Highland Neighborhood Association

Quarterly Meeting June 13, 2023 6pm @ ACC Highland and via Zoom 

6pm - 6:10pm - Open, welcome, get settled

6:10pm - Board members introduce themselves

6:15pm - Ongoing business

  • (10 min) Parks and such (Kate Garza, parks committee chair)

    • TA Brown NPP update (Andrew Cortes)

      • Via CoA: “The new outdoor fitness area, accessible sidewalk, and picnic tables at T.A. Brown have been completed. We will be planting trees in the fall.”

        • AISD concerns about irrigation system, withdrew approval

        • Andrew working with city to tie into their infrastructure

    • Highland Park update

      • Via CoA: “Construction is underway. The contractor will begin pouring the concrete loop trail in the coming weeks. Once the work near the playground is complete in late summer/early fall we can consider the best route to open the playground for use. The full park is expected to open in January 2024.”

      • Austin Parks Foundation is funding a connective bridge for access to Highland Park. They’re currently working with a local civil engineering firm for design and permitting, and that package is “almost ready for submittal.”

      • Highland ACC parks - in old parking lots – near completion, across from COA permitting and development center, adding a pavilion that UFCU has sponsored

  • Highland mobility/pedestrian committee (Josue Meiners)

    • Getting rolling now after short delay

    • Need to establish scope for now

      • Looking at opportunities for scope, connectivity

      • Q from Neighbor: who decided where the sidewalks go?

        • JM: plans have been in place for a while, seem to prioritize school locations

  • Neighborhood Partnering Program idea –Waller Creek cleanup (Nick Pellicciotto)

  • Zoning/development updates (Nick, Meredith)

    • Connectivity between 7009 Guad and Highland Park

      • Advocate for connection there? CM Vela’s office is advocating for it

      • Individual neighbors can also support connectivity

6:45 pm - Guests 

  • Samara Barks, Highland Art In Public Places (AIPP) artist 

    • Lives at Crestview/Highland border, will be doing art at Highland Park after reno, lived in Austin 7 years, many community-based mural projects, mostly East Austin, 

    • MixedHues.com

    • History of community 

    • 6/24 meet neighbors, ideation, painting and drawing workshop, what my neighborhood means to me

    • May be sculptural or 2D

  • Alex Irrera, AIPP rep

    • Did some focus groups for ideation

7pm - New business

  • National Night Out (via Emily Oordt) – Interest in participating from Highland neighbors? Date is Tuesday, October 3, 2023, registration is August 28-September 17