The Parks and Recreation Board on Sept. 29 unanimously approved a letter of appreciation and support for the departments Parkland Acquisition Program and heard staff outline how recent state legislation has changed funding for parkland acquisition.

Assistant director Lianna Kaluboka and parkland staff presented the departments record since 1998: more than 3,300 acres and nearly 200 new parks or park expansions acquired using a mix of parkland dedication fees and bond funding. Staff and planners explained that House Bill 15-26 (state law enacted 2023) reduced the amount of land and fee revenue cities may collect at development, shifting collections to certificate-of-occupancy timing and drastically reducing the per-capita parkland dedication level the state now allows.

"HB 15-26 changes the way that parkland dedication works for Austin residents by drastically reducing the amount of land that is required to be dedicated as a park," planner Gabrielle Patricola told the board, and staff described an expected short-term funding gap of about $15$20 million a year for up to five years. Planners said that, under the prior ordinance, parkland dedication dollars matched roughly $0.33 on the dollar of bond funding; with the state change, staff said the department will rely more heavily on the 2026 bond to meet park service goals.

Staff outlined the departments priorities for the 2026 bond: infill and neighborhood park acquisitions to raise walking-distance access, a recreation center targeted to southeast Austin, continued Colorado River frontage acquisition aligned with the Colorado River vision plan, and greenbelt and trail corridor acquisitions. Staff also explained land banking as a practice to acquire and protect land now while prices are lower and to preserve linkage corridors and environmental benefits.

The board approved the letter of support for the Parkland Acquisition Program and commended staff for their strategic use of bond and dedication funding. Motion: "Approve letters of support for the Austin Parks and Recreation Parkland Acquisition Team." Mover: Board Member Flowers. Second: Board Member Eubanks. Tally: yes 10, no 0, abstain 0. Outcome: approved.