Green Getaways

A Guide to Austin’s Gorgeous Green Spaces

By Benjamin Grubert

Over the Colorado River, the evening sun dips below the horizon, bathing Roy G. Guerrero Park in a shower of red and orange. Footsteps and lively chatter cross the colorful landscape, as the hustle and bustle of city life has died down. Silhouetted by the setting sun, figures cross the gravel path.

Parks like Roy. G. Guerrero play a vital role in Austin’s culture and environment, say members of the various park organizations there. Allison Johnson, the director of community engagement at the Pease Park Conservancy touched on this.

“Research has found that time spent in nature is good for both our physical and mental health, and often it is difficult for people to take the time to get outdoors and enjoy time in nature or green spaces are not accessible for some people for a variety of reasons,” Johnson said. “Parks provide an opportunity for people to connect with each other and with nature without having to spend any money.”

Beyond just health, parks can be just a fun place to hang out for anything from a small meetup to a large event, explained Wright.

“[Parks] are not only good for physical aspects of your body, but they’re also good for the community at large,” said Jess Wright, the volunteer coordinator for the Austin Parks Foundation.

Because parks influence the city and its people, they have a profound impact on the city’s culture. Collin Wallis, the CEO of the Austin Parks Foundation talked about this.

“Parks are really important to Austin,” Wallis said. “I think people in Austin are very outdoorsy, and our parks are a huge part of that.”

Despite its rapid expansion and growing tech industry, Austin remains fully rooted in its culture, which plays into its lush collection of parks.

“I think a lot of Austin’s identity is around the fact that there’s so much green here,” Wright said. “Now, maybe that’s changing because Austin is growing. But I think, like not everyone, but people move here for a lot of different reasons, and I know a big reason I moved here was because Austin continues to care about parks and trees and wildlife and the springs.”

In spite of this, Austin has a long history of underserved communities’ parks not getting the treatment they deserve, and organizations like the Austin Parks Foundation are helping to right this disparity.

“and so building park amenities and improving parks in places that historically haven’t seen a lot of park funding is certainly one way we do that, and also just advocating for those spaces and making sure that a light is shined on parks that haven’t seen the kind of investment that other parks have.”

““We spend a good portion of our budget on traditionally underserved parks,” Wallis said,

With parks being a focal point of Austin, they’re sure to attract the attention of new Austinites. However, with so many parks to pick from, the options might be overwhelming. Roy G. Guerrero is a park in South Austin that overlooks the Colorado River.

“I would recommend Roy G. Guerrero because for a newcomer, it’s … big, and there’s so much to do,” Wright said. “Every time I’ve gone there, I’ve seen really cool wildlife.”

The Barton Creek Greenbelt is one of Austin’s largest parks. It’s also known for its large collection of trails and hangout spots.

“It’s such an interesting place, and there’s so much going on down there,” Wallis said. “There’s so much to see and do, and it’s such a great place to escape the city.”

With their wide range of health benefits, as well as things they offer, it’s no wonder that parks are so special to the city. Even as Austin grows, so will its parks.

“Where I get to go to a place and just see green, see all the different types of flowers, and see all the different types of bugs,” Wright said, “I think for me, that’s probably what is most special.”