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Celebrate Earth Day with events in Georgetown
The City of Georgetown is celebrating Earth Day this April with events focused on nature and recycling.
Family Nature Fest at Garey Park
Gather the family and head to Garey Park from 1- 4 p.m. April 9 for Family Nature Fest. The annual event focuses on connecting families with nature through a variety of activities, demonstrations, and environmental education.
Activities include Story Walk, upcycled nature crafts, wild animal visitors, birding, an obstacle course, pony rides, a petting zoo, and more.
Garey Park entry fees are required, and some activities may include a fee.
For more information click here.
Earth Day recycling event
The City’s Public Works Department will host a recycling event for Earth Day from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 16 at East View High School, 4490 E. University Ave.
During the event, residents will be able to drop off paper for shredding, tires, mattresses, and electronics, including televisions, microwaves, computers, and cell phones. Individuals are limited to three boxes or sacks of paper for shredding and up to four tires per carload. There is no limit on electronic items. Household hazardous waste items will not be accepted.
To participate, please bring a donation for Friends of the Georgetown Animal Shelter, which helps support the needs of the Georgetown Animal Shelter. Items needed include:
- squeegee poles and heads
- muffin tins
- stainless steel pet pails
- pill pockets for dogs and cats
- small dustpans
- durable dog toys
Monetary donations will also be accepted.
Love Our Earthy Georgetown
The Georgetown Public Library and Public Works Department host Love Our Earthy Georgetown from 10-11:30 a.m. April 22 at the library, 402 W. Eighth St.
Participants will learn about Georgetown’s natural features, including watersheds, rivers, caves and other karst features, and other earthy characteristics of the area.
Find more information and register here.
Georgetown residents invited to learn recommendations for small area plans
The City of Georgetown, in partnership with APD Urban Planning & Management and the neighborhood steering committees for San Jose and Track Ridge Grasshopper (TRG), invite Georgetown residents to participate in the final public hearings for the San Jose and TRG neighborhood plans.
The City’s Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council are scheduled to review and vote on the proposed plans during the following meetings:
- Planning and Zoning: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, Council and Courts Building, 510 W. Ninth St.
- City Council first reading: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, Council and Courts Building, 510 W. Ninth St.
- City Council adoption: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, Council and Courts Building, 510 W. Ninth St.
Members of the public are invited to attend and provide public comment. People wishing to provide public comment at the hearings can either email planning@georgetown.org the day before the meeting or attend the meeting in person. At the council meetings, speakers need to fill out a speaker-registration form, which can be found on the table at the entrance to the Council Chamber. Each speaker will have three minutes.
During the public hearings about the plans, staff will share the proposed vision and goals for the neighborhoods, as well as recommendations on topics such as housing, transportation, land use, and zoning. Example recommendations range from safety improvements, like sidewalks and traffic management, to ways to celebrate the history and culture of each neighborhood through public art. These recommendations are the result of public input gathered during six community meetings, as well as 20 meetings with the neighborhood steering committees.
“The City is grateful for the leadership the San Jose and TRG Steering Committee members have provided,” Planning Director Sofia Nelson said. “They have been dedicated in their outreach to their neighbors and thoughtful in representing the vision for the neighborhoods they serve.”
Since outreach efforts for the San Jose and TRG Neighborhood Plans began in August 2020, City staff has had direct contact with 100 residents of the TRG Neighborhood (27 percent) and 48 residents of the San Jose Neighborhood (58 percent). This contact accounts for face-to-face conversations during block walking, phone calls, and public meetings. In addition to direct contact, the project team has shared information about the Plans through two rounds of direct mailers, three rounds of social media outreach, fliers, yard signs, and various message boards along Maple Street and University Avenue. Staff estimates to have reached 35,700 residents through digital means throughout this process.
Throughout the neighborhood planning process, community feedback has highlighted the need to protect the unique character of San Jose and TRG. Both plans include strategies for compatible residential and nonresidential development, protection of long-term residents, and the promotion of culture and heritage including:
- Tailored land use and zoning recommendations
- Strategies for education about property tax assessments and programs for home repair maintenance
- Cultural programming through signage, interviews, and property surveys
Once the Small Area Plans are adopted for the neighborhoods, the next and most important step in the process is the formation of neighborhood associations for San Jose and TRG. These associations will work together with the community partners involved in the development of these plans to make the vision for San Jose and TRG a reality.
More about Neighborhood Plans
As the City of Georgetown began its effort in August 2020 to create neighborhood plans for the TRG and San Jose neighborhoods, City staff and neighborhood representatives surveyed the residents of both neighborhoods. Since that time, City Council approved $200,000 for the work, including hiring a consultant to help with the planning process. The Neighborhood Plans capture residents’ ideas and makes recommendations on how to achieve them. Recommendations range from future development, housing affordability, and infrastructure projects, such as building sidewalks or installing stop signs, to historic and cultural celebrations, such as art installations. The City and APD Urban Planning & Management held public meetings for the neighborhood plans June 30, July 1, Sept. 1 and 2, and Nov. 10 and 11, 2021, in addition to the steering committee meetings.
City Council adopts 10-year Parks Master Plan
Georgetown now has a 10-year master plan for its parks, recreation offerings, and open spaces.
City Council unanimously approved the plan during its regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 22. The plan identifies multiple improvements and additions to the City’s parks and recreation offerings, including a new park on the southeast side of town, more trails, a skate park, and a recreation center, as well as improvements and expansions to existing programs and features.
“I’m proud of the work done by the council, our community, City staff, and the consultant to put together such a proactive, comprehensive blueprint for where we can improve our parks and recreational activities in Georgetown,” Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “I’m excited for residents to see the great work to come.”
The recommendations laid out in the plan vary from improvements that can be done relatively quickly using existing funding — such as updating existing parks and adding parks to City-owned property — to upgrades that will require phases and potential bond elections. The plan was based on the community’s priorities and values for recreation programs and services, including input from four public meetings and an open survey that received 2,036 responses, as well as 16 staff and stakeholder meetings.
Click here for the full report.
Parks and Recreation Master Plan development
Work on the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Master Plan began in April 2021. The City engaged the services of GreenPlay, a parks and recreation management consulting firm, to assist in its development. In August 2021, the team presented results from the mailed and open surveys, data collection from facility and park inventories, and other project analyses. The draft master plan was presented to City Council during its Nov. 9 workshop. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board helped develop the plan and approved it in January 2022. The Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council reviewed and ultimately approved the plan in January and February 2022. The plan is an element of the City’s Comprehensive 2030 plan.
Volunteers needed for tree-planting event Feb. 26
Updated Feb. 23 at 4:25 p.m.
Due to the forecast for rain Saturday, Feb. 26, the tree planting event in San Gabriel Park has been postponed to 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 26. Volunteers who signed up to participate have been notified.
Posted Jan. 12 at noon
The City of Georgetown is calling for volunteers to help plant 30 trees in San Gabriel Park. Volunteers and staff will be planting native and adapted shade trees from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 26, to beautify and add shading to a popular area of the park.
Volunteers should sign up online at parks.georgetown.org/volunteer. No planting experience is required to volunteer, and the holes for the 25-30 gallon trees will already be dug. Groups and youth are welcome. Volunteers younger than 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or adult, and two adults are required for every four children who sign up to volunteer.
Volunteers can check-in for the event beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the green tent near the hill playground, which is located on the west end of the park. A safety briefing will be held at 8:55 a.m. The planting will be from 9 a.m. to noon.
Participants are asked to wear appropriate clothing such as long pants, hats, and sunglasses, as well as comfortable closed-toe shoes. If possible, volunteers should bring a water bottle, a shovel, gloves, a rake, and/or a hoe.
The tree-planting event may be postponed in case of bad weather. Follow the Parks and Recreation social media pages for updates: facebook.com/GTXParksandRec and twitter.com/GTXParksandRec.
‘Love and Death’ filming on the Georgetown Square
HBO Max will close portions of the Square for the filming of “Love and Death,” a limited TV series true-crime drama based on actual events that took place in the 1980s.
Preparation for filming is underway, and filming is expected to be completed Feb. 23 through March 5 at various locations downtown. Businesses around the Square are expected to remain open despite street and parking closures.
Filming locations:
Williamson County Courthouse, 710 S. Main St.
Parking and intermittent street closures are expected:
7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Feb. 23-25 and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 2
- West Seventh Street from Austin Avenue to Church Street
- West Eighth Street from Austin Avenue to Church Street
- South Main Street from Sixth to Eighth streets
Parking closures:
9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 26-27
- Eastside of Austin Avenue
- North and South sides of East Seventh Street
- East and West sides of Main Street
- Northside of Eighth Street
For a detailed map, click here.
Parking closures:
5 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Sunday, March 6
- Parking on all four immediate sides of the Williamson County Courthouse
For a detailed map, click here.
Streets will not be closed to traffic on interior filming days; however, intermittent traffic control will happen while filming occurs.
Williamson County Justice Center, 405 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
Parking and intermittent street closures are expected:
7 a.m.-7 p.m. on March 3-4
- Sixth Street from Martin Luther King Jr. to Forest streets
- West Seventh Street from Martin Luther King Jr. to Rock streets
- Martin Luther King Jr. Street from West Fifth to West Seventh streets
- Forest Street from the parking lot entrance at Forest and Sixth streets to West Seventh street
7 a.m.-10 p.m. on March 5
- Sixth Street from Martin Luther King Jr. to Forest streets
- West Fourth Street from West to Forest streets
- Martin Luther King Jr. Street from West Third to West Seventh streets
- Forest Street from the parking lot entrance at Forest and Sixth streets to West Seventh street
9 a.m.-11:59 p.m. on March 6
- Martin Luther King Jr. Street from West Fifth to West Seventh streets
- Forest Street from the parking lot entrance at Forest and Sixth streets to West Seventh street
- West Sixth Street from Martin Luther King Jr. to Rock streets
- West Seventh Street from Martin Luther King Jr. to Rock streets
- The parking lot between Sixth and Seventh streets at Forest and Rock streets
For detailed maps, click here.
Because of these closures, traffic and parking in other areas around the Square and downtown may be affected. Please use additional caution as you drive through the filming areas.
Questions
Marissa Lovely: marissa.lovely@hboprod.com
Zachary Heine: zachary.heine@hboprod.com
Jack Ingram to headline Red Poppy Festival
This year the City of Georgetown celebrates the Red Poppy Festival with Saturday night headliner country music artist Jack Ingram.
Ingram’s singles include “Love You,” “Wherever You Are,” “Barefoot and Crazy,” and “Lips of an Angel.”
This signature festival on the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas is April 22-24 with live music, entertainment, family fun, food, and more than 100 arts and craft vendors.
The Friday night concert features Dysfunkshun Junkshun. Other festival highlights include the Red Poppy Parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and the Car Show at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
The official 2022 Red Poppy Festival poster will be on sale for $5 starting April 1 at the Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St. The poster artist, Helen Faythe Green, will be signing posters from 6 to 8 p.m. April 1 at the Visitors Center. The first 50 posters are free.
For all the details, go to RedPoppyFestival.com.
Calls for artist proposals in Georgetown
The Georgetown Arts and Culture Program is requesting artist proposals for two exciting projects coming up this spring.
Artist Booths at the Georgetown Spring Art Stroll
The City of Georgetown’s Arts and Culture Board invites artists to submit their applications for booth space during the Spring Art Stroll on April 21, 2022. Artists exhibiting their work in Grace Plaza are part of a juried selection process sponsored by the Georgetown Arts and Culture Program. A group of artists may submit their work for one booth space as a group exhibition.
There is no booth or application fee. All booth sale proceeds go directly to the artist.
Heritage Community Garden
The City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department would like to commission an artist to design an artistic signage mural for the exterior of a historic water cistern.
The City of Georgetown’s Arts and Culture Board invites artist proposals for the Heritage Community Garden Mural Project. The mural design should be an artistic interpretation of Heritage Community Garden and serve as gateway signage into the park.
The artist selected will receive a $2,500 stipend and $500 for materials.
For more information about the Georgetown Arts & Culture Requests for Artist Proposals, visit arts.georgetown.org.
Black History Month events in February
There are several ways to recognize Black History Month in Georgetown throughout February.
Georgetown Public Library
The Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St., will feature age-appropriate reading lists and displays throughout the library to help celebrate Black History Month. Find more information about their offerings at library.georgetown.org.
Georgetown Cultural Citizen Memorial Association
The Georgetown Cultural Citizen Memorial Association will host several virtual family events in Georgetown to celebrate Black History Month in February.
A Black History Month art exhibit will be shown in the Georgetown Public Library lobby Feb. 2-27 with a panel discussion and reception held from 2-4 p.m. Feb. 13 in the lobby. The exhibit will feature artwork from eight artists in various media, including photography, digital art, mixed media, pen and ink, and paint.
GCCMA will host a virtual panel discussion from 11 a.m.-noon Feb. 19. The discussion “Black Health: Mind, Body, and Soul,” will feature Dr. Angela Eklund, pastoral counselor Debby Sims, and parent advocate Tania Easton.
The group will also host Fitness for the Entire Family, a series of 30-minute workout sessions, including sessions with low and high impact, as well as for senior wellness. The event will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 26 at Tippit Middle School, 1601 Leander Road.
For more information about the GCCMA events and to register for the panel discussion, visit gccmatx.org.
The Williamson Museum
The Williamson Museum, 716 S. Austin Ave., will reinstall its mural of Dr. James Lee Dickey and the Dickey Clinic in the museum to honor this year’s Black History Month theme of “Black Health and Wellness.” The mural features Dr. Dickey, who was the first African American doctor in Williamson County and significantly affected the lives of residents in Taylor. The museum will host an unveiling ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, with a reception to follow. During the reception, attendees are invited to make donations to the completion of the Dr. Dickey Museum and Multipurpose Center in Taylor.
The museum also has an ongoing exhibit titled “Heritage and Horizons: The Black Legacy of Williamson County.” The exhibit, which celebrates Black individuals, families, and groups who were integral to the history of Williamson County, runs through Aug. 1. For more information about the exhibit, as well as additional museum events, visit williamsonmuseum.org.
Sign up now open for Heritage Community Garden plots
The City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department is now accepting reservations for plots at the Heritage Community Garden, 2100 Hutto Road.
The renovated community garden features 25 in-ground garden beds, 48 raised beds, and eight ADA accessible beds, which will open March 1, 2022, for gardeners to begin planting flowers, vegetables, and fruits.
Plots are on a first-come, first-served basis, and plots will be assigned by City staff. Leases run from March 1 through Dec. 31, 2022, and may be renewed annually. Fees are paid annually and are not prorated.
| Size | Resident | Nonresident |
| 20 foot x 20 foot in-ground | $50 | $75 |
| 7 foot by 16 foot raised bed | $40 | $50 |
| 7 foot by 16 foot accessible raised bed | $40 | $50 |
The garden will be open daily for gardeners from 5 a.m.-10 p.m. The garden area is secured with a chain-link fence.
Other renovations to the community garden include a new restroom facility, concrete sidewalks, a lighted parking lot, and a dumpster with a designated area for green waste that will be recycled offsite. The total project cost was $275,000.
The City is also partnering with the Williamson County Beekeepers Association, and hives will be constructed onsite in a separate area.
A grand opening celebration for the garden is expected to be held in March. More details will be announced when they are available.
To find more information about the garden, or to reserve a plot, visit parks.georgetown.org/heritage-community-garden.
Georgetown Arts and Culture Board awards grants for 2022 Round I
The Georgetown Arts and Culture Board approved $9,284 in grants in January to local arts and culture organizations to help with funding local arts and culture programming that includes visual art, music, and performance art in Georgetown.
The funding is for events in Georgetown taking place between April 1 and Sept. 30, 2022.
Grant recipients include:
| Project or event name | Grant amount |
| Austin Civic Orchestra Society for Paint to Music at the Klett Performing Arts Center | $4,784 |
| Texas Bach Festival, Inc. for Texas Bach Festival 2022 | $4,000 |
| Full Circle for FULL CIRCLE: Speaker Series for Creatives | $500 |
The next grant cycle will accept proposals June 1 through 30, 2022, for events and programs occurring Oct. 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023.
The Georgetown Arts and Culture Grants help the Arts and Culture Board fulfill bylaw requirements, which include recognizing and encouraging groups and organizations that enrich Georgetown life by bringing cultural and artistic values and artifacts to the City. Members of the Arts and Culture Board believe a vibrant arts community and cultural offerings are good for the quality of life for residents, will attract visitors, and will assist Georgetown in becoming a nationally recognized arts destination by 2030. The grant program helps develop and strengthen our local arts community by contributing funding to arts and culture programming that enhances our local community.
For more information about the Georgetown Arts & Culture grants, visit arts.georgetown.org.
