Hispanic Heritage Month starts today and Pease Park Conservancy is honored to have cultivated a team with such rich and diverse backgrounds!
Representation matters and thanks to these incredible individuals, we have been able to broaden our community offerings and how we serve Spanish speakers through bilingual communications, programming, and our Ecologist School Field Trips. Join us in celebrating the value and leadership they bring to the organization and its mission by getting to know them!
As Latino Conservation Week comes to an end, we want to reflect on the many different ways in which Latinos are playing a role in conservation. From organizing events for groups to spend time in nature like Latino Outdoors’ initiative does, to working in land management, parks departments, and leading research across various topics concerning conservation - the work doesn’t end here! We hope you’ll stay connected with this initiative led by the Hispanic Access Foundation!
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.
For the past 10 years, the week of July 15 through July 23rd has been recognized as Latino Conservation Week - An initiative led by the Hispanic Access Foundation to further amplify the presence of Latinos in the outdoors. During this time organizations and community groups across the country have gathered and participated in various events to promote conservation efforts in their local environments.
In honor of Latino Conservation Week, we spoke to Josie (San Antonio Regional Coordinator) and Bianca (Program Coordinator) of Latino Outdoors about the history of Latino Outdoors, the work that they do and why it’s important to build an inclusive outdoors:
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.
Lyova Rosanoff walks her dog in Pease Park. The walk has been an almost daily routine for more than 20 years – a chance to get away from the urban setting and back to nature. Lyova’s legacy to Austin trails her tall, lean stature and gracious smile as you pass her in Pease Park. Her musical talent, wit (tinged with political power brokers and events), and a love for Austin (especially Austin in the “hippy 70’s and 80’s”) all contributed to a larger Austin legacy, Esther’s Follies.
Being beautiful doesn’t mean you don’t need a trim every once in a while. That was the case for Pease Park during National Trails Day on June 1st. The more than 45 volunteers targeted invasive species - most notably chinaberry, ligustrum and ragweed - working on the west side of Shoal Creek just south of the Janet Fish Pedestrian Bridge.
Signs and illustrations in Pease Park tell stories – a part of interpreting the history, culture and environment to help visitors better understand and relate to their surroundings. About 30 people attended a recent community gathering to contribute their insights for a more comprehensive Interpretive Master Plan for Pease Park.
