities to service men while they are in

Austin. The men are also permitted to take showers and are furnished with soap

and towels at the Austin Athletic Club.”

November 1941: “Through the assistance of W.P.A., the department directed a

program at the Federal Housing Project at Chalmers Courts.”

1942: Assistant Director, Alvin Eggeling, becomes Acting Director while

Director, James A. Garrison serves on Defense Commission and Assistant

Director Beverly Sheffield joins the armed services”. (1942 Annual Report).

City Park on Lake Austin (Emma Long Metropolitan Park)

10 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

1942: During the year of 1942, the Recreation Department accepted the

responsibility of coordinating all available resources of the community to promote

a recreation program for service men visiting in Austin. All service men have free

swims at Deep Eddy and Barton Springs and to play golf without a charge at thee

Municipal Golf Course. A War Recreation Council is created and Mr. A. T. Knies

is appointed chairman.”

(1942 Annual Report).

1942: “The Barton

Springs Riding Stable,

located in Zilker Park and

leased to an operator on a

percentage basis, made it

possible for citizens of Austin

to have a convenient place to

board their own horses or

rent horses for riding.” (1942

Annual Report).

1942: “Two new pools

were opened, one at the

East Avenue Playground

and the other at Ramsey

Playground. Both pools are of the re-circulating type with a complete change of

water every ten hours.” (1942 Annual Report).

1942: “During the past

year, the Austin

Symphony Orchestra

presented four concerts

featuring noted guest artists:

namely, Eugen List, pianist;

Helen Jepson, Metropolitan

soprano; Anatol Kaminsky,

violinist; and Moissaye

Bouglawski, pianist.” (1942

Annual Report). (1942

Annual Report).

January 1, 1942: “The

Elisabet Ney Museum,

which had been deeded to

the City of Austin in

September of the previous

year, was placed under the administration of the Recreation Department.” (1942

Annual Report).

January 1942: “The O. Henry Memorial was also placed under the supervision

of the Recreation Department in January 1942. (1942 Annual Report).

March 21, 1942: “The 106

. Sep. Coast Artillery, which consisted of 600 men

from Camp Hulen, bivouacked two nights in Zilker Park.”

May 1942: “During the month of May, the playgrounds were visited by more

adults than usual, which is attributed largely to the tire rationing program being

enforced by the government.”

June 1942: “The Latin-American Center, which is under the auspices of the

Federated Latin American Clubs and directed by the Austin Recreation Department

opens. A special appropriation was made the later part of May by the City Council

to employ a part-time director for the center.”

August 1942: “The month of August saw a slight decrease in attendance at the

Latin-American Center, which was attributed to the many persons going to the

cotton patch.”

September 1942: “The Mexican September 16

. Celebration was again held at

Zaragosa. A special program was planned for each night, with the principle

address being given on September 16

. by Mayor Tom Miller.”

December 1942: “Individual Mothers’ Clubs of the different playgrounds have

been doing war work for the past month, with many of the clubs doing sewing for

the American Red Cross.”

1943: “The Service Men’s Headquarters which is operated in the Driskill Hotel

with city funds and under direction of the Recreation Department has a record of

which any city could be proud.” (1943 Annual Report).

1943: “The Recreation Department was the recipient of two gifts in 1943. The

Sunshine Camp, built in 1934 by the Travis County Tuberculosis Association and

operated for nine years by the Y.M.B.L. as a summer camp for underprivileged

children, was deed to the City as a recreational facility. As an added attraction to

Zilker Springs, an Aviary given to the department by a well-known citizen, Mrs.

Goodall Wooten, was placed near the pool area in May.” (1943 Annual Report).

1943: “Dr. E. H. Givens, serves as Chairman of the Negro War Recreation

Council.” (1943 Annual Report).

January 1943: Monthly Report prepared by Alvin R. Eggeling, Acting

Superintendent of Recreation and submitted to Walter Seaholm, Acting

City Manager.

Elisabet Ney Museum,

Barton Springs Riding Stable

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 11

January 1943: “During the past months, the playgrounds have had no direct

leadership but were constantly in use as a place for free play activities. It was

noticed that many parents took their smaller children in the grounds and observed

their play activities. This was probably due, in part, to the program of tire and

gasoline conservation.”

February 3, 1943: “A group of Austin singers, interested in organizing a mixed

choral group, met at the symphony hall. The function of this newly organized

choral group will be to stimulate interest in fine choral music, to give Austin

singers an opportunity to sing together and to provided opportunities of stage

presentation of choral concerts to Austin audiences.”

April 15, 1943: “The Austin Junior Symphony Orchestra is organized.”

June 1943: “The attendance at the nine playground pools showed a slight

decline over the month of June. This decrease is attributed largely to the polio

scare.”

June 1943: “Negro Playgrounds at Anderson High and Blackshear

Elementary School are opened to supplement the programs at Rosewood. The

Blackshear program was instituted for the purpose of providing a recreation

program for small children who do not live within walking distance of

Rosewood.”

November 1943: “Department assigns recreation leader to conduct three hours

of recreational activities each week for the nurses at the Brackenridge Nurses

Home.”

March 1944: “The joint conference of the Texas Recreation Association, the

Southwest District of the National Recreation Association, and the Texas

Beach and Pool Association was held in Austin on March 2, 3, and 4

Speakers stressed the need for post-war

development of municipal recreation.”

April 10, 1944: “A new gymnasium-

auditorium costing approximately

$40,000 was dedicated to the

recreational use and interest of the

Negro Community in the city, with the

dedicatory address being made by Dr.

Carl Downs, President of the Samuel

Huston College. The center was

dedicated to the memory of and named

for Dorie Miller, a young Negro seaman

who distinguished himself by personal

bravery at Pearl Harbor on December 7,

1941.” (1944 Annual Report).

Rosewood Swimming Pool

Doris Miller Auditorium under construction

1945 American Legion Jr. Baseball School

May 1, 1944: “The Rosewood

Swimming Pool, which is operated for

the Colored people, was officially opened

on Monday, May 1, with a large crowd on

hand throughout the day.”

May 14, 1944: “Barton Springs, an

approximated crowd of six thousand

spectators viewed a water safety

exhibition with soldiers of Bergstrom

Field conducting the proceedings. The

exhibition was followed by two troop

transports circling Zilker Park, from

which two paratroopers parachuted out

and landed in the designated spot.”

June 1-11, 1944: “The Hard Baseball season ushered in with a baseball clinic at

House Park. Instructors were Hank Severied, former Major Leaguer; Uncle

Billy Disch and Blair Cherry, University of Texas; and Tony Burger, Austin High

School Coach.” (1944 Annual Report).

December 1944: “The

department cooperated in staging

a state-wide Governor’s

Recreation Conference. The

meetings were held in the House

of Representatives of the Capitol,

with over 150 people attending

from all parts of the state. A bill

to create a state recreation

department was prepared and will

be presented to the legislature in

January.”

1945: “After completing his

military duties, James A.

Garrison returns as director of

Public Safety and Recreation.”

1945: “The inevitable problems

of war-time asserted themselves

more vigorously than in any

previous year of the war. Shortage

of necessary recreational

equipment an turnover of

personnel were particularly difficult to recreation departments not only in Austin,

but over the entire nation.” (1945 Annual Report).

12 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

1945: “Through an increased consciousness in the minds of the Austin School

Officials and the public in general that the use of pubic school facilities should be

extended to all people in the community, the recreation department was able to

capitalize on such opinion and start programs at Baker and Fulmore Schools. (1945

Annual Report).

1945: “Red Bud Isle was

formed in the middle of the

Colorado River in 1900 when

the 7-year old McDonald Dam

collapsed in a major flood.

The large granite and

limestone boulders from the

dam were buried in flood

debris and later revegetated.

The land was deeded to the

City by the State of Texas in

1945”. (2000-2001 Annual

Report).

February 1945: “The Victory Hostess

Corps, sponsored by the Austin Negro

War Recreation Council is merged with

the U.S.O. Hostess Group and located

at Rosewood Park.”

March 20, 1945: “The Austin

Symphony Orchestra played before

the largest audience of its history,

when, on March 20, it was presented,

with Marian Anderson as guest

soloist, by the University Cultural

Committee in Gregory Gymnasium. A

crowd of approximately 6,000 heard

the orchestra as it accompanied the

famous guest contralto and also

played a regular concert.”

May 1945: “The annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration was staged at Zaragosa by

the Austin Mexican Patriotic Committee with crowds approximating 3,500 attending

the celebration. Principal speakers for the occasion were Mayor Tom Miller and

Dr. Albert Garcia.”

June 1945: “Another “first” in the department is the Boys’ Camping program

which began the second week in June. This program is open to boys 12-16 years

of age. The location of the camp is directly across the lake from the boat docks

above the Tom Miller Dam.”

1946: “Land was purchased in two sections of the city for future development

into neighborhood playgrounds, namely, Govalle and Westenfield. (1946

Annual Report)”.

March 1946: “Services formerly provided by the War Recreation Council are

transferred to the USO and the gradual closing of the Service Men’s Center

begins.”

April 1946: “The Austin Boxing Club opens at City Market. “an average of

fifty boys of Mexican decent gather at the market daily to be instructed by Tom

Attra.”

April 8, 1946: “The Senior and Junior Softball season opens, games are

played at Pease Park. The Negro division teams play at Rosewood Park.”

April 1946: “Hollywood Water Follies held at Deep Eddy pool under the

auspices of the American Legion.”

April 26, 1946: “Latin American Center has formal opening of building

located at 3

and Comal. The

renovated building has flood

lights for night activities. An

award of $25 was presented to

winner of the contest to name

the center. The winning

name, chosen by the

executive committee of the

community, was Pan-

American Recreation

Center.”

July 1946: “Baseball

League play starts, games

are played at House Park.”

September 1946: “The Department cooperates with the Austin Trades Council

in a Labor Day Celebration at Zilker Springs.”

October 3, 1946: “Fulmore School Recreation Center opens, followed on

October 7

. with the opening of the Baker School Recreation Center.

Department coordinates with the school district to provide activities at these

part-time centers.”

November 1946: “Department plans long range community recreation in East

Austin, around activities at Metz School and Perry Club. The Perry Club

building became available for use by the department on October 28

. ”

USO dance at Rosewood Park

Mr. Guerrero at Pan American Recreation Center

Red Bud Isle

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 13

1947: The Perry Club, located in the Metz community, is jointly operated by the

Recreation Department and the Perry Club Board, a Red Feather Agency. The

activity program conducted at this community center enhances the Summer

program conducted on the playground.

”March 1947: “Rosewood Community Center building, which has been

operated by the USO for service to military personnel was returned to the City.

Formal opening of center held March 30

.”

March 23, 1947: “Official dedication of the Zilker Springs Bathhouse is held.

Mayor Tom Miller made the dedication address.”

April 13, 1947: “The Exchange club and the department combine forces to

conduct the nineteenth Annual Kite Tournament held in Zilker Park.”

May 1947: “The Mexican Patriotic Committee organizes and conducts the annual

Cinco de Mayo Celebration.”

May 1947: “Full time operation starts at the Pan Am Recreation Center .”

May 1947: “Part-time operation continues at Chalmers Court and starts at

Santa Rita Courts.”

June 1947: “Church softball leagues organized.”

July 1947: “Annual 4

. of July celebration in collaboration with the American

Legion held at Zilker Springs. The two day celebration included a Beauty

Contest, a sing-song, variety show, square dance teams, bicycle races and a small

fry parade in front of the bathhouse.”

November 1947: “Beverly S. Sheffield, named Director of the

Department.”

December 22, 1947: “The

annual Christmas

Pageant is held in Gregory

Gym in collaboration with the

Chamber of Commerce and

the Austin Public Schools. The

theme of the program was

based upon the story of the

Nativity with a cast of 25, a

children’s choir of 700, and a

string ensemble .”

June 1948: “First year for Westenfield Park area playground.”

October 1948: “The Caswell Tennis Center was completed October 1948. It was

one of the major construction jobs of the year. The project was jointly developed

by Mr. W.T. Caswell and the City of Austin. The facilities at the center include a

battery of six tennis concrete courts and a club house with a small grandstand on

the side of the building.” (1948 Annual Report).

March 1949: “Part-time

programming at Zavala

Community Center is split

with daytime activities taking

place at Santa Rita Federal

Housing Center and evening

activities at the Zavala School

gym.”

March 9, 1949: “Dedication

of the new City Coliseum.

The first event held in the

Coliseum was the Travis County

Junior Live Stock Exhibition.”

March 1949: “Austin Symphony Orchestra completes its 11

. season with

guest artist Marian Anderson.”

April 1949: “Gang activity at Metz Community Center requires Department to

station a policeman at the park.”

April 1949: “Due to an unusual siege of rain and flood water, the Zilker

Springs Pool was closed thirteen days during the month of April.”

April 10, 1949: “The dedicatory services of Downs field is held. The new

lighted baseball field for Negroes, located at the end of East 12

and Springdale

Road, has an area of 572’ x 480’, is enclosed and has a permanent seating

capacity of 600. The field is named for the late President of Samuel Huston

College.”

July 1949: “The Austin Men’s Chorus requests the sponsorship of the

Recreation Department. The chorus is directed by Conrad Fath.”

July 1949: “Austin Country Club officially turns over operation of their Golf

Course to the City of Austin, it is called the North Side Municipal Golf

Course.”

Beverly S. Sheffield

Caswell Tennis Center

14 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

September 2-5, 1949: “The first championship golf tournament at Northside

Municipal Course is held.”

October 1949: East Side Activities: (the report reads in part) “Also, a year ago,

friction and racial prejudice still existed at Chalmers and Metz. In October, there

were no signs whatever at Chalmers and Metz and no interference from the public

because both Latin-American and Anglo groups participated in community night

and girls’ program. The

only prejudice at Metz was

indicated when the Metz

boys still refused to pay

football versus Latin-

American teams, and ten

girls withdrew from the

girls’ program because of

racial prejudice.”

January 1950: “City

purchases the Old Austin

Country Club and opens

the Hancock Park Golf

Course.”

February 24, 1950: “Hancock Recreation Center opens for participation.

An open house was staged at the center by civic organizations in North Austin and

the department with over a thousand people in attendance. The center was

named in honor of Mr. Lewis

Hancock, who was formerly Mayor of

the City of Austin and founder of the

Austin Country Club.”

June 1950: Walter Seaholm now

listed as City Manager in Monthly

Reports.

September 11, 1950:

“Dedication of new Butler

softball stadium, built jointly by

the Junior Chamber of Commerce

and the Recreation Department bond

funds. The grandstands have a

seating capacity of approximately

3,500 and cost in the neighborhood

of $20,000. During dedication week, the ASA World Softball Tournament was

played on Butler #1 and #2 and had 25,000 spectators. The Clearwater Bombers

from Florida won the World Championship.”

October 18, 1950: “Hancock Recreation Center begins programming a

Senior Program for adults fifty years of age or more. Every Wednesday night is

set aside for this group.”

June 1951: “The City Council appointed advisory Parks and Recreation Board

which met this month, was a reactivation of a board which had been recognized

by City Ordinance but had not been appointed since 1940.” (1951 Annual Report)

June 26, 1951: “First city-wide inter-playground swimming meet is held at

Ramsey Pool with 150 participating. Westenfield won the meet with Ramsey

second, Stacy third, and East Avenue fourth.”

July 1951: “Servicemen’s Recreation - The Department will prepare an

information sheet of recreational events and commercial entertainment for

servicemen at Bergstrom Air Force Base, San Marcos Air force Base and Fort

Hood.”

August 31, 1951: “Dedication of the new shelter house at Ramsey

Playground. The unit was one of four new shelter houses being constructed at

Westenfield, Gillis, Govalle and Ramsey at a cost of $4,333.00 each. The

dedication program was attended by the Mayor W.S. Drake, members of the city

council, members of the Parks and Recreation Board and members of the Ramsey

family.”

September 3, 1951: “North Austin Civic Club meets at Hancock Recreation

Center, in an attempt to get some action from the City Council for the dedication

of the land at Hancock as a public park and playground. Principal speaker was

Councilwoman Emma Long.”

October 3, 1951: “Citizenship Classes get under way at Pan Am Recreation

Center, classes sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee to teach

English as a second language and to prepare students for citizenship test.”

November 1951: “Newly organized Austin Women’s Chorus sets meeting

date at Hancock Recreation Center.”

1952: Acquisition of new park land: Hancock Park, 50 acres lying to the West

of Red River Street; Patterson Park, 10.33 acres of approximately a 21 acre tract

to the West of Airport Boulevard and south of Wilshire Boulevard; Brentwood

Playground, about 6.5 acres adjacent to Brentwood School area.” (1952 Annual

Report).

1952: Several tracts of land acquired by the City in 1952 by purchase: Pan

American Recreation Center, about ½ acre West of this center was purchased;

5.5 acres were bought next to a site for a future elementary school located on

Manchaca Road and Allred Lane; and new land for a golf course was placed

under contract to buy. This 100 acre tract lie to the northeast of the airport, and

Hancock Recreation Center

Butler softball stadium

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 15

the plan calls for the use of some of the airport land for golf purposes.” (1952

Annual Report).

February 1952: “A special part-time leader is hired at Rosewood Park to

coordinate USO Programs for Servicemen’s Recreation.”

May 1952: “Brentwood Playground dedicated by the City Council as a Park

and Playground.”

May 1952: “The Austin School District turns over ownership of the Pan Am

Recreation Center building to the department as a gift “lock-stock-and-barrel”.

May 14, 1952: “A fire completely destroys the bathhouse at the Lake Austin

Metropolitan Park. The bathhouse, a wooden structure, was completed in

1941 by the Civilian Conservation Crops.”

June 24, 1952: “Sandcraft exhibit held, judges for the contest included Mr.

Reece Brandt, Mrs. Fagan Dickson, and

Mr. Ben White. First place won by

Metz, “Elf on a Toadstool House”.

September 1952: “The department

is now co-sponsoring programs with

the Travis Audubon Society.”

1953: With the adoption of a new

city charter in 1953, a change was

made in the city’s fiscal year which

changed it from January to December

to October through September.” (1953

Annual Report).

1953: “Through the generosity of Mrs. Fagan Dickson, member of the Austin

Parks and Recreation Board, the city acquired 6 Casis School area acres for park

and playground purposes. The park is located in the Taylor Slough area at the

north end of dead end Pecos Street, which includes the West Austin landmark

known as the “Old Lime Kiln”. (1953 Annual Report).

January 1953: “Workers hold poll tax selling contest, resulting in the sale of

758 and the winning of a television set for Pan-Am as first prize.”

February 2, 1953: “A USO Certificate of Merit was received by the Director

in behalf of the department for the work at Rosewood.”

April 10, 1953: “The 31

Annual Conference

of the Southwest District of the National

Recreation Association and the annual meeting

of the Texas Beach and Pool Association was

held in Austin, April 9, 10, and 11, 1953, at the

Driskill Hotel. In connection with the conference

was the banquet held April 10, 1953,

celebrating the 25

Anniversary of the

Austin Recreation Department.”

April 27, 1953: “Thirteen playgrounds were

opened for the Spring program. Each has a man

leader on the grounds from 5 to 9 p.m. The

playgrounds which were opened are Bailey,

East Avenue, East Woods, Gillis, Govalle,

Met, Palm, Ramsey, Shipe, Stacy, West

Austin, Westenfield and Zaragosa.”

May 1953: “The annual spring programs of

the Austin Athletic Club and Hancock

Recreation Center were given this year in

recognition of the 25

Anniversary of the

Austin Recreation Department and in keeping with the plan of a special event each

month of the anniversary year.”

August 1953: “The swimming load at Westenfield, Shipe, and Ramsey is

extremely heavy and the Department feels that there should be a large municipal

pool built in Northwest Austin. It is possible that this pool might be built with

Revenue Bonds.”

August 3, 1953: “Met with Dr. D. K. Brace, vice chairman of the Austin Parks

and Recreation Department and a sub committee of the Planning Commission to

discuss the Master Plan. It was pointed out that two vital pieces of property that

should be acquired had been omitted. Namely, the Rabb property over looking

Barton Springs and the land along the river front adjacent to Butler Park

East. Both of these are a must and will effect the two most natural resources.”

August 25, 1953: “Worked with Austin Rifle Club toward planning a proposed

rifle range at Lake Austin Park.”

1953: “Two additional tracts of land were acquired by the City in 1953, by

purchase, Montopolis at Estrada and Vargas Streets with 5.39 acres and

Anderson Lane with 2.40 acres. (1928 to 1953, 25

. Annual Report).”

1953: “Dr. E. H. Givens, is President of the Negro Community Recreation

Council.”

Anniversary of the Austin

Recreation Department

Sandcraft

16 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

1954: “ History - The number of pools continued to grow with Gillis,

Brentwood, Govalle and Patterson opening in 1954 alone.” (1999-2000

Annual Report).

March 1954: “We are always reporting on the programs, but the unsung heroes

behind the scenes who set up the equipment and keep it in repair, build new

things, and perform a large variety of odd jobs to keep Austin’s recreation program

functioning smoothly have not been given due credit for their work. Those duties

are carried out by the Deep Eddy Maintenance Crew which consists of a

supervisor, foreman, carpenter, carpenter’s helper, painter, and six laborers.”

April 1954:

“Fourteen white

playgrounds and

three colored

playgrounds were

opened for the Spring

season, with

supervised activities

from 5 to 9 p.m.,

Monday through

Friday. This is the

first year the colored

playgrounds have

been included in the

Spring Program.”

(1954-55 Annual

Report).

April 1954: “The recreation department is aided in its administration of Pan-Am

by the Pan-American Center Board. The board each year holds a fund raising

campaign which adds about $1,500 to Pan-Am’s budget making it possible for

them to have many things which their original budget would not allow.”

April 25, 1954: “The formal opening of Austin’s first Audubon Nature Trail

and Sanctuary is held. The one mile trail is located in Bee Creek Park and was

officially opened by Mayor C. A. McAden.”

June 1954: “Activity has increased on several of the playground areas this

summer due to the addition of important facilities. The most important of these is

the addition of four new junior pools, one each to Gillis, Patterson, Govalle,

and Brentwood Playgrounds.”

June 1954: “The Austin Recreation Department has grown in its 26 year

history from five playgrounds to 57 recreational areas including 3 large

parks, 1 reservation, 22 playgrounds (including 14 swimming pools), 4

community centers, 7 athletic fields, and 12 other parks.”

October 1954: “A plan for Reed Park has been completed and efforts will be

made to complete the park development during the winter months.” “Park land

for Reed Park donated by Mrs. Fagan Dickson”. (1960-1961 Annual Report).

February 25, 1955: “The Austin Recreation Department officially began

development of the Zilker Playground, by planting around seventy elm and

sycamore trees. Members of the recreation department staff, city council, parks

and recreation board, Zilker PTA and around 600 children witnessed the event.”

February 1955: “Construction on the expansion of Rosewood pool is

proceeding as scheduled, and it is expected that the pool will open in the middle

of May.”

February 1955: “Plans for the East Austin Community Center are

proceeding on schedule, and it is hoped that the contract will be let early in June.”

April 1955: “A sunrise pageant on Palm Sunday was held in Rosewood

Park. This pageant, “A Pilgrimage to the Cross” presented the story of Christ’s

last week on earth and His resurrection . Huston-Tillotson Choir and Anderson

High School Choir presented choral music. Local ministers portrayed the twelve

disciples.”

April 1955: “A playground adjacent to Allison School has been planned for

this summer. Playground apparatus, including slide, swings, merry-go-round,

jungle gym and see saw, has already been installed. Part time leadership will be

provided. The recreation club at Joslin School has set up committees to plan

arrangements for the Joslin playground this summer. Leadership will be provided

20 hours per week.”

May 1955: “Papers concerning O. Henry are being preserved and photostated

by Mr. Harry Jander.”

May 20, 1955: “The Recreation Department moved into their new offices

at 1624 Barton Springs Road. It is felt that this is the best office ever been

provided the department. There are around 2500 square feet of floor space in the

building.”

June 19, 1955: “The Rosewood Pool opened the first time Juneteenth, has

been remodeled to 70 by 125 feet. A wading pool 20 by 40 feet has been added.

Nine underwater lights were installed in the deep end. Total cost is around

$66,000.”

June 1955: “A proposed large garden center in Zilker Park may be a

reality within a few years. Representatives of Austin garden clubs have been

meeting with Austin Recreation Department officials to plan for this center, which

is tentatively planned to be developed between the Colorado River and Bee Caves

road in Zilker Park.”

1954-55 East Woods Playground

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 17

October 1955: The City officially took possession of the Rabb property

adjoining Barton Springs, thus gaining control of Barton Creek for nearly 4,000

feet and providing a buffer zone around the springs proper to protect them from

any development that would endanger the water supply to Barton Springs. This

tract of 29 acres was purchased at a cost of $59,000, but it was deemed

necessary to buy it to protect one of Austin’’ most prized and valuable existing

recreational facilities. The Rabb Home, 88-year old stone and frame structure

overlooking the swimming pool, that was acquired along with the acreage, was

burned to the ground by a fire of unknown origin less than a year later, on

September 8, 1956.” (1955-56 Annual Report).

February 13, 1956: A spring class for women interested in painting and

sketching was started with 17 members registered. This class will meet in the

clubroom of the Municipal Golf Course.

April 12, 1956: “The City Council passed a resolution raising fees and charges

for departmental activities and facilities. Golfers at both Hancock and Municipal

courses started paying $1.00 for 18 holes instead of the former 85 cents. Tennis

players at Caswell are now charged 50 cents an hour instead of 30 cents, if they

do not hold annual memberships. At municipal swimming pools, a 20 cent

pay bracket was set up for junior and senior high students and adult rates were

raised to 30 cents. Children 6-12 pay 5 cents and pre-school children swim free.”

(1955-56 Annual Report).

April 1956: “After a series of meetings of interested individuals and

representatives of the Recreation Department, plans were organized for Sunday

afternoon baseball games at Zaragosa Park. Members of the Century Club

assisted with ground improvements and fence barricades.”

April 15, 1956: “With the cooperation of the South Austin Exchange Club, the

Austin Recreation Department staged a Small Fry Fish Rodeo at Barton Creek.

The Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission cooperated by stocking the creek

with brim and the Federal Hatchery assisted by storing the fish until they were

dumped into the creek. A news photographer from Humble’s TV show “Texas in

Review” was on hand to film the 1,700 youngsters who lined the banks of the

creek from the dam at the swimming pool all the way down to the bridge, on both

sides of the creek.”

April 17, 1956: “The official dedication of “Old 786” was held on April 17, with

about 75 participants and 300 spectators at the public ceremony. This is a steam

locomotive that has been retired from active service by the Southern Pacific

Lines, and through the efforts of the Austin Rotary Club it was donated to the City

of Austin as a public monument. It has been placed in Brush Park, adjacent to

the Central Fire Station on Trinity Street.”

April – June, 1956: The regular spring playground season opened April 29 for

23 playgrounds including Bailey, Brentwood, Comal Center, East Avenue,

East Woods, Gillis, Govalle, Joslin, Metz, Palm, Ramsey, Shipe, Stacy,

West Austin, Westenfield, Zaragosa, Zilker, and Patterson, as well as

Blackshear, Brackenridge, Campbell, Clarksville, and Lott in the Rosewood

District. The summer schedule went into effect June 10, with an additional eight

areas opening to make a total of 31 playgrounds and play centers. These areas

were Civitan, Meadowbrook, Pease, Ridgetop, Reilly, Wooten, Perry, and

Sims in the Rosewood District.

June 1956: “Sing Songs are held at Zilker Hillside Theatre led by Dr. Don E.

Grieder.”

June 1956: “The Civitan Club has undertaken the active sponsorship of the

neighborhood playground formerly known as Allison playground, located in the

Montopolis Area; and the City Council recognizing the importance and the help

of this organization agreed that this area would be called “Civitan

Playground”.”

1956: Reed Pool opens, this pool is 40’ x 60’ and ranges in depth from 2’10” to

4’10”. The addition of this pool

gives West Austin two

neighborhood pools for Learn to

Swim Classes.” (1955-56 Annual

Report).

July 28-29, 1956: “Austin

newest municipal swimming pool

in Northwest Park was initiated

the week-end of July 28-29 with

the South Texas Amateur Athletic

Union Swimming and Diving

Championships.”

“Built at a cost of $192,000.00,

this pool was designed to meet

requirements for olympic swimming and diving competition.” (1955-56 Annual

Report).

September 7, 1956: “Pan-American Recreation Center was spotlighted this

month, as Austin citizens were invited to take part in the formal opening and

dedication of this newest addition to the city’s recreation facilities.” “The building

adjoins Zavala School and was built at a cost of $155,261 with an additional

$35,000 to be spent on equipment, outdoor lighting, and site development.”

(1955-56 Annual Report).

Northwest Park Swimming Pool

18 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

April 1957: “Barton Springs closed due to flooding from Barton Creek and

backwater from the Colorado River.”

May 1957: “This department had a part in one of the most outstanding sporting

events ever produced in Austin when it joined with the Austin Civitan Club in

sponsoring the Waterama. This outdoor water and sports show as staged at Lake

Austin City Park on May 10, 11, and 12 and attracted about 25,000 individuals

to the park during this three day festivity. The show featured nationally known

skiers and boat racers, as well as other sports attractions and exhibits.”

July 1957: “Zilker Hillside Theater, the vine-covered backdrop for the

outdoor theater was replaced this month by a plywood shell, painted in a soft blue

multi-color paint, that will serve as a permanent improvement in looks and

acoustics for this setting.”

September 1957: “Caswell remodeling completed, 6 existing and 2 new

hardsurfaced courts (hard LayKold covering and light poles).

September 1957: “Zilker Hillside Theater was “washed out” for the season

when the rains came Labor Day night and sent participants and spectators

scurrying for shelter in the midst of the talent show final contest. The

postponed contest was rescheduled on Uncle Jay’s TV program. Viewers voted for

their choice in each division by mailing in postal cards.”

November 1957: “A new Judo Center was opened November 18, when the

abandoned fire station on Guadalupe street was adapted for judo activities.”

December 1957: “City Council and Parks Board met at the recently enlarged

Caswell Tennis Center, special guest was Will T. Caswell.”

April 12 – 13, 1958: “Benefit (flower show at City Coliseum) held for building

fund of the Austin Area Garden Center. Governor Price Daniel and Mayor

Tom Miller will open the garden gate on Austin’s first major Flower Show in the

City Coliseum.”

June 1958: “The department made an all-out effort to center activities this past

month of June around the observance of National Recreation Month,

emphasizing the theme “It’s Your Leisure – Make the Most of It”. Two awards

for outstanding service in community recreation highlighted the month.

The Austin Lions Club was cited as a group for their persistent efforts in the

1920s that resulted in the founding of the recreation department in 1928, and for

their continued interest in and work towards more and better municipal facilities

and programs, with special emphasis placed on their gift of the Lions Club Golf

Course to the city in 1937. W. T. Caswell was recognized as the outstanding

layman in the field of community recreation for this first public award. To him

goes credit for Austin’s first community recreation center, the Austin Athletic Club,

which he had built (in 1923) as a private club and (in 1931) made available to the

city at a nominal cost. He had a big share in building Caswell Tennis Courts, which

were named in his honor, and he has given unlimited hours of his time in

volunteer work on the Parks and Recreation

Board ever since its formation. Another

prominent Austin family was honored this

month with the dedication of the new

playground in Northeast Austin and its formal

christening as Bartholomew Playground.

This honors the families of Eugene C.

Bartholomew, president of the Austin

National Bank, who was a member of the

Austin City Council from October 3, 1940 to

May 2, 1949, his father, the late C.M.

Bartholomew who was councilman from May

1, 1933 until his death September 25, 1940,

and Eugene’s grandfather, the late E. C.

Bartholomew who as councilman from April 19, 1909 to April 30, 1919.”

June 25, 1958: “Highlight at Pan-American Recreation Center was the

opening of the Hillside Theater.”

July 1958: “It has been through the generosity of the Austin Jaycees that

citizens of Austin have enjoyed the 4

of July fireworks displays at both Zilker

Park and Rosewood Park for the past several years. The Jaycees not only buy

the fireworks, which this year cost them approximately $400.00 but they also

furnish the manpower to put on the show.”

October 1958: “Beginning October 1, the Coliseum began its operation as a

part of the newly created department of Auditorium-Coliseum, and the

attendance for this building and its activities are therefore no longer included in

the above statistics.”

January 1959: “The city built an indoor small-arms range in the Coliseum

Annex, and it furnishes a paid rifle specialist to work with the administrative

details, but the actual instruction and supervision of boys and girls learning safe

care and handling of firearms is dependent upon the volunteer work of a dozen or

so men from the Rifle Club.”

February 1959: “As Pan-Am is the only Center with a boxing ring and

workout room these facilities attract Anglos, Latins, and Negroes. This is a

particularly popular spot preceding the Golden Gloves tournament.”

March 1959: (reference to the purchase in 1931 of the Austin Athletic Club) “At

the time of its acquisition the population of the City was about 54,000 and the

Athletic Club was in a central location to serve the whole city. The City has since

expanded to a present day population of 197,000. What used to be an ideal

Pan Am Hillside Theater

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 19

“central” location now finds the Club wedged between commercial establishments

and Austin’s largest high school, and the resulting traffic problems usually find

patrons of the Club coming out on the little end.”

June 1959: “Two awards from the National Recreation Association spotlighted

Mayor Tom Miller and the Austin Jaycees. Mayor Miller was honored in

appreciation for his outstanding contribution to the recreation movement in

America. His leadership in the acquisition of the following recreational facilities

was cited: Zilker Park; Butler Tract which now hosts City Coliseum, softball

and hardball diamonds, Municipal Auditorium, and the new recreation

department offices, Lake Austin Park, Hancock Golf Course, and

Community Center, Deep Eddy and Eilers Park, New East District Park,

Doris Miller Auditorium at Rosewood Park, Municipal Golf course,

Caswell Tennis Center, Northwest Park, and numerous neighborhood

playgrounds and their development. The Jaycees received the same award of

recognition for the following physical facilities they have helped develop by

financial support or by publicly backing: Jaycee softball field, Jaycee stadium

at Butler Park, Disch Field, Skyline Terrace at Zilker Clubhouse, special

construction of the City Coliseum so part of the building can be used for events

other than livestock, and the support of the city administration in the construction

of the Municipal Auditorium.”

June 22, 1959: “New playground opens at St. Elmo School.”

July 3, 1959: “The new East District Pool was opened on July 3.”

July 30, 1959: “A special testimonial celebration was held at Pan-American

Recreation Center for Mrs. Adelfa Guerrero, mother of Supervisor Roy

Guerrero, on Thursday, July 30. She was honored for her work at Pan-American

Center, at the church, and with the Golden Agers.”

July 1959: “On the last payroll there were 277 persons listed under the

Recreation Department. This includes 74 full time employees, 30 of which are

staff members, the remaining 44 are maintenance men, caretakers, janitors,

clerks, skilled laborers, etc., working at various places.”

August 3, 1959: “The first day of operation in the new office building for the

Recreation Department was Monday, August 3. Every inch of the 3,868 square

feet of the office is being enjoyed and used by the staff to increase the efficiency

of the Department’s operation. The department has been “at home” in six varied

environments prior to the recent move into this “home for keeps”. In the late

1920s, when the Department was first established, it was lodged in the City Hall.

From there, it finally migrated to 1500 W. Riverside Drive via the Library, the

Municipal Building, the Dahlich Building, the Library again, and 1624 Barton

Springs Road.”

September 1, 1959: “Musical

comedy, “Seventeen” opens at the

Zilker Hillside Theater.”

June 1960: “Pan-Am Athletics.

Adult softball interest, which started

at a high level, has increased steadily.

Six teams are playing the second

half. An all-star team from this

league participated in Pan-Am’s

Invitational Softball Tournament and

finished second behind the Pan-Am

Aces, Eight teams from Corpus

Christi, San Antonio, and Houston

finished behind the two Pan-Am

teams.”

June 17, 1960: “A formal dedication ceremony for the east district park and

swimming pool which the Austin City Council officially named “Oak Springs

Park” was held on Friday, June 17, with approximately 2,300 people in

attendance.”

August 1960: “The concessions building at Barton Springs was completed and

put in operation.”

August 1960: “The department enjoyed a very good working agreement with

the Austin Public Schools this summer in use of school facilities for summer

recreation programs. There were 7 schools in use where the city and schools have

joint ownership of land and 8 additional areas operating on school property.”

September 1960: “For many years now the Austin Public Schools and the

Austin Recreation Department have been cooperating in presenting the annual

Community Christmas Program and this year they will have a new associate

as the Austin Ballet Society accepted an invitation this month to participate in

the program. These three cooperating agencies are planning a special treat for

this year’s audience – members of the ballet ensemble will present excerpts from

“The Nutcracker Suite”.

October 1960: “The Junior Nature Center opened at Deep Eddy with three

part-time leaders. Over three hundred students were recommended for

participation in these special classes by the principals of 18 elementary schools.”

October 1960: “The Senior Citizens program has gone forward during the

month with our close cooperation with the Adult Services Council. Early in the

month definite action was taken to reactivate the Rosewood Senior Citizens

Drop-In Center in this eastside housing project.”

Zilker Hillside Theater

20 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

November 1960: “Contracts for a new pool and bathhouse at

Bartholomew Park, in Northeast Austin, were let during November, and

construction is scheduled to be completed and the pool ready for use around June

l. Contracts for the pool and bathhouse, totaled $189,000. The 11,970 square

foot pool will meet NCAA standards, with an eight-lane 50-yard course suitable for

competitive swimming.”

December 2, 1960: “Lester Palmer, Mayor Pro-Tem, officially accepted a

generous $10,000 contribution from Fred Adams, Sr., on behalf of the Adams

Foundation for improvements to Adams Park, just off West 30

. and University.”

January 9, 1961: “On December 1, 1960, the City Council, and on January 9,

1961, the Austin School Board respectively passed a joint agreement which will

allow the city to operate playgrounds at elementary schools during summer

months. Basically, the agreement means the city will share the cost of land and

site work on a 25%/75% division with the school authority.”

February 1961: “Flood Alert” is heard up and down Barton Creek from Wiley

Johnson’s Trading Post to Buster Robinson’s little ol’ park known around here

as Zilker. Because of the Trading Post people and all the other good folks above

Barton Springs, Robinson can get his crews busy saving, pool equipment while big

rises are still little ones, way up where the Little Barton fork joins big Barton just

above the bridge on Fredericksburg highway about two miles east of the Trading

Post. “Gulley-washer coming” has saved the city many thousands of dollars by

Robinsons’s friends up-creek.”

February 1961: “From a successful “trial run” by the Recreation Department

(under supervision of Mrs. Dorothy Nan Ponton), Austin Nature Center is

now a permanent part of the Austin scene as a hobby study group in the natural

sciences.”

March 1961: “Austin

Nature Center gained state-

wide attention through an

article appearing in the March

issue of Texas Game and

Fish Magazine.”

April 22, 1961: “A

memorable event on the April

Calendar was the first “whoo

whooooooee” whistle of the

Zilker Eagle on April 22.

5,350 men, women, and

children whizzed around thee

track during its first week of

operation.”

May 1961: “The Junior League of Austin received the National Recreation

Association’s award for the greatest contribution by a group. For probably the

first time in the history of these awards in this area, a citation was given for the

merit of cultural contribution in the field of music, art, and drama. The other

recipient was Phil Sanders who as an individual was cited for his unique efforts

in extending recreation facilities into areas most needed, and bringing together

residents in a mixed population area for enjoyable leisure time games. Phil did

much to lessen tensions in an area where others had striven for years toward the

same goal.”

July 1961: “Northwest Pool

fulfilled one of its civic purposes

July 21-22 when the Texas AAU

Open Swim Meet was hosted by

the Austin Aquatic Club.”

July 1961: “The Nature

Center’s (soon to be called the

Natural Science Center)

sessions ended the last week in

July. Students spent many

enjoyable hours on field trips to a

cave, to Pilot’s Nob (an extinct

volcano just a few miles south of

town), to a prehistoric camp site,

to Walnut Creek, and to the Bee

Creek Nature Trail.”

August 1961: (report reads in part) “highlighting the memorable August events

such as the 90

birthday party for the American Statesman at Zilker

Hillside.”

September 18, 1961: “The Parks and Recreation Board inspects and approves a

Hike and Bike Trail along Shoal Creek built with funds contributed by Mr. And

Mrs. Russell Fish. Originating at Pease Park, the trial follows the creek to the

sharp bend just beyond 24

. Street Bridge, with plans for extension of the trail to

along the most rugged banks of Shoal Creek.”

September 1961: “Donations provide for purchase of Elisabet Ney portrait.

When Mrs. Rutland saw the Ney portrait by Adrian Lamb at the public library some

time ago, she evidently made up her mind - and Mr. Lamb’s – that the Elisabet

Ney Museum should have that portrait. A price tag of $3,700 was a bit

prohibitive, but much persuasive talk and letter writing (with Mrs. Lamb’s chiming

in for benefit of her native state) finally brought down Lamb’s price to $1,500 with

payments spread over several years.”

Zilker Eagle

Swim Meet

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 21

September 1961: “Mrs. Mary Lee Ingram, assistant supervisor and crafts

instructor at Austin Athletic Club during the school year, is “Supply Sergeant” to

summer recreation leaders. As the indomitable little lady puts it: “Nothing is

thrown away unless it falls apart”. Many a tax dollar is saved by Mrs. Ingram.”

September 1961: “The department’s long memory of Carla is of the refugee

centers at Municipal Auditorium and Coliseum. All supervisors reported early

Monday to organize recreation for the cost evacuees. Howard Norris was

alerted to have Rosewood and Doris Miller Auditorium ready, and he and his

staff stood by during the four-day duration but did not have to open either

building.”

November 1961: “George Hannon takes over Tom Penick’s pro duties at

Municipal Golf Course. Hannon, who started in golf under Penick’s tutelage in

1942, while a pharmacy student at UT, comes from Dallas Athletic Club where he

was assistant to veteran Graham Ross. Pennick retired after 34 years at

Municipal, 10 as manager of the Lions course and 24 more after Lions Club

turned the course over to the City.”

December 1961: “Community Christmas Program Perfect - Matched by the

beauty of children’s voices at Municipal Auditorium was the Rosewood program

at Doris Miller Auditorium. Particularly delightful was the song, “Children, Go”.

Mrs. Catherine Lamkin, assistant director of Rosewood, and Mrs. Betty

Kennon, the department’s drama supervisor, acted as program coordinators.

December 1961: “Muny Pro Shop gets complete “Face Lifting”. From a new

west entrance, the entire lobby will have a new look for golfers entering Municipal

in 1962.

January 1962: “Hardest hit by

the record lows (for Central Texas)

was Hancock which had to call off

all three of its Tiny Tot

performances slated at Austin

Athletic Club. The Monday night

temperature of 14 degrees with

sleet was too cold for the wee

folk.”

January 1962: “Pan American

Fight Night, drawing 28 boxers

and 400 spectators, was a preview

of the Golden Gloves tournament

at Waco. Pan Am’s contingent of

fighters, trained by popular

Oswaldo Cantu, showed up well.”

February 1962: “New golf course

plans completed, golf architect Leon

Howard of Corpus Christi put the

finishing touches on drawing board

plans for the new course near

Municipal Airport and they do look

good.

March 1962: “New to the staff -

Warren G. Leddick, assistant director

in charge of programs, arrived March 25

from Greenbelt, Maryland.”

March 1962: “The Pan Am Golf

Association is meeting regularly at Pan

American Center to plan special events for the Labor Day tournament (Pan

American State) here in Austin.”

April 1962: “Beginning April 1, a car charge of 50 cents per vehicle was made at

Lake Austin park each Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. until dark.”

May 1962: “For maintenance crews, big events were installation of lights and

water system at Little Downs Field and construction of a pond at Northwest

Park (a beautification project not yet completed).”

June 1962: “Deep Eddy, where well water keeps the water almost as cool as

that of Barton Springs, is still one of our most beautiful picnic areas and closest to

downtown Austin, but does not enjoy the popularity it once knew.”

June 1962: “A new Little League field, named for George Mabson,

Rosewood’s long time supervisor, was dedicated in June, the new diamond is

adjacent to Downs Field on East 12

.”

July 5, 1962: “National Recreation Awards for 1962 go to Century Club

and Frank Quinn. Frank Quinn, is an individual whose name means much to

both municipal and state parks. The Century Club’s noteworthy contributions to

Pan American district’s youth are unique and numerous.”

August 1962: “The department took part in Austin’s first Aqua Festival

Days, the Land Parade, Tiny Tot Coronation and Small Fry Fish Derby, with

cooperation given by staff members and specialized groups of the department

throughout the festival.”

September 1962: “Two major decisions affecting the department were made by

the City Council during September, namely, the “go ahead” for construction of

a golf course to be located on airport property south of Manor Road (across from

the airport) and approval of a garden center building in Zilker Park. The

center will be located in a proposed municipal garden area.”

Morris Williams Golf Course

Tiny Tot program

22 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

September 1962: “Major planning included, conversion of a portion of the

Deep Eddy Bathhouse into a year-round facility for the Natural Science

Center and the covering of Ramsey swimming pool to create the city’s first

year-round pool operation.”

October 1962: “Eight employees have been with the department 20 years

or more. October marks the 20

. year for Mrs. Catherine Lamkin with the

Austin Recreation Department. Mrs. Lamkin started work at Rosewood park

with George Mabson and has helped the center grow into a real community

service for all ages. In addition to Mrs. Lamkin, seven others have watched our

growing pains for twenty years or more. Leading in longevity records is Mrs.

Josephine Bailey, Administrative Secretary, who observed her 30

. year with

the department in April. Next is the boss himself, and assistant boss-man.

Beverly Sheffield and Joe Prowse both started in 1934. Others in the 20

years or more category are Roy D. Kizer, Municipal Golf Course foreman and

Manuel Hernandez, Muny groundskeeper, both of whom started in 1937.

Felix George, Hancock Pro, started in 1938, and Mrs. Willie Rutland became

curator of Elisabet Ney Museum in 1941. Cecilio Valasquez, Deep Eddy

gardener, just missed this listing, starting work in 1943.”

October 1962: “Golf course number 3 is taking shape – Bulldozers chew

away at old pastures to build fairways, greens, and a pond for the long-waited 18

hole course. Agronomist Leon Howard, course architect, says the soil has

supported a very heavy stand of bermuda and will provide excellent top soil

material for the new course on Manor Road.”

October 1962: “Laguna Gloria gets city support – an agreement signed

between the City of Austin and Laguna Gloria Art Museum, provides the

museum with $12,000 for 1962-63. Terms of the agreement make Laguna Gloria

grounds available to the public at all times and the museum at stipulated hours

each day, without charge.”

October 1962: “Senior Citizens tallied 924 in October at 7 church centers and

Chalmers Court. Mrs. Charlie Matlock, SC coordinator, put in double time to

help get special fall activities underway at all centers.”

November 1962: “City Council‘s approval of plans affecting Austin’s recreation

include: Construction of a garden center in Zilker Park, a long-dreamed-of

project of the Austin Area Garden Center which raised money for the building and

landscaping the annual Flower Show in Municipal Auditorium. Expenditure:

$80,000 - $50,000 AAGC funds and $30,000 from the City. Revision and

expansion of Deep Eddy Bathhouse to provide year-round facility for Natural

Science Center. Expenditure: $24,000 ($4,000 of which is allocated by the

Natural Science Association). The Council also approved of the name change of

east Austin’s 45-acre park from Oak Springs to Everett H. Givens Park. The

name was bestowed on the beautiful park very quickly after the dentist’s death as

a memoriam to our town’s greatest champion of recreation improvements for

Negro families.

December 1962: “The first community-wide salute for all graduates of

citizenship classes at Pan-American center was a truly outstanding event. Lalo

Campos emceed the program presenting Senator Homer Thornberry and

speaker John C. Phillips, judge of the Court of Civil Appeals. Judge Phillips

spoke entirely in Spanish which obviously please the 94 new citizens, most of

whom were elderly.”

December 1962: “The 39

annual Community Christmas Program at

Municipal Auditorium, December 10 and the 21

annual Community Christmas

Program at Doris Miller Auditorium, December 14, presented choirs of 1400

children at Municipal and 500 children at Doris Miller.”

December 1962: “Road Runners held an open four-mile race in Zilker Park,

December 8, with 20 entered and 17 finishing. With interest increasing in running

through the southwest, additional meets are planned several times a year during

1963.”

January 1963: “Believe it or not, 35 swimmers braved the cold air to enjoy

Barton Spring’s “warm” waters, a comfortable 69 degrees during a month that

registered a minimum average of 25 degrees – an unusually chilly month for us

Central Texans.”

January 1963: “The Adrain Lamb portrait of Elisabet Ney is now the property

of the City of Austin, the final payment on the $1,500 purchase was made in

January.”

March 1963: “The Southwest District Recreation Conference drew 301 delegates

from five states with nearly 400 attending the banquet which honored the 35

Anniversary of the Austin Recreation Department.”

March 1963: “The Jokers, a Pan-Am men’s team, brought back the coveted

Sportsmanship trophy from the State Latin-American Basketball Tournament in

Houston March 16 and 17.”

April 1963: “New Golf Course water system complete…named Morris

Williams Golf Course recently by the City Council in honor of Austin American-

Statesman golf reporter Morris Williams and his golfing son (both deceased), the

course is scheduled for a grand opening on Labor Day according to architect Leon

Howard.”

May 1963: “Elisabet Ney Museum was recipient of a small bronze plaque

from Mrs. Klein McGee of Houston whose mother was subject of the art piece

made by Elisabet Ney in Galveston in 1887.”

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 23

September 1963: “September 8 marked reality for Garden Center dream, this

date ended a ten-year dream for a Violet Crown Garden Club committee which

instigated the community-wide drive for an Austin Garden Center. At 5 p.m.

Sunday, September 8, 1963, the first shovel turned the earth atop a Zilker Park

knoll and dissolved this dream into reality – to be an accomplished fact early in

1964.”

November 1963: “Caswell Tennis Center took on a new look during month

with addition of a new pro shop and concession area.”

November 1963: “At Hancock, the over 21 Club opens its special event each

month to the public for dancing to the music of the Lee Kohlenberg orchestra.

Usual club attendance is about 40, with Orchestra Night dances attended by 120

to 140.

December 1963: “A change in department name and operation to

incorporate park maintenance functions, presently handled by Public Works

Department. A gradual transfer of park personnel and work has been planned

with the City Manager and Director of Public Works. The initial step will be

transfer of three park keepers at Zilker, placing all work at this large park under

one supervisor. The proposed name change would be from Recreation

Department to “Parks and Recreation Department”, and budget and

organizational planning is going forward with counsel and approval from the Parks

and Recreation Board which initially proposed the transfer at a meeting of the City

Council.”

January 1964: “Staff Reorganization major business of January – Warren

G. Leddick, Assistant Director; Roy Guerrero, Superintendent of

Recreation; C. O. Smith, Jr., Superintendent of Parks; and Joe O. Prowse,

Jr., Assistant Superintendent of Parks. Mrs. Dorothy Nan McLean is the

only general supervisor at present, working primarily with Senior Citizens

program, Natural Science Center, Municipal Art, Ceramics, and

Performing Arts.”

January 1964: “Major planning of future events, Nature Safari is planned for

April 12, the first money-raising affair for the Natural Science Center.

January 1964: “Interested visitors to Elisabet Ney Museum included Zachary

Scott, his wife and two sisters.”

February 1964: “Rosewood’s Apostle Players are now rehearsing for the

Palm Sunday presentation of “Pilgrimage to the Cross, city policeman Louie

White again plays the part of Christ. The first play was held in 1955”

February 1964: “Manuel Navarro, is now the National Golden Gloves

Bantamweight Champion, the 16 year old Johnston High student took the tile in

his first year of eligibility. All Pan-Am celebrated with Manuel who trained in the

center’s gym under watchful eyes of A.B. Cantu and Manuel’s brother Carlos who

won several state titles but never made it to the national tournament.

April 1964: “Safari was a big success drawing Austin families and visitors to the

city. So many organizations and individuals contributed to the success of the

event that it will no doubt become an annual affair.”

April 18, 1964: “Morris Williams Golf course opened officially on the 18

. to

give the city a second 18-hole course as fine as can be found anywhere.”

June 1964: “National Recreation Association Awards were presented to Ed

Knebel (Austin’s “Mr. Baseball’) and to the Young Men’s Business League

which operates the Sunshine Camp in Zilker Park for children of low income

families. The award presentations were made by Mayor Lester Palmer.”

June 1964: “The deluge of June 15 – 16 totaling 6.41 inches was badly

needed, and although much damage resulted from the heavy rains in some areas,

the soaking rains actually got the summer off to a cool start for the department in

general.”

July 1964: “The first Summer Musical Festival – a long-time dream of

impresario Rod Kennedy was staged at Zilker Hillside Theater July 13-18 and

drew a total spectator count of 15,518.”

October 25, 1964: “Although the new Gardens Center building was completed

in mid-September, the clearing and landscaping of surrounding grounds was a

herculean task requiring the full resources of the department. The concentration

of efforts paid off, however, when October 25 dawned light and clear. The 2 p.m.

dedication was held on the entrance walk with the audience seated in the parking

areas, a most pleasant occasion it was. The host group was headed by Mrs. Cecil

Cabaniss, Austin Area Garden Center president, immediate past president

Douglas Blachly and Mrs. Alden Davis, first AAGC president and chairman of

the building committee.

November 1964: “A daily social center for retired people becomes a reality at

St. Martin’s Lutheran Church at Nueces and 15

. The Nueces Activity Center

will be jointly operated by a Board of Trustees and this department. The

agreement stipulated that the Board shall include representatives (two each) from

Adult Services Council, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, the Activity Center’s

membership and from the general citizenship of Austin. The Parks and Recreation

Department director or his appointed agent shall be an ex-officio member of the

board.”

December 1964: “Natural Science Center gains a symbol, the road runner,

created by Mary (Mrs. Robert) Feik.”

January 18, 1965: “Open House was held at the new Nueces Activity Center.

Members of the city council, officials of the City, representatives from the

24 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

Governor’s Committee on Aging, Parks and Recreation Board and many other

leading citizens were present for the official opening ceremony scheduled for 2

p.m. In the first two weeks, 116 members had signed up and it appears that this

new senior social center will be in good use throughout its first year. Director is

Mrs. Lee (Charlie) Matlock, who has served as coordinator for all our senior

social centers during the past few years. Supervisor of this program (and of the

department’s other special activities) is Dorothy Nan McLean. Other senior

groups will continue to meet at their usual sites, recreation rooms at two housing

project, six church social rooms, the County Agent’s office at 1309 East 12

. and

Hancock Recreation Center, where the only evening group meets.”

January 1965: “Willie Nunn, Ney’s custodian-without-par (and also its

unofficial art critic), got the “freshen-up fever” and tried his hand at floor and

pedestal work.”

January 25, 1965: “Department helps to organize the Austin Municipal Choir.

Ralph Kies is volunteering his time to direct this program which is open to all

Austin area residents who like to sing.”

February 1965: “Weather, weather, weather — Heavy, cold rain, snow, sleet

and ice, golf and strong winds are memories of February.”

May 16, 1965: “The vicious storm of May 16 toppled over the 100 year old

pecan tree in front of the office building and hundreds of other trees throughout

the city.”

July 1965: “Inauguration by Mrs. John Connally of the Katie Brill director’s

award, in honor of her mother gave new

impetus to the inter-playground drama

competition. An interesting sidenote on the

Katie Brill trophy comes from playground

records from 1933; “Katie Brill was leader at

West Austin Playground that summer and

directed a play whose leading lady, Ida Nell

Brill (now Mrs. Connally) was named Best

Girl Actor on the playgrounds.”

July 1965: “Pan Am’s Jokers softball

team won first place title in both the Latin-

American Tournament at Port Arthur and the

District 19 Amateur Softball Association

Tournament at Georgetown.”

August 1965: “Oklahoma” was by all

measures the greatest success in the seven

year history of the PARD Summer Musical.

“Cast Shines in Rousing Start” read the

headline of amusement critic John Bustin’s review, with special mention of lead

soprano Sharon Melcher and baritone Norman Eaton.”

August 1965: “PARD took large and varied roles in Austin’s four-year-old Aqua

Festival shindig, and contributed significantly to the overall success of the two-

week promotion.”

September 1965: “Two thousand spectators saw the Mexico All Stars meet the

Texas All Stars in the International Swim Meet held at Northwest Pool.”

October 16, 1965: “The fire at Hancock Recreation Center interrupted fall

classes and club meetings. Store rooms were burned completely, as well as the

upper and lower floor at the rear of the building. Smoke and water damage was

extensive throughout.”

October 1965: “The Austin Civic Chorus gained a new director in October.

The director is Gene Galbraith, a UT graduate student in music and director of the

Tarrytown Methodist Church choir.

December 19-23, 1965: “PARD began a new Austin tradition this Christmas

with a four-night “Spirits of Christmas” display in Zilker Gardens. Attractions

included a live Nativity scene enacted by Travis High School drama students, a

donkey, and a sheep; two outdoor giant Christmas trees, one live and one

electrical; four choirs of carolers; and a seven-foot pasteboard Santa Claus. The

real star of the presentation, however, was the jolly red-suited gentleman who

waved and chuckled from the lighted rooftop of the Swedish Pioneer Cabin. His

authentic appearance as he prepared to go down the chimney left no doubt among

spectators that this, at last with the real St. Nick – and even PARD personnel had

trouble recognizing the convincing Santa as Parks Superintendent C. O.

Smith.”

December 1965: “Construction will begin within the month on Phase I of the

extensive Hamilton Gardens development, named for the late Mrs. Katherine

Parr Hamilton, which is to include a pond and the beginnings of a network of

streams, flagstone walks, retaining walls, lighting, sprinkler systems, planting of

azaleas and other appropriate plant materials and the addition of proper soil to

create optimum growing conditions for this area of the Zilker Gardens.”

December 1965: “Elisabet Ney Museum received an important addition to its

collection of Miss Ney’s original sculptures last month. The new piece is a

medallion of the young child Seiner Burleson, commissioned by the child’s father,

Postmaster General A. S. Burleson. The medallion remained in the family home

until the death of Mrs. Burleson, when it was inherited by her daughter, Mrs.

Richard Negley of San Antonio. It was Mrs. Negley who presented the medallion

to the Museum.”

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 25

December 14, 1965: “PARD’s 42

annual Community Christmas Program

filled the house at Municipal Auditorium for a holiday performance of the

“Nutcracker Ballet” by the Austin Ballet Society.”

January 1966: “January was a landmark in the accomplishment of PARD’s long

range plans for future Austin recreational areas. The City’s application was

completed and sent to Washington requesting funds to be used in acquiring

Decker Lake acreage and land parcels on Town Lake. New applications were

begun during the month for federal matching funds for the acquisition of

additional Town Lake parcels and initial payment was made on a 15 acre park area

adjacent to Kealing School in the

Kealing Urban Renewal tract, where

a complete park and playground

facility is to be located.”

February 22, 1966: “The big

snow created some curious

situations throughout the Austin

area, but the 6-inch blanket of

white was especially incongruous

with PARD preparations for spring.

The two day snow brought to a halt

the planting of new trees at

Auditorium Beach and the

shaping up of neighborhood

playgrounds for summer.”

June 1966: “Dignitaries on hand

for the colorful dedication of the old

Swedish log cabin to its new

home at Zilker Gardens included

Mayor Lester Palmer and the

Swedish Consul General.

October 18, 1966: “On October 18, the Lions Club of Austin celebrated its 50

year of civic concern and action by dedicating five lighted, spraying fountains

“to the citizens of Austin, and to all who pause here to enjoy the peaceful waters

of the Colorado River.”

October 29,1966: “ Recreation Superintendent, Roy Guerrero, takes over as

state President of the Texas Recreation and Parks Society.

December 1966: “The first annual Yule Fest in Zilker Park is held.” This

gala four-night event centered around the ancient tradition of the burning Yule

Log, was an instant success with the Austin public and promised to become an

enduring tradition on its own. Decorative lighting displays, throughout the park,

free refreshments at the Garden Center Open house, a real Santa talking with

children from his rooftop station on the rustic Pioneer Cabin, a Nativity Scene

enacted beneath a lofty star with live characters and real animals, all were

destined to meet with enthusiastic public approval. But what really fired the

imaginations of the Christmas spirited crowds was the giant Yule Log, kindled by

American Statesman publisher Richard Brown in opening night ceremonies

(December 20) and crackling through the conclusion of Yule Fest on December 23.

”

February 1967: “Plans are underway for the May 2 opening of the new

Lakeside Senior Center to be located in the Lakeside Housing Project. And the

Rosewood public housing project, where PARD will operate another multi-

purpose center with part-time director Catherine Lamkin, who will retain her

half-time duties as assistant supervisor at the Rosewood Recreation Center, is

being readied for opening April 2.”

April 2, 1967: “Austin’s second senior activity center opened with a gala

reception the new facility at Rosewood Housing for the Elderly.

May 2, 1967: “The month began with Senior Recognition Week in Austin and the

opening of PARD’S third community activity center for senior citizens with

the official opening of Lakeside Activity Center at the new Lakeside Highrise

Apartments.”

Each of the three

modern facilities used

as senior activity

centers has been

“loaned”. Nueces

Center operates in its

own quarters on the

first floor of St.

Martin’s Lutheran

Church; Rosewood

and Lakeside are

located in Austin

Housing Authority

public residences for

the elderly.”

May 27, 1967: “The

new James A. Garrison swimming pool opens.” (1967 collection of news

items on the career of James A. Garrison as Director of Recreation for the City of

Austin from 1928 through 1946).

Fountain on Auditorium Shores

26 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

June 1967: “Mrs. Willie Rutland, first and only curator of Elisabet Ney

Museum since its opening 38 ½ years ago, retires.”

August 1967: “During August, planting of 1,600 azaleas of various varieties was

completed in the Catharine Parr Hamilton Azaleas Garden, and a permanent

exposed aggregate walk was laid in the Biblical Garden at the Garden Center.”

September 20, 1967: “PARD staff Roy Guerrero, Mrs. Dorothy Nan

McLean, and Bob Modlin provided recreation at the coliseum for refugees

from hurricane Beulah. Table tennis, washers, ring toss, and four-square games

were assembled by head crewman George Carmona.”

September 24, 1967: “Supervisor of Zilker Park, Jack Robinson reports that

more than 12,000 persons participated in the first Zilker Park “Love-in”,

sponsored by Night Productions and the Vulcan Gas Co.”

November 1967: “November saw the intense, detailed planning for the

World’s Tallest Christmas Tree,

which will glow from Zilker Park’s

Moonlight Tower until January 1.

Constructed and designed by the

Electrical Department of the City of

Austin, in cooperation with PARD, the

giant man-made tree is 100 feet taller

than the Nation’s Capital tree, and is

the department’s way of saying “Merry

Christmas.”

December 1967: “A Rosewood

Advisory Board was organized and

officers elected. Howard Norris,

supervisor of Rosewood, says the board

can be of inestimable assistance to the

Rosewood staff in programs, planning,

financial and physical aid, and as a

liaison between the general public and

staff.”

December 10, 1967: “They came by

the thousands, stopping at any spot in

Zilker Park to stare and gaze in awe

at the World’s Most Beautiful Tree.

And, when the man-made beauty glowed for the last time, more than 400,000

persons had seen the World’s Tallest Man-Made Christmas Tree. The park’s

only Moonlight Tower was converted into the World’s Tallest electrical Christmas

Tree. More than 3,200 lamps composed the 165 foot Tower Tree. Austin Mayor

Pro Tem, Mrs. Emma Long, pushed a switch officially lighting the giant tree and

turning on more than 89,000 watts of electricity. Designed and built by the City of

Austin Electrical Department ion cooperation with the Austin Parks and Recreation

Department, the tree was the Electrical and Parks and Recreation Department’s

way of wishing Austinites a “Merry Christmas”. The lighting of the tree was the

beginning of PARD’s annual “Yule Fest” in Zilker Park. Mrs. Alden Davis, a long-

time supporter of PARD’s activities, conceived the idea of the tree two years ago

as part of the total lighting program of Austin’s Zilker Park.”

December 1967: “The five day celebration of “Yule Fest” started when Mrs.

John Connally, wife of the Governor of Texas, received a lighted torch from

running torchbearers, and set ablaze a 15 foot Yule Log at Rock Island in Zilker

Park. At the entrance of the “Candle Path”, Austinites viewed lighted colorful

plyboard cutouts of The Twelve Days of Christmas. Following the lighted path to

Rock Island, Yule watchers stood by the perpetually burning Yule Logs, watched a

live Nativity scene and Elizabethan dancers performing songs and dances

originating in that period.”

January 15, 1968: “A “Council for Fine Arts Site” of Austin was established

January 15, as 24 persons representing nine cultural organizations met at PARD to

initiate the first step toward exploring the needs and chances for the development

of a Performing Arts Center in Austin.”

January 1968: “The Austin Softball Association, was formally organized

during January. Instrumental in organizing the association were Roy Guerrero,

PARD’s superintendent of Recreation, Robert Schick, Supervisor of Athletics and

Aquatics, and Laurence Shieffer, Assistant Supervisor of Athletics. More than

2,000 Austinites participated in PARD’s softball program last summer, establishing

the need for the association. A Board of

Directors and officers were named.

Marvyn Krause is President and Richard

Moya is vice-president.

May 13, 1968: “With Mayor Akin

cutting the green ribbon, the $20,000

complex of animal cages at the Natural

Science Center were dedicated Monday

as other city officials, Congressman Jake

Pickle, Austin business representatives

and members of the Austin Natural

Science Association and the Junior

League of Austin watched. The new

structure will allow the animal exhibit to

be open to the public for the first time.”

July 1, 1968: “Women in Construction held the official ground breaking for the

Gazebo on Town Lake’s Auditorium Shore. City Council members, city

Town Lake Development Program

World’s Tallest Christmas Tree,

Zilker Tree

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 27

officials and other

dignitaries were on

hand to run the first

shovel of earth.

Construction of the

$36,000 Gazebo will

began immediately.”

July 16, 1968: “On

July 16, Congressman

Jake Pickle announced

official approval was

secured from the

Bureau of Outdoor

Recreation for Town

Lake Development,

Phase I. The grant is

$98,500 and will be

matched by the City of Austin with an equal amount. Phase I includes the

development of site plans, construction plans and specifications, for the

construction of irrigation systems, five miles of walk-and-bike way, rest areas,

fishing points, boat docks and observation areas.”

September 1968: “The old artesian well, long a landmark of South Austin, was

redesigned and beautified with cutstone, ironwork, and a water fall at a cost of

$5,000 by the South Austin Lions Club. The fountain is the starting point of the

Ben Howell Memorial trail,

located near Stacy pool, which

was built earlier by the club.”

September 1968: “Preceeded

by a week of registration,

PARD’s four recreation centers

(Austin Athletic Club,

Hancock, Rosewood, Pan

Am), opened for the fall and

winter season offering

everything from dance and

sports to judo and English

classes.”

November 1968: “For the

first time in the history of

PARD’s 40 years of existence, a

Park Ranger has been added to the staff. Dressed in forest green and black, and

a campaign hat is Eugene Chappo, PARD’s Park Ranger.”

November 3, 1968: “A Texas Historical Marker was unveiled on the grounds of

the Elisabet Ney Museum, the sculptor’s grandson, T. A. Montgomery and

curator emeritus, Mrs. J. W. Rutland received the honor of dedicating the

beautiful marker.”

November 1968: “140 Austin children entered the Tallest Tree Drawing

Contest. The winner was 8 year old Cathy Wettig, a Lucy Read Elementary

School third grader, who won the honor of officially turning on the World’s Tallest

Manmade Christmas Tree in Zilker Park. She is the first child named as Santa’s

Helper.”

November 1968: “A mobile home is being constructed for Santa who is

moving to a permanent home at Zilker’s Yule Fest.”

December 17-22, 1968: “For the third consecutive year, Zilker Park was

transformed into a Christmas fairyland as the Austin Parks and Recreation

Department staged Yule Fest. River Road was lined with trees bathed in white

lights and sparkling reflectors. Among the trees were lighted signs depicting the

“Twelve Days of Christmas” and Christmas Carolers made by Mrs. Jack

Robinson. At the end of the “Avenue of Trees” was Santa’s Workshop, where

Santa waited to greet the children.

Following the Yule Path, the visitors

neared Rock Island, site of the live

Nativity scene and the burning Yule

Log.”

December 1968: “George

Carmona was named Supervisor of the

Construction and Building Maintenance

Division of PARD and George

Gonzales was named his assistant.”

February 4, 1969: “PARD Director

Beverly Sheffield accepted $1,000, a

solid bronze plaque, and a flag as the

1968 Gold Medal winner for

excellence in the field of park and

recreation management.”

February 1969: “A second Park

Ranger has been added to the force. Retired Army major Edgar Howard, a

former assistant pro at Morris Williams Gold Course, is now attending Police

Cadet Training. Upon completing the 16 week instruction, Howard will join

Ranger Eugene Chappo in enforcing the policies, rules, and regulations of the

City-owned land and facilities under the jurisdiction of the Parks and Recreation

Department.”

Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail

Park Ranger (Park Police)

1968 Gold Metal

28 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

April 13, 1969: “The Isamu Taniguchi Oriental Garden was officially

dedicated Sunday, April 13, after 18 months of voluntary labor by the designer,

Taniguchi. Special invited guests were Aroa Ohta, Consul General of Japan and a

party of 15 leading industrialists and government officials from Japan who were in

the Southern United States on

an economic mission. Mayor

Harry Akin cut the ribbon to the

3-acre garden of winding

flagstone paths, waterfalls, man-

made mountains, and pools

designed to spell out the word

Austin.”

June 1969: “The first annual

Junior Olympics Track and

Field Program came to Austin

this summer. The Austin

Jaycees and the Parks and

Recreation Department are

sponsoring the program for all

boys and girls age 8 to 17.”

July 11, 1969: “A crowd of some 600, including Austin Mayor Travis LaRue

and Beverly Sheffield, Director of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department,

gathered at the Caswell Tennis Center, to honor Mrs. Wilmer (Ann) Allison,

daughter of the donator of the Caswell Center. Mrs. Allison, a longtime supporter

of the sport, was presented a plaque in recognition of her contribution to Austin

tennis.”

July 1969: “As the forthcoming budget takes shape, it appears that Decker will

be opened in the early 1970. The initial development will feature a boat launching

ramp with docking facilities, picnic units, concession, rest room facilities, and

hopefully a swimming beach.”

August 1969: “PARD’s planning section activities during August included the

completion of preliminary plans for the proposed addition to the PARD office

building.”

September 17, 1969: “At an awards banquet in Chicago, National Recreation

and Park Association presented its 1969 Volunteer Service Award to the Junior

League of America. Austin’s Junior League played a major part in winning the

award. Since 1932, the Austin Junior League members have produced and

performed a Children’s Theatre play, provided volunteers and financial assistance

to Zachary Scott Theatre, to the creative dramatics summer program for children,

and initiated the Student Concert series of the Austin Symphony. In addition, the

Austin Junior League has given money for the development of the Natural Science

Center and provides docents and volunteer lecturers.”

November 1969: “The City Council has voted unanimously to accept a $25,000

gift from the Austin Natural Science Association to aide in drawing up plans

for the construction of the “Living Museum of Texas Flora Fauna” in Zilker

Park.”

November 1969: “Brush Square and O. Henry Museum, both a part of

Austin’s magnificent heritage, will become more attractive to visitors and

Austinites as the city of Austin restores and re-landscapes Brush Square to its

original use as a public park. Brush Square was named after Sebe Bogert Brush, a

pioneer Austin merchant, in 1839, when Austin was first planned. This square

was designated as a park, however, before that a portion of it was the original

Austin market place. The O. Henry Museum was moved to Brush Square in 1934.

The house was built in 1888 on 4

. Street and was the home of William Sydney

Porter and his family from 1893-1895.”

1970-1971: Dottie Jordan center, park and pool purchased.” (1998-1999

Annual Report).

February 7-8, 1970:

“Various sports

activities were the

center of attention at

Rosewood Recreation

Center with the annual

George Mabson

Tournament held

February 7-8. Over

175 men and boys

participated. The

Austin Eastside

team finished first,

followed by Ft. Worth

and Houston

respectively.”

February 23, 1970: “The rain, the wind and the cold didn’t even dampen the

spirits of eager fishermen and spectators as an estimated 2,500 visitors passed

through the gates of Decker Lake on opening day.”

April 1970: “The Travis County Historical Survey Committee dedicated a Texas

Historical Marker in Pease Park in April. The park is named for Governor Elisha

Marshall Pease who, in 1875, gave the 23 acre site along Shoal Creek to the city

for use as a public park. The area was left underdeveloped until 1926 when the

Austin Kiwanis Club retained a landscape engineer to assist the group in lighting

the area and installing a water system. The Recreation Department took over the

park’s operation in 1929.” (1970-1971 Annual Report),

Track and Field Program

Dottie Jordan Recreation Center and Park

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 29

April 22, 1970: “April 22 was designated as “Earth Day”. Aided by trucks from

the Parks Division, student groups from local high schools converged on various

areas and engaged in clean-up activities. Perhaps the most important and most

lasting effect of Earth Day was an increased awareness of and concern over our

environment’s deterioration.

May 1970: “A new district park - approximately 45 acres of parkland in

northwest Austin on Bull Creek were acquired by the city of Austin, with

assistance of federal fund provided by the bureau of Outdoor Recreation.” (1970-

1971 Annual Report).

June 1970: “The Austin City Junior Golf Championships, sponsored by

PARD and George Hannon and his staff was a great success this year with a

record 300 entries.”

June 1970: An official Texas Historical Marker was dedicated in June at

Wooldridge Park by the Travis County Historical Survey Committee. The idea

for Wooldridge Park was conceived by Austin’s long-time mayor, Alex Penn

Wooldridge, early in 1909. When the original plan for Austin was drawn, four

blocks of land were set aside for public use. Weekly band concerts were held in

the park each Friday evening for more than 20 years as well as state and county

political rallies.” (1970-1971 Annual Report).

August 1970: “The new Zilker Play-Scape officially opened at ceremonies

held in August, attended by Congressman J. J. “Jake” Pickle, city dignitaries and

member of the Austin Lions Club. The play area adjacent to Barton Springs now

features a covered shelter area with a

capacity of up to 50 persons, a space

platform, an antique fire engine and a

ship complete with a plank to work. The majority of the total cost of $16,000 was

donated by the Austin Lions Club and labor was provided by men employed with

Green Thumb, a work program for persons over the age of 65 with incomes below

the poverty level.” (1970-1971 Annual Report).

September 1970: “70-71 budget reflects a new Parks Division. This new

division will have as the new Superintendent of Parks, Mr. Jack Robinson,

formerly the assistant superintendent.”

August 1970: “Austin’s oldest recreation center was christened with a new

name – Austin Recreation Center (built in 1923 and formerly known as the

Austin Athletic Club). The center was sold to the city for a small remuneration

by W. T. Caswell, past Parks Board Chairman and long-time supporter of

recreational activities in Austin”. (1970-71 Annual Report).

August 31,

1970: “Mayor

Roy Butler

names Dan H.

Davidson as

successor to

former City

Manager Lynn

Andrews.”

(“City of Austin

employe”).”

1971: Mary

Mayfield

Gutsch, wills

the Mayfield

land and house

that will be

known as Mayfield Park to the city. ( Mayfield Park/Community Project booklet).

April 1971: The Texas Historical Survey Committee dedicated a Texas Historical

Marker in Pease Park in April. The park is named for Governor Elisha Marshall

Pease who, in 1875, gavee the 23 acre site along Shoal Creek to the city for use as

a public park.” (1970-71 Annual Report).

June 1971: “An official Texas Historical Marker was dedicated in June at

Wooldridge Park by the Travis County Historical Survey committee. The idea for

Wooldridge Park was conceived by Austin’s long-time mayor, Alex Penn

Wooldridge, early in 1909. When the original plan for Austin was drawn, four

blocks of land were set aside for public use.” (1970-71 Annual Report).

Zilker Park Playscape

Mayfield House

30 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

August 1971: “New Zilker Play-Scape officially opens at ceremonies held in

August, attended by Congressman J.J. “Jake” Pickle, city dignitaries and member

of the Austin Lions Club.” (1970-71 Annual Report).

1970-71: “A new nature trail is now available for Austinites to enjoy at Givens

Park. The trail along Tannehill Branch Creek was constructed by Green Thumb,

Inc. through a grant from the U. S. Department of Labor”. (1970-71 Annual

Report).

1972: “The original land on which Metz Recreation Center is located was

acquired by a bond purchase in 1933. The existing facility was built in 1972

through matching funds from the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and Model Cities

Fund.” (1982-1983 Annual Report).

1972-73: “PARD and the Austin Independent School District began a history-

making project this year, jointly financing a swimming facility at Murchison

Junior High School”. (1972-73 Annual Report).

March 1972: “The greatest single achievement of the 1972-73 fiscal year was

the completion of Phase I of the Town Lake Development Program in March,

when planting operation inaugurated by Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson were completed”.

(1972-73 Annual Report).

April 1972: “Mrs. Alden Davis, civic leader whose service to Austin spanned

more than 60 years, was honored in April when the City Council named the Zilker

Park Rose Garden in her honor. Mrs. Davis was Life Chairman Emeritus of the

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, on which she served since its formation in

1951.” (1972-73, 1973-74 Annual Report).

May 1972: “Walter E. Long, long-time business and civic leader, was honored

in May when the Austin City Council re-named Decker Lake in his honor. (1972-

73 1973-74 Annual Report).

1972-73 1973-74: Elisabet Ney and O. Henry Museums were honored with

entry in the National Register of Historic Places. Ney Museum is the studio of the

German sculptress whose statutes of Texas heroes stand in the Capitol rotunda.

The O. Heenry Museum is the cottage where William Sydney Porter lived with his

wife Margaret, from 1892 until 1895. The museum contains a collection of the

family’s personal memorabilia from those years. (1972-73 1973-74 Annual Report)

October 1972: “Director Beverly Sheffield recently announces the

appointment of Jack Robinson as assistant director of the Parks and Recreation

Department.” (“City of Austin employee”)

1973-74: “Beverly Sheffield directs the Office of

Bicentennial Affairs and Jack Robinson assumes the

position of Director of the Parks and Recreation

Department.” (1972-73 1973-74 Annual Report).

October 1973: “The Parks and Recreation

Department purchased the community center

(formerly, an Austin Model Cities Program) in October

1973 for $150,000 and it became the Montopolis

Recreation Center. (1981-1982 Annual Report).

1973-74: “During the year, two district parks, two

greenbelt areas and five neighborhood playgrounds

were acquired for a total of 352 acres of land. Among

the areas are Barton Creek District Park and

Greenbelt, Southeast District Park, Dottie Jordan Park, South Austin

Recreation Center and Montopolis Recreation Center.” (1972-73 1973-74

Annual Report).

1973-74: “The major event of the year at the Natural Science Center was the

leasing of the 71-acre Giles homestead. The heritage property was donated for

the development of Pioneer Settlement Memorial Park. The Austin Natural

Science Association, together with the Natural science Guild, raised more than

$13,000 for the development”. (1972-73 1973-74 Annual Report).

March 1973: “The

highlight of the 1973-74

Senior Citizens Program

was the start of the

Austin-Travis County

Senior Luncheon

Program. The project

funded by Title VII of the

Older Americans Act,

provides a hot, noon

meal for 345 elderly

people, five days a week.

Another project of the

senior program, the

Community Workshop

Market, involved 400

seniors in arts and crafts

classes. Located in

Mayfield Center, the

market and workshop had six sales throughout the year which benefited the senior

citizens.” (1972-73 1973-74 Annual Report).

Jack Robinson

Senior Luncheon Program

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 31

1974: “In excess of 330 acres of land was added to the park system at 26 sites.

Probably the

most note

worthy was the

return of the

original public

square located

between Fourth

and Fifth Streets

and Guadalupe

and San Antonio

Streets, for use

as a public park

to be known as

Republic

Square.”

(1974-1975,

1975-1976 Bi-

Annual report).

1974: “The Zaragosa Recreation Center was first dedicated in 1931 and

redeveloped in 1974 through various public and private funding sources.” (1982-

1983 Annual Report).

June 1974: “Special activities were expanded during the fiscal year, and in June

1974, the department began services for handicapped citizens of Austin.”

(1972-73 1973-74

Annual Report).

July 1974: “The

first event of the

official Bicentennial

year was the

dedication at Metz

Recreation

Center, early on

the morning of July

4, of a mural

depicting Mexican-

American history.

(1974-1975, 1975-

1976 Bi-Annual

Report).

September 5, 1974: “The South Austin Recreation Center was completed

and the official dedication was held on September 5, 1974, with an initial cost of

the new center totaling $430,000”. (1981-1982 Annual Report).

December 1974: “Mrs. Lyndon Johnson accepts a gift from the Austin Board of

Realtors, to begin the Town Lake azalea garden project.” (“City of Austin

employee”).

September 1975: An

exciting new

development of the

fiscal year 1974-1975

was the establishment

of an Arts

Commission by the

Austin city council in

September, 1975”.

(1974-1975, 1975-1976

Bi-Annual Report).

January 27, 1976:

“Alamo Recreation

Center, established in

1976 at 2100 Alamo

Street, east of IH 35, provides leisure services for all age groups.” (1983-1984

Annual Report).

1976: “80.6 acres acquired for the Northeast District Park”. (1974-1975,

1975-1976 B-Annual Report),

1976-77: “An 8,000 square foot addition to the Parks and Recreation

Department administrative office is completed.” (1976-77 Annual Report).

1976-77: “Accomplishments: Plans are initiated for construction of a major

recreation center in Givens Park. A year-round program is initiated at the newly

remodeled recreation center in Zaragosa Park.” (1976-77 Annual Report).

1976-77: “Accomplishments: Planned and monitored the eleven City Arts

Service Contracts with major arts groups. Worked with the Arts Commission

committee in surveying local arts groups and in planning the renovation of the

Naval Reserve Building into a Cultural Center. Developed the Old Bakery and

Emporium with the State of Texas and First Lady Volunteers. Initiated the Senior

Aide Program which proves employment for older adults through a federal grant

$265,000. Planned and broke ground for a Senior Activity Center at 29

and

Lamar.” (1976-77 Annual Report).

1977-78: “The Austin Parks and Recreation Department has enjoyed an

outstanding reputation since it was first established in 1928 and 1977-78 was a

fitting year for the celebration of the department’s 50

. Anniversary. Many

services were extended this past year with the completion of new facilities such as

the Mary Ireland Graves Dougherty Cultural Arts Center, new swimming

Republic Square

South Austin Recreation Center

Mrs. Lyndon Johnson

32 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

pools at Martin and Montopolis Parks, the Senior Activity Center, and two

additional miles of trail along Town Lake.” (1977-78 Annual Report).

February 24, 1978: “Jack Robinson resigns as Director of the Austin Parks

and Recreation Department to become Director of the Parks and Recreation

Department , City of Dallas. Mike Segrest is named Acting Director.” (“City of

Austin employe”)

1978: “Leonard Ehrler, Jr. became the new director and the department

celebrated its 50

. Anniversary”. (1977-78 Annual Report).

1978: “A Joint Resolution was adopted by the City of Austin and the Austin

Independent School District by which the two entities agreed to jointly sponsor

and fund the Community Education Project.” (1978,1979, 1980 Annual

Report).

March 30, 1979: “Givens Recreation Center was

opened to the public. The center was named in memory

of the late Dr. Everett H. Givens who was a dentist and

community leader in East Austin.” (1981-1982 Annual

Report).

1979: “Eleven Recreation Centers and a twelfth, the

Northwest Recreation Center, scheduled to open its

doors in November, 1979, are available for the citizens of

Austin of all ages to enjoy a wide variety of leisure

experiences.” (1978,1979, 1980 Annual Report).

1979-1980: “Mable Davis District Park and

Walnut Creek District Park were completed in this

year according to the Master Plan.” (1978,1979,1980 Annual Report).

May 1981: “In May, the Parks and Recreation Department suffered

approximately three million dollars worth of damage to existing facilities during the

Memorial Day flood.” (1981-1982 Annual Report).

1982: “Opening its doors in 1982,

the new Austin Nature Center

and Annex (formerly known as the

Natural Science Center) offers

educational programs for children in

areas of plants, birds, reptiles, fish,

insects, and small mammals.”

(1981-1982 Annual Report).

1982: “Land acquisitions

continued throughout the year.

The most notable tract acquired

was the 215 acre Commons

Ford Ranch Metropolitan

Park.” (1982-1983 Annual

Report).

1982: “In 1982, Gloria Mata

Pennington, a supervisor in

Senior Programs and a

seasoned Dancing Doll, took

over as the Dancing Dolls sponsor and instructor. For the next eighteen years

she recruited dancers and taught the “set-in-stone” routine to hundreds of Parks

and Recreation Department employees, who performed on the Trail of Lights

stage. Soon Mrs. Pennington became known as “Momma Doll”. (2000-2001

Annual Report).

June 1982: “Danny G. McBeth Recreation

Center is a totally accessible facility. The

recreation center, located in Zilker Park, was

purchased from the Knight of Columbus in

1981. The Parks and Recreation Department

officially took possession of the center in June,

1982.” (1982-1983 Annual Report).

1983: “In 1983, the department completed the

Central Maintenance Complex. Located at

2525 S. Lakeshore Blvd., at the intersection with

Pleasant Valley Road. The complex covers two

and one-half acres and has over 16,000 square

feet of combined office, shop, and storage

space.” (1983-1984 Annual Report).

1983: “In conjunction with the Sesquicentennial celebration, Gloria Mata

Pennington, Manager of Senior Programs is coordinating an Senior Oral

History project, collecting stories, recollections, and old photographs. Through

arrangements made by Senator Gonzalo Barrientos, the project will be on

exhibit at the Capitol and at various elementary schools during the

Sesquicentennial year.” (1983-84 Annual Report).

1984: “Senior Nutrition Program: Two nutrition sites were opened in 1984

bringing the total number of sites to 24. The North Loop Senior Nutrition

Center located at 2300 N. Loop West was opened in January 1984. In September

1984, the Center for the Visual Impaired Elderly opened at the Unity Church

of Austin.” (1983-84 Annual Report).

Danny G. McBeth Recreation

Center participant

Austin Nature and Science Center

Dr. Everett H. Givens

Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 33

1985-1995: Annual Reports were not published during these years.

1985: “The 12.6 acre land for A. B. Dittmar Park and Center, named for

Adolph Barnhart Dittmar, who once owned and ran a large dairy on the land, was

purchased in 1985 for $800,000 with funds approved in a 1982 bond election.”

(Dittmar file)

1986: “During the

1981 Memorial Day

floods, the Austin

Recreation Center

sustained an enormous

amount of damage. As

a result of this damage,

a new Austin

Recreation Center

was built across the

parking lot from the old

building. The center,

now located at 1301

Shoal Creek Blvd.,

opened in 1986.”

(2000-2001 Annual Report).

1988: “Conley-Guererro Senior Center opens.” (1998-1999 Annual Report).

1989: “Historic Treaty Oak vandalized with poison. Incredible efforts were

undertaken to save the tree.” (Treaty Oak Project Fact Sheet).

1994: “Dick Nichols Park

opens.” (1998-1999 Annual

Report).

1994: “Dove Springs Pool

opens.” (1998-1999 Annual

Report).

November 17, 1995:

“Dedication ceremony is held for

the South Austin Senior

Center”. (South Austin Center

file).

May 5, 1996: “Dedication

Ceremonies for the new Parque

Zaragoza Recreation Center. Construction of the 17,500 square foot center is

a Capital Improvements Project approved by voters in the 1992 bond election.”

(Dedication Program).

May 1996: “The Austin Nature & Science Center opened a new satellite

facility in the Barton Springs Bathhouse in Zilker Park. The Beverly S.

Sheffield Education Center includes two classroom/laboratories (outfitted and

taught by Jr. League of Austin volunteers, and an exhibit hall under construction.”

(1996-1997 Annual Report).

May 24, 1996: “Opened the Dick Nichols pool on May 24

. The community

use has been overwhelming with participant hours over 59,000 its first summer.

This exceeds any other neighborhood pool.” (1996-1997 Annual Report).

1996-97: “The Austin City Council allocated $1.4 million for the Social Fabric

Initiative which provided funding for the enhancement of youth programs.

Programs Division Manager, Robert Armistead announced the funds were

appropriated to create a balance between addressing crime and crime prevention

and to increase recreation opportunities for youth. The programs include:

Expansion of the Summer Playground Program, the Summer Teen

Recreation Academy, the PARDner Program, the Community Outreach

after School Program, the Totally Cool, Totally Art Program and other

outreach and enrichment programs.” (1996-1997 Annual Report).

February 26 – March 2, 1997: “Hosted, coordinated, and made presentations

for the National Recreation and Park Association Southwest Regional and

the Texas Recreation and Park Society Annual Institute.” (1996-1997

Annual Report).

March 18-224, 1997: “Coordinated and hosted the National Recreation and

Park Aquatics Conference.” (1996-1997 Annual Report).

May 1997: “Hosted the United Park and Recreation Affiliation. UPRA is

made up of the directors of the 50 largest Parks and Recreation Departments in

the United States.” (1996-1997 Annual Report).

1997-98: “The first annual Adopt-A-Park awards luncheon honored those who

increased community support for Parks and Recreation during fiscal year 1997-98.

More than $2,595,800 and 62,820 hours of

volunteer time has been generated by Adopt-

A-Park. Of the funding, $2,375,636 came

from in-kind contributions and $220,232 was

raised in cash donations. The volunteer hours

were contributed by 4,980 volunteers.”

(1997-98 Annual Report).

March 28, 1998: “Grand Opening of the

Dove Springs Recreation Center.

Construction of the 18,000 square foot

recreation center is a $2.2 million Capital Improvement Project.” (1997-98 Annual

Report).

Treaty Oak

Dittmar Recreation Center

Dove Springs Recreation Center

34 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

April 25, 1998: “More than 100 youth and adults attended the ground breaking

ceremony marking the beginning of the construction of the Montopolis

Sportsplex at 800 Grove Blvd.” (1997-98 Annual Report).

February 1998: The Roving Leader program was created in 1997-98 as part

of the Social Fabric Initiative of the City of Austin. Described by the organizers

as a “recreation center on wheels”, the leaders “rove their communities, carrying

equipment and supplies for impromptu games, crafts, and athletic activities”.

(1997-98 Annual Report).

1998: “Greenspace to the east and building the Colorado River Park were

among 16 Parks and Recreation projects approved by voters in the Fall 1998

Bond Elections. The general obligation bond ballot included $97.3 million for

Parks and Recreation. On the ballot, Proposition 2 – Parks and Recreation

contained 14 project totaling $75.9 million. Additionally, two Parks and Recreation

facilities, the Carver Museum and the Mexican American Cultural Center

were included under Proposition 4 – Libraries, Museums and Cultural Centers.

These two projects total $21.4 million.” (1997-98 Annual Report).

October 17, 1998: “An exciting, educational exhibit, SPLASH into the Edwards

Aquifer was completed by the partnership of the Austin Nature & Science

Center with area businesses, and hundreds of sponsor and volunteer

organizations and individuals. This new, permanent exhibit follows the journey of

raindrops through the Hill Country, the Edwards Aquifer ecosystem and to the final

destination in the Gulf of Mexico” (1997-98 Annual Report).

1999: “Alamo Basketball Pavilion opens. Named for neighborhood parks

activist Katherine T. Pool, the pavilion is a structure without walls that

essentially puts a roof over the court.” (1998-1999 Annual Report).

1999: “Everyone loves a parade and in Austin, the Parks and Recreation

Department put on the biggest of 1999. To honor local sports heroes Lance

Armstrong and Ricky Williams and the UT football team, Mayor Kirk Watson

wanted to have a parade. To have the parades be a success, Mayor Watson called

on the Parks and Recreation Department.” (1998-1999 Annual Report).

1999: “Millennium Youth Center is completed and opened.” (1989-1999

Annual Report).

March 11, 1999: “ Aquatics Program awarded the 1999 Excellence in Aquatics

Award of the National Park and Recreation Association. The Austin City Council

honored the Aquatics program achievement by proclaiming Thursday, March 11th

as Aquatics Day in Austin.”

March 1999: “The Get R.E.A.L. Roving Leader and the M.A.P. (Music-Art-

Performance) programs earned awards from the Texas Recreation and Park

Society. This marks the second consecutive year Austin Parks and Recreation

programs have earned these two awards. The department was also awarded the

Gold Medal Award for Excellence in the field of recreation management”. (1998-

1999 Annual Report).

May 7, 1999: “President Clinton’s arrival on Airforce One at Austin’s new

airport the afternoon of Friday, May 7, 1999, was the first major passenger landing

at Austin-Bergstrom International and marked the opening of the nation’s

newest airport. In the midst and behind the scenes of the hoopla were not only

the Secret Service, but Parks and Recreation staff.” (1998-1999 Annual Report).

1999: “On November 13, 1899 at 4:00 p.m., Lewis Hancock, 66 men and 4

women met at the Driskill Hotel and organized the Austin Golf Club. Together

they pledged their financial support. By the following June, they were playing on

what is now known as the Hancock Golf Course. A century later, Hancock

stands as the oldest golf course in Texas.” (1998-1999 Annual Report).

October 23, 1999: “Totally Cool, Totally Art, a program of Austin Parks and

Recreation Department, accepted the Dorothy Mullen National Arts and Humanities

Award Saturday, Oct. 23 at the National Parks and Recreation Association

Conference in Nashville, Tenn.” (1998-1999 Annual Report).

November 1999: “O. Henry Museum was honored with the prestigious

National Literary Landmark status from the Friend of Libraries USA and became

the first literary landmark in Texas. First Lady of Texas Laura Bush accepted the

bronze plaque on behalf of Texas.”(1999-2000 Annual Report).

Montopolis Sportsplex

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 35

November 20, 1999: A community party including refreshments and plenty of

play celebrated the opening of Springdale Park. The park is located just east of

the intersection of E. 12

Street and Webberville Road.” (1998-1999 Annual

Report).

2000: “The Creativity

Club, a program of the

Dougherty Arts

Center, earned this

year’s TRAPS Arts and

Humanities Award.

Springdale Park, the

successful transformation

of a former waste

disposal site into a

valuable neighborhood

asset earned park

planners of Austin Parks

and Recreation statewide

recognition, this year’s

TRAPS Innovations in Park Development Award.” (1999-2000 Annual Report).

2000: “Austin’s Sister City, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, presented an architectural

sculpture of Mexican historian Don Vito Alessio Robles to the City of Austin for

Plaza Saltillo. The donation made of bronze, Saltillo tile and iron was added to

the Art in Public Places Collection.” (1999-2000 Annual Report).

2000: “Eula and

Diana Wheeler of

Tucson, Arizona

donated 50 original

O. Henry letters

that O. Henry

wrote to his editor

Gilman Hall while

living in New York.

Along with the rare

letters, O. Henry

illustrations,

original

photographs, and

other rare letters

written to Gilman

Hall that relate to

O. Henry were

donated.” (1999-2000 Annual Report).

March 4, 2000: The first mountain bike team in

the United States, sponsored by a parks and

recreation department rode its first race. This

national first is the Austin Parks and

Recreation Mountain Bike Race Team. The

team is made up of teens ages 13-15. (1999-

2000 Annual Report).

May 28, 2000: “Words cannot adequately

convey the deep sorrow felt by all who mourn the

untimely death of Austin Park Police Officer

William Jones, a courageous man who was

tragically slain in the line of duty on May 28,

2000, at the age of 49.” (1999-2000 Annual

Report).

September 12, 2000: “Director Jesus

Olivares announced that the Austin City Council

has approved a $67.6 million budget for the Parks and Recreation Department.

The funding for the new fiscal year, which began October 1, 2000, was an increase

of $11 million over the past year and added 68 new positions department wide.”

(1999-2000 Annual Report).

September 16, 2000:

The Lorraine

“Grandma” Camacho

Activity Center opened

at Bergman Avenue and

Robert Martinez Street.

The construction of the

center was made possible

by Austin Energy, through

the Holly Good Neighbor

Program.” (1999-2000

Annual Report).

October 11, 2000:

“The National Gold

Medal Award recognizes

excellence in parks and recreation administration and outstanding service. The

Austin Parks and Recreation Department was one of four finalists vying for the

honor this year. It marks the second consecutive year Austin Parks and Recreation

has earned such national prominence as one of the best in the country.” (1999-

2000 Annual Report).

Springdale Park

Plaza Saltillo

Lorraine “Grandma” Camacho Activity Center Opening

Park Police Officer William Jones

36 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

October 11, 2000: “The Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farm earned this year’s

Dorothy Mullen National Arts and Humanities Award. The award was presented at

the National Recreation and Park Association annual conference on October 11 in

Phoeniz, Arizona.” (1999-2000 Annual Report).

January 31, 2000: “Mrs. Gloria Pennington, after many years of devoted

leadership to the Senior

Programs, announced

her retirement in January

31, 2000. The three

Senior Centers (SAC

Lamar, Conley-Guerrero

SAC, and SASAC) are all

products of Mrs.

Pennington’s devotion to

the Seniors of Austin.”

(1999-2000 Annual

Report).

August 25, 2001: “Roy

Guerrero, affectionately

known as Mr. “G”,

dedicated thirty four

years of his life to the

Austin Parks and Recreation Department and

those the department serves. On August 25,

2001, the Austin Parks and Recreation

Department dedicated the Roy G. Guerrero

Colorado River Metropolitan Park in his

honor.” (2000-2001 Annual Report).

September 14, 2001: “Northwest

District Park was renamed the Beverly S.

Sheffield Northwest District Park. Family,

friends, community members, Parks and

Recreation staff and current and former city

officials showed up for the renaming

dedication. Mr. Sheffield had a 40-year career

with the Austin Recreation Department and

served as Director from 1947 to 1973”.

(2000-2001 Annual Report).

2001: “The National Recreation and Park Association Dorothy Mullen Arts and

Humanities Awards Program honors the most innovative and effective arts and

humanities programs across the nation. The Lorraine “Grandma Camacho

Activity Center received this award at the NRPA National Conference in Denver,

Colorado in recognition of its program introducing youth to digital video

technology.” (2000-2001 Annual Report).

2001: “The Texas Recreation and Park Society awarded the Lone Star

Programming Award to the Austin Parks and Recreation Department’s Mountain

Bike Team as the most innovative program in the state.” (2000-2001 Annual

Report).

June 16, 2001: “The James D. Pfluger town Lake Pedestrian Bridge opened

with much fanfare. A fun-run attracted over 900 runners and the Austin Civic

Wind ensemble delighted the crowd with a variety of music. The Pfluger family,

along with Mayor Kirk Watson, cut the ribbon and lead the crowd in a walk over

the bridge.” (2000-2001 Annual Report).

December 2001: “A ribbon-cutting for the Hartman Prehistoric Garden will

be held which will bring the Zilker Botanical Garden into the dinosaur era. A

three-acre, former limestone quarry onsite has been converted into a unique

garden habitat that mimics the vegetation typical of the time 100 million years ago

when dinosaurs actually roamed this site. Through a generous donation by

Claudette and Douglas Hartman, this new garden seeks to recreate the ancient

vegetated habitat look typical of this prehistoric era.” (2000-2002 Annual Report).

2002: “The newly opened Pickfair Community Center continues to thrive in

northwest Austin.” (2002 Annual Report).

2002: “The National Recreation and Parks Society chose Totally Cool, Totally

Art as the first branded

NRPA National Model

Program. The program

was featured in “Best

Practices in Youth

Development in Public

Park and Recreation

Settings”, a book by Dr.

Peter Witt and Dr. John L.

Crompton of Texas A&M

University.” (2002 Annual

Report).

2002: “Just off the heels

of winning the Texas

National Junior Tennis

Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest

District Park Dedication.

Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Metropolitan Park

Dedication

National Junior Tennis League

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 37

League of the Year Award, the program almost tripled participation from 470 in

2001 to over 1,300 youth participants in 2002. Creative marketing and

programming helped boost the program’s numbers, as well as the energy created

by Lonnie Lyman, the program coordinator and the tennis instructors.” (2002

Annual Report).

2002: “New park land added this year: Big Walnut Creek 260 acres, Little Walnut

Creek – 198 acres, Slaughter Creek Greenbelt – 309 acres and Chestnut Pocke

Park – ½ acre”. (2002 Annual Report).

January 27, 2002: “The St. John’s Community Center opened on January

. The rich history of the St. John community in northeast Austin is the

backdrop for this unique joint venture between the neighborhood, the Austin

Independent School District and the City of Austin”. Included in the center are a

Recreation Center, Health and Human Services, the St. John’s branch library and

an Austin Police Department Community Policing Office.” (2002 Annual Report).

March 8, 2002: “The Department received the Best Web Site Award at the

Texas Recreation and Parks Society Awards Banquet in Abilene. Mendy

Marshall, Web Liaison accepted the award.” (2002 Annual Report).

St. John’s Recreation Center

March 22, 2002: “The groundbreaking ceremony for the Dino Pit was held on

March 22

. This exhibit was designed to teach participants of all ages about the

field of paleontology through hands-on educational activities. The development of

this exhibit was a collaborative effort of the Austin Nature and Science Center

and the Texas Memorial Museum of Science and History at the University of

Texas.” (2202 Annual Report).

March 30, 2002: The Grand Opening for the Hartman Prehistoric Garden in

Zilker Botanical Garden was held on March 30, 2002. In the early 1990s, over

100 dinosaur tracks were discovered on the exposed rock in the limestone quarry

with Zilker Botanical Gardens. A generous donation from Claudette and

Douglas Hartman and a collaboration between Larson/Burns Landscape

Architects, L&R Landscape contractors, and horticultural advisor Craig Nazor

helped transform the quarry into a prehistoric garden”. (2002 Annual Report).

Hartman Prehistoric Garden

38 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

Metz Water Playground

September 13, 2002: “In the 1870s and

until 1927, the Diez y Seis Celebrations were

held at Public Square, now named Republic

Square, located at 422 Guadalupe Street.

When the history of the square became

known, Director Jesus Olivares decided it

would be most appropriate to bring the Diez y

Seis celebration back to Republic Square. He

assigned Gloria Mata Pennington to head

up a committee to plan the event.” (2002

Annual Report).

October 16, 2002: “The Lorraine

“Grandma” Camacho Activity Center was

the recipient of the National Recreation and

Parks Association’s Dorothy Mullen Arts and

Humanities Award for the second consecutive

year at the NRPA Annual Conference in Tampa,

Florida. Don Goerner, Site Manager of the

Camacho Activity Center, accepted the award

for the Department. The center was honored

for its “Heroes Among Us” a documentary

project about Veterans of World War II, produced by teens. The program had

already won the Lone Star Programming

Award at the Texas Recreation and Parks

Society Awards Banquet in Abilene on March

8, 2002.” (2002 Annual Report).

November 2002: At a directive from

Director Jesus Olivares, a committee was

created to plan a special event for each

month during 2003, to celebrate the 75

Anniversary of the department. The major

celebration will be a reception and historic

photo exhibit to be held June 30, 2003 at the

Austin History Center. The photo exhibit will

continue to be on display throughout the

month of July which is National Parks and

Recreation Month.

Jesus M. Olivares, Director, Parks and

Recreation Department

May 28, 2002: “On

May 28, 2000, Austin

Parks and

Recreation Police

Officer, William D.

Jones made the

ultimate sacrifice

protecting the citizens

of Austin. He was

shot and killed while

making a traffic stop in

Zilker Parks. Shortly

after the tragedy, a

committee of Parks

and Recreation staff

was put together to

plan, design, and

construct a fitting memorial to the fallen officer. The memorial was dedicated

during a ceremony held on May 28, 2002.” (2002 Annual Report).

June 8, 2002: The Austin Parks and Recreation Department opened its first

water playground at Metz Recreation

Center, with funding from the Water and

Wastewater Conservation Department.”

(2002 Annual Report).

June 29, 2002: “After heavy rainfall, a wall

of water flowed down Barton Creek and

through Barton Springs Pool. The flow of

water did not subside until July 11

. The

Barton Springs staff logged countless hours

of cleaning and repairing the damages

caused by the flood and were able to reopen

the pool on July 20

.” (2002 Annual Report).

September 8, 2002: “The 18

. Annual

“Rock the Boat” was held at Fiesta

Gardens. This canoe and kayak event is

held each year to give individuals with special

needs an opportunity to participate in

boating experiences in a safe environment.”

(2002 Annual Report).

Jones Memorial

Rock the Boat

Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003 39

40 Austin Parks and Recreation Department 1928-2003

City of Austin Officials

Mayor Will Wynn

Mayor Pro Tem Jackie Goodman

Council Member Raul Alvarez

Council Member Betty Dunkerley

Council Member Daryl Slusher

Council Member Danny Thomas

Council Member Brewster McCracken

Former Mayor Gus Garcia

City Manager

Toby Futrell

History documentation prepared by Gloria Mata Pennington, designed by Mendy Marshall.

Contributing photographs: Parks and Recreation Department staff and the Austin History Center.

Special thanks to Margaret Schlankey and Susan Soy of the Austin History Center for sharing information and pictures.

Parks and Recreation Board Members

Amy Babich

Marilyn Bostick

Jeb Boyt

Jeff Francell

Linda H. Guerrero

Clint Small

Pablo Valdez

Rosemary Castleberry, Chair

Mary Ruth Holder, Secretary, Parliamentarian

Parks and Recreation Board Emeritus

Roberta Crenshaw

Director

Jesus M. Olivares

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information.