In celebration of Spurs Week in Austin, Spurs Give and the Austin Parks Foundation (APF) is donating nearly $500,000 to launch “Play ATX,” a multi-year program dedicated to renovating parks and basketball courts throughout the city of Austin. To tip off the program, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at Dove Springs District Park (5801 Ainez Dr, Austin, TX 78744) to unveil a newly renovated basketball court on Tuesday, April 4 at 5 p.m. Following the ceremony, a basketball clinic will be held with 50 youth athletes from the Austin Parks and Recreation Department’s (PARD) basketball league.
“We are honored to help expand the work and active programming that is already being led by the Austin Parks and Recreation Department,” said Dr. Kara Allen, Chief Impact Officer for Spurs Sports & Entertainment. “At our core, it is important for us to celebrate and honor fans beyond the court in ways that will make a difference for those most in need and Play ATX is one way we are bringing that mission to Austin.”
Spurs Give and APF are working in partnership with the City of Austin and PARD to create safe play spaces and foster active lifestyles for families by rebuilding, refurbishing and updating community parks and basketball courts. Improvements to the basketball court at Dove Springs District Park included resurfacing and restriping the court, replacing the goals, and new benches and lights.
“We are so excited and grateful to partner with the Spurs for this special program,” said Colin Wallis, CEO of Austin Parks Foundation. “Our Parks & Recreation department is severely underfunded and partnerships like this help amplify our work and allow us to make much-needed improvements to our city’s parks. Outdoor activities, such as playing basketball, are so important, not only to foster a sense of community but for the tremendous physical and mental health benefits.”
Play ATX is an expansion of the Spurs Give program “Play SA,” which began in San Antonio in 2020. The San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department and Spurs Give teamed up with a goal of renovating parks most in need in each of the city's 10 districts. Projects have ranged from revamped basketball courts to a skate park to upgraded playgrounds. Play SA is in its third year and has completed 11 renovations.
“Through creative collaboration and teamwork with Austin Parks Foundation and the Spurs, the newly refurbished basketball court is a wonderful addition to Dove Springs District Park,” said PARD’s Director Kimberly McNeeley. “Thank you to our partners who worked closely with the Parks and Recreation Department and community to make this court a reality.”
About Austin Parks Foundation
For 30 years, Austin Parks Foundation (APF) has been connecting people and parks. APF is dedicated to partnering with our community to enhance people’s lives by improving our public parks, trails and green spaces through volunteerism, innovative programming, advocacy and financial support. APF’s goal is to improve Austin’s parks by building community through our parks with people at the forefront of our work.
APF’s programming and strategic vision are aimed at helping to fill the funding and resource gap for our parks, and we strive to ensure that every Austinite has access to well-kept parks, trails and green spaces no matter their neighborhood.
APF’s community-initiated grants have distributed nearly $4 million since 2006, and the group’s annual flagship volunteer event, It’s My Park Day, results in an average of $650,000 in volunteer labor each year. APF is a presenting partner and beneficiary of the Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Metropolitan Park, and empowers neighbors all over the city to create a parks system that serves their needs. For more information, please visit www.austinparks.org.
About City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department
Austin Parks and Recreation seeks to inspire our community to learn, play, protect and connect by creating diverse programs and experiences in sustainable natural spaces and public places. This City of Austin Department protects and maintains parkland, urban forest, and trails as well as offering sports, recreation, educational enrichment, arts programs, cultural opportunities, and nature and aquatic activities for Austinites. For more information visit AustinTexas.gov/Parks
About Spurs Give
We are a family - a team - passionate about sports. We are passionate about what sports can do for our community - especially our youth. At the heart of it, we believe sports can provide a family with a common goal, and a hope for a better future. We are Spurs Give - the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of Spurs Sports & Entertainment. Since our founding in 1988, we have invested $32 million in our community. Through our players' passions, our grants, and our impact programs, we are changing lives and leaving a lasting impact. You give. We give. Spurs Give.
