Commercial Use of Dedicated Parkland Again Under Review

Fitness instructors and yoga teachers who lead classes in Austin parks have been paying a fee to do so for six months.

Photo by Jana Birchum

The city's Parks and Recreation Department is holding a public input meeting on the Commercial Use of Dedicated Parkland Program on Wednesday, June 20, 6-7:30pm, at the Zilker Botanical Gardens Auditorium, 2220 Barton Springs Rd. PARD is conducting a review of the program, which was designed to manage use of the parks system by outdoor commercial health and fitness businesses. The program became controversial last year (see "Pease Out," Dec. 2, 2011), when yoga teachers and others who had been giving classes in parks for years were told that they would now be regulated and in some cases charged a fee for use of the park.

This forum will gather public comments regarding the initial six months of the program. For more info: www.austintexas.gov/department/commercial-use-dedicated-parkland.