My Book Trail: Austin Parks Foundation
To get us in the spirit of this year’s Austin Texas Book Trail on April 12 + 13, we asked a few of our favorite local readers, writers, and community orgs about bookshops on their must-stop list. Keep scrolling to learn which bookstores the team at Austin Parks Foundation is hitting up this year.
✽ Meet Austin Parks Foundation, environmental conservation non-profit
For more than 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. Our goal is to improve Austin’s parks by building community through our parks with people at the forefront of our work.
Our programming and strategic vision are aimed at helping to fill the funding and resource gap for our parks. We strive to ensure that every Austinite has access to well-kept parks, trails and green spaces no matter their neighborhood.
APF has invested over $85 million in Austin parks since its inception in 1992, and our annual flagship volunteer event, It’s My Park Day, results in an average of $650,000 in volunteer labor each year. APF also fosters unique partnerships, 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 austinparks.org.
What’s on Austin Parks Foundation’s Book Trail?
Heaven Wilbanks, HR & Operations Manager — Vintage Bookstore and Wine Bar. It's so cozy and nice to browse the books and have a nice glass of wine.
Vintage Bookstore is near Rosewood Neighborhood Park, where we are currently renovating the playscape and the Henry G. Madison Cabin. In the past we have led efforts to make the Eastlink Trail and The Pillars Project a reality, and have invested in various improvements in the park.
Joe Choe, Events Coordinator — BookPeople is my favorite bookstore because their selection is wide like a chain bookstore, but they also do a good job of representing local flavor and literary talent through their decor & selection. Their stairwell of toys and knick-knacks is always fun to look at, and they're great about holding events in their space and giving donations back to the community.
Bookpeople is a short walk to Republic Square. Nearly 10 years ago, APF joined forces with the Downtown Austin Alliance and the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department to redevelop Republic Square. APF invested millions into the project, and managed the design process and construction for the new park.
Erica Silverstein, Director of Individual Giving & Donor Relations — I love BookPeople! It's a huge space where you can spend hours browsing, and I usually walk out with a huge stack of books to add to my collection. I also love being able to shop local!
Colin Wallis, CEO — I love First Light Books in Hyde Park - such a cool Austin bookstore. Great selection of books, great coffee, great people...they have it all. And if you are looking for a great place to read books purchased from there, Sparky Park is such a cool, funky Austin park in Hyde Park.
Jasmine Piper, Community Funds Coordinator — I like the vibes and events First Light Books hosts. The building used to be a post office which I think is very cool and you can go there for day or night drinks/eats.
Kayla Reese, Advocacy Manager — Black Pearl Books! It’s an indie bookstore that is friendly and really community driven. They're really inclusive and diverse, and black owned!
Joy Casnovsky, Chief Mission Officer — Whenever I go to Monument Cafe in Georgetown, I always pair it with a stop into Lark and Owl Booksellers next door. They have something for everyone from a fantastic book selection, whimsical gifts and a little bistro inside.
Annie Veerkamp, Technology and Support Specialist — Curio Mrvosa in Taylor is a gem on a small-town square, with new books and then the unexpected, odd books, cards, and eerie art. Part bookstore, part gallery - loved the Edward Gorey night they had recently.
Freddy Nieto, Volunteer Coordinator — I'm a big fan of Vintage Bookstore and Wine Bar on 11th Street. This bookstore is inside a beautiful home from the 1800's. The place has a warm, welcoming atmosphere with very cozy spots to work (indoor and outdoor seating). They have a small, but great book selection. Lastly, for those who want to read with a drink in hand, this bookstore comes equipped with a WINE BAR!!! Great bookstore overall.