Honor 150 Years of Pease Park with a Gift to Build the Future
PEASE PARK’S STORIED HISTORY
In 1875, Governor Pease and his family donated the first 23 acres of the land that would become Pease Park to be Austin’s first “Public Park and Pleasure Ground.” These acres were not ideal for habitation, but they could be enjoyed for their natural beauty and shared by many for recreation.
Pease Park has experienced a storied history-- one containing both joy and pain. The Pease family enjoyed these acres for recreation and respite. Enslaved people labored on this land. Black washerwomen likely used the creek for their work while enslaved, and later used the same waters to find some economic autonomy post-emancipation. The area surrounding Shoal Creek likely served as an "urban commons" where Black children fished, swam, and played as Black Freedom Communities were established throughout the city. But over time, restrictions such as the 1928 City of Austin plan led to segregation and exclusion of people of color from Pease Park.
Pease Park Conservancy’s Role in the Park
The Conservancy today works to make sure that Pease Park is a place where all feel welcome and where all Austinites can connect with one another and with nature.
Since our founding as Trees for Pease in 2008, Pease Park Conservancy has focused on ecological restoration. In 2014, Austin City Council unanimously passed the Conservancy’s award-winning Vision Plan, and in 2018, the Kingsbury Commons capital campaign and renovation began. In June 2021, the Conservancy successfully completed the renovation of Kingsbury Commons and has since assumed primary operation and maintenance responsibilities for these seven acres in partnership with the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Pease Park Conservancy remains committed to stewarding this cherished green space and providing generations of visitors opportunities to gather and enjoy nature.
commemorating the sesquicentennial
2025 marks the 150th Anniversary of the donation that became Pease Park. We commemorate this Sesquicentennial and the rich history it embodies by continuing to explore and share the stories that make the park a legendary part of the Austin community.
We invite you to celebrate 150 years of Pease Park with a gift of $150+. Your donation will not only help Pease Park Conservancy share and steward the park today, but also for the next 150 years. The Conservancy is working to expand our operations and maintenance presence, build our educational programs, and enhance our sustainability efforts. We will ensure that Pease Park is a welcoming space for everyone, now and far into the future.
To show our appreciation, donors who contribute $150 or more before September 1, 2025 will receive a limited-edition Pease Park 150th Anniversary t-shirt OR a beautifully designed commemorative poster. These exclusive gifts are our way of saying thank you for being part of the park’s legacy and its future.
Let’s build on these first 150 years with a gift that grows the future of Pease Park Conservancy.
ANNIVERSARY MERCHANDISE
Check out the new line of Sesquicentennial Merch on PPC’s Bonfire page! All proceeds continue to support Pease Park Conservancy’s efforts to maintain this beautiful greenspace.
