Blog Post

The Rare Trees of Pease by Colleen Dieter

The Rare Trees of Pease by Colleen Dieter

Tree enthusiast and ISA Certified Arborist, Colleen Dieter, tells us all about the rare and beloved Big Tooth Maple and why it is important. Colleen Dieter will be leading a FREE Tree Identification walk at Pease Park in Austin on Sept. 9 2023 from 10:30-12:30. You’ll learn how to identify trees and collect seeds from them to contribute to Central Texas Seed Savers’ Seed to Tree Pipeline Program. Register here.

What's going on with the Splash Pad?

What's going on with the Splash Pad?

Thank you for your feedback and concerns regarding the splash pad at Pease Park.

At this time, public safety remains our top priority. We cannot reopen the water feature until we are absolutely certain it is safe to do so. The sophisticated controller equipment that continuously monitors water quality, dispenses the chemicals, and automatically shuts off the splash pad when water quality is out of balance must be operating properly to ensure that it is safe for play. Unhealthy water quality can cause illness and death.We want to assure you that we are working diligently to diagnose the problem and make the necessary repairs. We are working with GPSI, the firm that designed and built the splash pad, as well as IPS, the manufacturer of the controller equipment.

This Spring, We Brought School Outside

This Spring, We Brought School Outside

Our human disposition for curiosity and observation are the fundamental skills that make everyone an Ecologist in some capacity. This is part of the reason The Conservancy leads the Ecologist School Field Trip Program. This program is a a joint service-learning opportunity between Pease Park Conservancy and Families in Nature with the intent of increasing environmental literacy and encouraging student interest in the environment. In a single semester we have engaged over 290 students from 5 schools in the Austin-metro area and look forward to continuing this service.

Read on to learn more about the program and how you can get involved!

Memory and landscape are intertwined..

Memory and landscape are intertwined..

One of February’s long celebrated moments of remembrance. Since 1976 we have made it an American practice to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” — Pease Park Conservancy is working to center narratives, prioritize experiences, and most importantly to restructuralize how public land is cultivated and shared.

Women's History Month: Starla Simmons

Women's History Month: Starla Simmons

Anecdotally, we all feel how therapeutic it can be to be outside in nature. Even if you just take a short walk in your neighborhood when you are feeling stressed, it can do immediate wonders for your mental health. Starla Simmons, LCSW, Clinical Assistant Professor and Field Liaison at the School of Social Work, has the evidence and experience to back up this intuition around the connection between time in nature and our mental health.

Women's History Month: Rocio Villalobos

Women's History Month: Rocio Villalobos

An advocate, an agitator, and a mentor, Rocio Villalobos is inspiring and driving positive change for Austin in terms of social justice and equity. She also has experienced and continues to enjoy the healing power of being in the outdoors. The convergence of these two passions makes her truly special for our community and invaluable as an advisor to our team at Pease Park Conservancy.