Dove Springs, Austin, Texas
57°18′22″N 4°27′32″W / 57.30611°N 4.45889°W
Dove Springs, nicknamed the "44" after the area ZIP Codes, is a neighborhood in Austin, Texas.[1]
Sam Ramos of the Austin Chronicle stated that the unofficial boundaries of Dove Springs are William Cannon, Ben White, an area east of Dove Springs District Park, and Interstate 35.[1] It is 6 miles (9.7 km) from Downtown Austin.[2]
In 2014 Joy Diaz of KUT stated that the community "had a less than desirable reputation" for a period of several decades and that it "is also one of the poorest parts of Austin."[2]
Demographics
[edit]Diaz stated in 2014 that the population historically consisted of renters making low incomes. Of them, a large number had recently immigrated to the United States and lacked English fluency.[2] The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the sole Austin-area parole office at the intersection of Texas State Highway 71 and Woodward in Dove Springs, and because of that many parolees settle in the community.[3]
Government and infrastructure
[edit]The community is within the City of Austin Franklin Park planning area with other portions in the McKinney planning area.[4]
Education
[edit]
The Austin Independent School District operates the public schools.
Elementary schools:
- Blazier Elementary School[5]
- Houston Elementary School[5]
- Langford Elementary School[5]
- Palm Elementary School[5]
- Perez Elementary School[5][6]
- Rodriguez Elementary School[5]
- Widen Elementary School[1][7]
Consuelo Mendez Middle School is within Dove Springs.[8] Two high schools serve sections of Dove Springs: Akins High School and Travis High School.[7]
There is an area charter school called the Harmony School of Excellence, which moved into the area around 2009. As of 2014 many students are from Dove Springs and Del Valle.[3]
Recreation
[edit]The City of Austin operates the 18,000-square-foot (1,700 m2) Dove Springs Recreation Center. The outside of the center has a nature walking trail, one swimming pool, one outdoor tennis court, one sand volleyball pit, one outdoor basketball court, three soccer fields, three baseball fields, and two outdoor tennis courts, one pavilion, and one playscape. There is a building with an arts and crafts room, a full court gymnasium, a television room and lobby, and a weight room.[9]
References
[edit]- "The State of Dove Springs" (Archive). Wesley Center for Family and Neighborhood Development.
- Austin American Statesman, May 30, 1999: Dove Springs flows with opportunity
Reference notes
[edit]- ^ a b c Ramos, Sam (April 11, 2014). "My Dove Springs ... and Ours" (Archive). Austin Chronicle. Retrieved on May 21, 2014.
- ^ a b c Diaz, Joy (May 16, 2014). "Gentrification or a Renaissance in Austin's Dove Springs Neighborhood?" (Archive). KUT. Retrieved on May 21, 2014.
- ^ a b Diaz, Joy. "Men on Parole Search For Fresh Start in Austin's Dove Springs" (Archive). KUT. Friday February 7, 2014. Retrieved on May 21, 2014.
- ^ "Neighborhood planning area boundaries." City of Austin. Retrieved on May 21, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "The State of Dove Springs". Wesley Center for Family and Neighborhood Development. p. 17 (PDF p. 19 of 32).
- ^ McGlinchy, Audrey (2015-11-10). "Two Years After Floods, Dove Springs Residents Are Still Waiting on City Buyouts". KUT. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
- ^ a b "The State of Dove Springs". Wesley Center for Family and Neighborhood Development. p. 18 (PDF p. 20 of 32).
- ^ McGee, Kate (2013-09-21). "Teachers, Non-Profits Key to Helping Middle School Students in Dove Springs". KUT. Archived from the original on 2014-05-21. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
- ^ "Dove Springs Recreation Center" (Archive). City of Austin. Retrieved on May 21, 2014.
External links
[edit]- Dove Springs Relief Response (of Dove Springs Neighborhood Association)
- McCray, Dr. Talia. "Dove Springs Neighborhood Analysis: A Planning Oriented Study of Public Health & the Built Environment" (Archive). The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture. Participants: Kate Bedford, Ana Calhoun, Andres Galindo, Sara Hammerschmidt, Lindsey Jones, Katie Mulholland, and Toshiyuki Ogura.
- Toohey, Marty. "Dove Springs residents will have a voice in Austin’s new District 2". Austin American-Statesman. Sunday April 6, 2014.