City Council called to re-evaluate Austin and Travis County summer youth internship and jobs programs as officials seek to strengthen those offerings and their workforce development potential.

The details: Austin's Summer Internship Program and Travis County's Summer Youth Employment Program have been viewed as positive offerings for employment assistance and summer crime prevention. However, Austin's Economic Prosperity Commission recently highlighted the "underutilized workforce development tool" after finding most students applying to city and county programs didn't secure jobs, and that other structural issues may be creating barriers for those seeking to participate.

Austin council members on March 12 asked for a formal review of both the city and county initiatives, and for recommendations to strengthen the programming and potential employment opportunities. Council member Vanessa Fuentes, the measure's sponsor, said the action recognizes the important of investing in area youth and stems from discussions between Austin, Travis County and Austin ISD.

Ring in St. Patrick’s Day with these events.

Jack & Ginger's St. Patrick’s Day celebration
On St. Patrick’s Day, the bar will host a festival with green beer, music, carnival games, face painting and drink and food vendors. 

• March 17, starting at 8 a.m.
• $20 (cover on March 17 starting at 2 p.m.)
• 11500B Rock Rose Ave., Austin

• March 17, 6 p.m.-2 a.m.
• $20.84 (tickets)
• Locations vary

• March 16, starting at noon; March 17, starting at noon
• Free (attendance)
• 1717 Scottsdale Drive, Ste. 160, Leander

Travis County is one step closer to launching a 10-year plan to expand its parks system.

County staff presented their final draft plan to expand, strengthen and increase access to county parks over the next decade at a Travis County Commissioners Court meeting March 10. The countywide effort comes after voters approved a $276.44 million parks bond proposition in 2023.

The big picture: Overall, the Travis County parks department has developed a list of 35 recommended projects. Some projects may be short-term, completed in three years or less; medium-term, completed in four to six years; or long-term, taking seven to 10 years. Nineteen of these projects are recommended to be completed in the short-term.

The background: Proposition B included more than $200 million in bond funding for parkland acquisition along with funding for new trails and facility additions at the Gilleland Creek Greenway, Southeast Metropolitan Park, Onion Creek Greenway, Bee Creek Sports Complex and Arkansas Bend Park.

The county has been acquiring land to create a 70-mile trail system from Pflugerville to Manchaca.

Check out some of the top trending stories in the Austin area from March 9-12. 

1. Pipeline failure hits Pflugerville amid $845M in water projects

2. Dirt moving for 57-acre commercial, residential project near Georgetown-Round Rock border

3. Come on in: Check out the newest spots to open in San Marcos, Buda and Kyle

4. Bee Cave advances shifts to The Village at Spanish Oaks

5. Third Taco Bell location proposed for Leander

6. UT moves to rezone hundreds of acres in Northwest Austin for future medical center