If you have visited Pease Park within the last week you might have wondered about the red flags along Kingsbury Commons and Live Oak Meadow. Though you may initially think they are markers for some sort of maintenance or restoration project, the flags are much more meaningful than that, and are actually part of an installation meant to honor the lives of those impacted by HIV/AIDS.
Every April the Hill Country Ride for AIDS (HCRA) hosts a major bike ride in Spicewood, Texas to generate funds for nine local nonprofits that offer care and prevention services for those affected by HIV/AIDS. Through the work of volunteers and riders the average participant raises close to $1000 in funds. Not only is it the largest fundraiser of its kind in Central Texas, but it is a beloved and sentimental community event.
Along the course of the Ride the organization displays red flags in what is known as the Mile of Silence. This installation is a collection of flags that each represent a loved one of a participant who has passed, survived, and/or continues to live with HIV/AIDS. New flags are staked alongside those collected from previous years to honor these individuals and bring awareness to the history of the illness.
“We are honored to host the Mile of Silence at Pease Park for the second year in a row," said Heath Riddles, Pease Park Conservancy CEO. "Parks are naturally sacred spaces for healing, contemplation and general well-being. It's perfectly fitting that Austin's most historic public park would be the setting for this installation." At the end of the day the Conservancy’s most important role is to engage and uphold all of the communities that use this urban green space, for our mission extends beyond the 84 acres that make up Pease Park.
The joint venture is as exciting for the HCRA as it is for the Conservancy. As Ride Director, Taylor Stockett, states, “The Mile of Silence Red Flags are one of the most tangible elements of the Hill Country Ride for AIDS each year, and we are excited to partner with Pease Park Conservancy to bring this installation downtown so more people can engage with our mission”.
By bringing the Mile of Silence to a public space, the HCRA becomes more accessible to a plethora of community members and gives more people the opportunity to engage with the flags as well as reflect on the status of illness’s past, present, and future.
This years’ Mile of Silence will be displayed from April 12th-April 24th in Kingsbury Commons. Join us Tuesday, April 19th from 4:30 - 7:30 PM (CST) to place a flag in honor of a loved one along the half-mile route. A brief dedication will be made at the beginning of the installation in Kingsbury Commons at 6:30 PM (CST).