Pavilion: Materials & Grant Meeting — Input and Help Needed by Aug 8
St Davids Foundation Community Garden Admin Account
Garden Pavilion: Materials & Grant Meeting — Help Needed by Aug 8
We met with Austin Parks re: replacing our deteriorating pavilion panels. There's real funding available, but we need help and to act quickly.
See SDF Community Garden Shade Structure: Materials & Grant Planning Meeting for more detailed note or to comment.
💰 Cost
- Demolition: ~$60K | Construction: ~$112K
- Based on the City's contractor. A donated/discounted demo contractor (must carry insurance) could cut this a lot.
🔩 Top materials
- Perforated aluminum — $7K–16K, 20–30 yrs, lightweight, lets light through
- Perforated galvanized steel — $7.5K–8.5K, up to 40 yrs, more durable but heavier (weight/glare questions)
Skypoly and polycarbonate ranked lower. Likely direction: aluminum or steel, possibly mixing solid + perforated panels.
🤔 Weigh in on
- Aluminum or steel?
- Perforated, solid, or a mix?
- Priority: shade, sunlight for plants, rain protection, rainwater collection, airflow, or low glare?
- Both structures, or just one?
📅 The grant — due Sept 1
Austin Parks Foundation CAP program is open to community garden projects right now — an unusually good window. Realistic award: $100K–130K. Needs design direction, scope, timeline, contractor + insurance docs, and letters of support.
🙋 How to help before Aug 8
- Reply with your material/design preference
- Volunteer to help coordinate the grant — can't fall on leadership alone
- Suggest letter-of-support sources (neighbors, trail/yoga/ecology groups)
- Share contractor contacts who might donate demo work
- Help keep scope under ~$200K
City is following up on lightning safety, strut sizing, more material options, and a site visit.
We vote Aug 8 at our annual meeting — feedback before then shapes the options.