Let’s Amplify Patterson Park!

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Spring is around the corner and Amplify Austin is March 2–3! There are 600+ local organizations participating in the 24 hour fundraiser, and Friends of Patterson Park is working with Austin Parks Foundation to raise money for our neighborhood park. The park has been so important to neighbors as a place to exercise, find peace, and socialize safely over the last two years, and it was lovely to begin gathering for community events this fall. People seemed full of joy to be together at our National Night Out picnic and Luminarias.

Our goal this year is to continue work repairing and adding to our athletic facilities. Last year we were awarded a $134,000 grant from the city’s Neighborhood Partnering Program, and this will fund a new shade structure over the basketball court as well as other improvements. The grant will require a substantial match from FoPP, and we rely on funds raised during Amplify Austin. 

We are so grateful for the continued support of neighborhood businesses including Jade Building. On top of that, Austin Parks Foundation has secured a match for Amplify Austin donations to parks by Central National Bank, so your dollars will stretch even farther. Help us reach our goal of raising $5,000!

Thank you for being a part of our park community.

Fall Festival at Patterson on October 30

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Join the Patterson Park Community Garden for a Fall Festival on Saturday, October 30 from 10 am-12 pm. This is an official Roots & Wings Festival pop up event, with fun for the whole family. There will be a beekeeping demonstration, scavenger hunt, pumpkin patch, seed giveaway, music by Javier Jara, free Mister Softee ice cream, and more!

The Roots & Wings Festival is Austin’s annual combined celebration of Arbor Day and Monarch Appreciation Day. We use this time to celebrate trees, butterflies, bees, and nature in our city. 2021 will be our fourth annual Festival with two weeks of nature-based events all across Austin.  

Thanks to Austin Nature in the City and Austin Parks Foundation for their support. Check out all the other events happening around town at www.rootsandwingsfest.com.

Cap City Cobras to Host Field Day at Patterson Park

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Come by Patterson Park on Saturday, September 25th from 9–11am for a field day of fun and games with the Cap City Cobras, Patterson’s own sandlot baseball team! We are thrilled to be hosting our first event at the park in a year and a half and kindly ask everyone to wear a mask.

The Cobras have been playing on Wednesday evenings at the park for years. They were first sandlot team to play at the Field of Dreams in Iowa and we are wrapping up their eighth season as a squad. To show their appreciation for Patterson Park neighbors, the Cobras will be hosting a casual drop-in field day with some fun baseball activities and some Cobras merch giveaways. Stop by on your morning walk, bring a glove, bring the kids (and, any kids-sized equipment they may want to use). There will be opportunities for all ages and abilities to goof around and do some hitting and some fielding with your friendly, neighborhood Cobras.

Friends of Patterson Park is so grateful for all the work the Cobras have done building out the baseball field and writing grants for major park improvements like the new backstop. Check out the recent story in Austin Monthly about the team. Free breakfast refreshments provided.

Q&A on New Public Art at Patterson’s Pharr Tennis Center

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Local artists Rakhee Jain Desai and Melissa Knight will be creating a permanent public artwork as part of the upcoming renovation of the Pharr Tennis Center at Patterson Park. Neighbors and users of the center are invited to join the artists for a discussion and help inform the artwork design. Learn more about the renovation project at https://www.austintexas.gov/department/pharr-tennis-center-renovation

Meet the Artists Sunday, August 29, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Join the Zoom Meeting here
Meeting ID: 879 5931 2653
Passcode: 420167

Questions? Contact AIPP Project Manager Alex Irrera by email at alex.irrera@austintexas.gov or by calling 512.974.7860. http://www.austintexas.gov/department/art-public-places

City awards Patterson 134K Grant

City of Austin Awards 134K Grant to Friends of Patterson Park

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We are thrilled to share the news that the City of Austin’s Neighborhood Partnering Program has approved our 2019 grant application and awarded our group $134,741 for improvements to the athletic facilities at Patterson Park! The objective of the project is to increase opportunities for residents of all ages to engage in play and physical activity at Patterson Park.

NPP’s review was delayed first by a staff shortage and later the pandemic, and their board just met to review two years of applications. After an agreement is signed this summer, we hope we will be able to implement the various elements of the project by the end of the year. 

The project includes $134,741 for
* new shade structure over the basketball court
* two new youth height basketball baskets
* replacing existing basketball backboards
* new park benches behind baseball backstop
* new limestone seating along trail next to the baseball field

Our 33% match (valued at $44,144) includes
* new baseball backstop (already completed with an Austin Parks Foundation grant + our own funds)
* replacing last 6 cement trash cans
* $3,000 cash
* volunteer work hours at Patterson Park and the Willowbrook Reach greenbelt

We deeply appreciate the work Friends of Patterson Park did developing this project with thoughtful discussion on our listserv and at community meetings, gathering support at the meetings of four neighborhood associations and door-to-door around the park, and preparing and reviewing the grant application. 

We are also grateful for the neighbors and neighborhood businesses who have supported our Amplify Austin fundraising campaigns and made our financial contribution to this project possible, Austin Parks Foundation for our recent Austin City Limits Music Festival Grant, and the many volunteers who mulch our park, clean up trash at our creek, and tend to the vegetable and pollinator gardens at our school. This is truly an amazing park community that came together to bring more fun, exercise and sun safety to Patterson Park!

Friends of Patterson Park raises 246% of Amplify Austin Goal

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CONGRATULATIONS!  Because of your generous donations, Friends of Patterson Park raised $7,425 during Amplify Austin. Thank you so much for your tremendous support and generosity during Amplify Austin Day 2021! We set a modest goal and blew past it. 

It’s been a hard year for so many, and we’ve come to depend on our public parks like never before. Together, the Friends of Patterson Park can bring updates and new amenities to our 80 year old neighborhood park so that people from around East Austin and the city can get the most out of this treasured green space.  We are truly grateful for your support and can’t wait to gather in person to celebrate with our park community this fall.   

We could not have done this without each and every single one of you!   

Let’s Amplify Patterson!

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We were deep in winter just two weeks ago, but spring is around the corner and AMPLIFY AUSTIN is March 4-5! There are 675+ local organizations participating in the 24 hour fundraiser, and Friends of Patterson Park is working with Austin Parks Foundation to raise money for our neighborhood park. The past year has made our city’s green spaces even more important – they’ve been key to our physical and mental health. You can help make Patterson into an even more welcoming destination for our East Austin neighbors to play, exercise, and enjoy the outdoors.

Donate now at amplifyatx.org!

Our goal this year is to continue work repairing and adding to our athletic facilities. This winter we were awarded a $5,000 Austin City Limits Community Grant by APF to replace the damaged backstop at the baseball field, and work started this week! We will use funds raised during last year’s Amplify campaign to make a matching contribution toward the installation. We hope to complete the athletic facilities project with a grant from the Neighborhood Partnering Program, and this year’s Amplify funds will allow us to provide the required match. 

We are so grateful for the continued support of neighborhood businesses! Nature’s Treasures, Franklin Barbecue, and Jade Construction, have already made substantial pledges. On top of that, Austin Parks Foundation has secured a 100% match for Amplify Austin donations to parks by Central National Bank, so your dollars will stretch even farther. Help us reach our goal of raising $3,000!

Thank you for being a part of our park community.

Patterson Park, February 15, 2015. Photo by J. Potter-Miller/Friends of Patterson Park.

Snowpocalypse of 2021

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Snow fell through the night on February 14, and blanketed Patterson Park with several inches of powdery snow. It was a magical sight ❄️ Hoping all our neighbors stay safe out there!

  • Patterson Park, February 15, 2015. Photo by J. Potter-Miller/Friends of Patterson Park.
  • Patterson Park, February 15, 2015. Photo by J. Potter-Miller/Friends of Patterson Park.
  • Patterson Park, February 15, 2015. Photo by J. Potter-Miller/Friends of Patterson Park.
  • Patterson Park, February 15, 2015. Photo by J. Potter-Miller/Friends of Patterson Park.
  • Patterson Park, February 15, 2015. Photo by J. Potter-Miller/Friends of Patterson Park.
  • Patterson Park, February 15, 2015. Photo by J. Potter-Miller/Friends of Patterson Park.
  • Patterson Park, February 15, 2015. Photo by J. Potter-Miller/Friends of Patterson Park.
  • Patterson Park, February 15, 2015. Photo by J. Potter-Miller/Friends of Patterson Park.
  • Patterson Park, February 15, 2015. Photo by J. Potter-Miller/Friends of Patterson Park.
  • Patterson Park, February 15, 2015. Photo by J. Potter-Miller/Friends of Patterson Park.
  • Patterson Park, February 15, 2015. Photo by J. Potter-Miller/Friends of Patterson Park.