The third bond proposition on the city of Austin’s Nov. 7 ballot concerns parks facilities and parkland. It earmarks $84.7 million to buy land, renovate and/or build parks, recreation facilities, public pools, skate parks, historic properties and the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail.
The largest provision is $54.5 million to improve existing facilities. Four million of that will be used to renovate the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail. The trail has been around for almost 40 years, and has never undergone a major renovation.
"It's the first bond we've had since 1998 and we have a line of projects to bring our parks back up to par," Stuart Strong of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department said.
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Proposition 3
The $84.7 million bond would improve existing parks, build new rec centers and buy land.
 
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Eighteen million – a hefty chunk – will be used to renovate and bring city pools up to code. Three million will be used to renovate the Dougherty Arts Center on Barton Springs Road, and $1.5 million will be used to update the Northwest Recreation Center on Northland Drive.
There’s also a provision to build a new recreation center in North Austin for $8.9 million and a new skateboarding/BMX park for $1.3 million.
It took four years to build Austin’s first skate park at Mabel Davis Park in Southeast Austin. That 12,000-square-foot facility is now hugely popular skateboarders of all ages.
There's also $20 million to buy land to develop neighborhood parks, greenbelt parks and destination parks in East Austin. The locations have yet to be determined.
Early voting begins on October 23.
