Hancock's Future Should Center Equity
As the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department is planning for the future of Hancock Golf Course, it is critical for the department to engage with the broader Austin community to envision how this public space should be used. We must envision a future for Hancock that provides equitable access to all, maximizes community benefit, and helps undo the marks of segregation and displacement that have shaped the Austin landscape for far too long.
Hancock for All
What an equitable future looks like:
Prioritize public park space – Use the site to protect and create public park space that serves Austinites of all ages, abilities, and disabilities. Ecologically restore Waller Creek and expand hike and bike trails along it to serve the Austin community.
Community Engagement - It is integral that there is broad community engagement and full transparency in guiding the transformation of this site, which so far has not been successfully accomplished. The future of the Hancock Golf Course must be decided by all Austinites, especially communities of color and working class communities who have historically been left out of such conversations.
Retain and Expand Public Use - Do not create a private golf course that is exclusionary in nature and does not support Austin values. Instead the department should expand public use of the site and address broad community needs.
Maximize Affordable Housing Opportunities - Maximize housing, particularly affordable housing opportunities, in this high opportunity area where residents have access to food, jobs, and other resources. Take advantage of the location of the site, in close proximity to transit infrastructure and Downtown Austin, to expand housing opportunities for historically segregated residents of color and working class residents.
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