This fall, Austin voters will be asked to decide on 18 propositions, including seven bond propositions totaling $385 million. KUT News is examining all seven of the spending propositions; today we take a look at Prop 14, which pump $78 million dollars into Austin’s public park and recreational facilities.
Some of the parks that would see improvements are the Emma Long Metropolitan Park, the Shoal Creek Greenbelt and Zilker Metropolitan Park. Facilities like the Barton Springs Bathhouse would be renovated and the Dove Springs Recreation Center would be expanded.
“We have nothing for our seniors out there,” says Dove Springs community leader Ofelia Zapata. She says the recreation center needs the money that Prop 14 would provide.
“Every neighborhood has a senior center, a multipurpose center, except southeast Austin,” Zapata says. “The time is now to deliver a multipurpose center to meet the needs of the families in our neighborhood.”
Pat Smith of the Southeast Neighborhood Planning Contact Team is also in favor of Prop 14. But she says its shortcomings lie in the way the money is being divvied up.
“We were awarded $1.75 million and we are very grateful for that,” Smith said. “But considering the needs of the community probably far exceed those that were even projected in 2002, we do not feel it’s adequate.”
Efforts to acquire new parkland and maintain city-owned cemeteries would also get a share of Prop 14 spending. You can learn more about the proposal on city's website.
