Pan American Neighborhood Park Renaming Proposal Community Survey
Pan American Neighborhood Park Renaming Proposal Community Survey
The Austin Parks and Recreation Department has received an application for renaming Pan American Neighborhood Park to Tony Castillo Pan American Neighborhood Park. As outlined by Austin Code of Ordinances sec. 14-1-39, the Department has opened a 90-day period for community comments on the proposed renaming.
The questions below are intended to assess community interest in the renaming of the park. For more information, visit the project webpage.
Please note: The application for renaming the park will not affect the Oswaldo A.B. Cantu Pan American Recreation Center, the HIllside Theater, or any other individual areas, such as the ballfield named after Rosalio "Rabbit" Duran.
Background of Tony Castillo
Coach Augustine "Tony" Castillo is a product of East Austin who served the community at Pan Am Park for 65 years. He attended elementary school at Zavala Elementary School, next to Pan Am Park, before attending Allan Middle School and graduating in the first class at Johnston High School. His involvement in the community dates back to his teenage years in the 1950s when he was among the founders of the Jokers softball team. He continued his efforts by organizing a Jokers basketball team and hosted league tournaments for neighborhood youth. He coached sports at his Alma mater Johnston High School, before moving to Akins High prior to retirement.
In addition to sports, Castillo played important roles in expanding the community’s political voice. His membership in LUCHA was significant in the election of first Latino office holders from East Austin that included Richard Moya, John Treviño, and Gonzalo Barrientos.
In his approach of “leading by example,” Castillo completed his studies at the University of Texas, taught in the classrooms of Austin ISD, and became head coach of the former Johnston High School Rams, leading the team to a historic “Final Four” state tournament appearance at the University of Texas in 1986.
View the full application here.