ESB-MACC Pocket Park Benches Project

The Pocket Park

what is a "pocket park"? why the esb-macc?

"After years of leasing the space for staging for the high-rise at 70 Rainey Street, the lot at 64 Rainey Street, or the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Pocket Park (MACC Pocket Park), is now available to develop into a meaningful park space for visitors. Under the guidance of City Council Resolution no. 20220609-123, the Parks and Recreation Department in collaboration with the Mexican American Cultural Center Advisory Board (MACC Board) will further develop the pocket park. Temporary activation was completed in June 2024. City Council District 9"
-- AustinTexas.Gov/MaccPocketPark

This is where we come into the picture!

Temporary park improvements have been installed as of June 2024. The temporary activation features bench furniture donated by CANVUS. The benches will be decorated with murals by ESB-MACC Caminos students in the fall of 2024.

The Caminos class of 2025 is working on this mural project under the guidance of the artist Miguel Santana, a Contemporary, Austin-based Teaching Artist that hosts "Taller Abierto" with the MACC and has been guiding the Caminantes in creating art of their own, ranging from zines to collaborative painting series' since 2020!

This is just the beginning for this class, and the Caminantes have been encouraged to be part of every step of the pieces. From hearing about the inner workings of City-funded Public Artworks, to how to optimize their painting techniques for the benches' surfaces. Caminos as a program strives to help teens in the Austin-area get an idea of life in the arts and give back to their community throughout their year as interns with the Emma S. Barrientos Cultural Center. To be part of such a project is an honor to Caminos, we’re putting all our effort into doing what we can to make sure these benches are a sucessful addition to our community.