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Celebrate Family Health & Fitness Day June 11
The City of Georgetown Parks and Recreation Department is hosting family-focused event to celebrate Family Health & Fitness Day. The free event will last from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 11, at the Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave.
Celebrated the second Saturday of June each year, NRPA’s Family Health & Fitness Day is an opportunity for local community members to get out and discover all of the health benefits provided by their local parks and recreation department.
Activities include:
- Family Boot Camp demo class
- DanceFit for Kids demo class
- Sticky Fingers Cooking demo
- Health & wellness vendors
- Family-friendly competitions: tug of war, beach volleyball, hula hoop contest, and obstacle course
- Prizes and giveaways
Nonprofits, health professionals, service providers, and retailers of health and wellness products are invited to participate as a vendor or to sponsor an activity. To find out how your business can take advantage of Georgetown Parks and Recreation sponsorship options, contact:
Courtney Butler, Community Engagement Coordinator
512-930-8468
courtney.butler@georgetown.org
Memorial Day closings, ceremony May 30
City of Georgetown offices will be closed Monday, May 30, for the Memorial Day holiday. There will be normal solid waste and recycling collection on May 30.
The annual Memorial Day Ceremony will start at 9:30 a.m. May 30 in Sun City. Details below.
City offices closed May 30
City offices and facilities closed May 30 for Memorial Day include the following:
- Airport Terminal, 500 Terminal Drive
- Animal Shelter, 110 Walden Drive
- Art Center, 816 S. Main St.
- City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
- Council and Courts Building (including Municipal Court), 510 W. Ninth St.
- Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Ave.
- Grace Heritage Center, 817 S. Main St.
- Parks and Recreation Administration, 1101 N. College St.
- Planning Department, 809 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
- Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St.
- Public Safety Operations and Training Center, Police Records, and Fire Support Services offices, 3500 D.B. Wood Road
- Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave.
- Tennis Center, 400 Serenada Drive
- Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh St.
Facilities open May 30
- Garey Park, 6450 RM 2243, will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Collection Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive, will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Some City pools open Memorial Day weekend
The four City of Georgetown pools will have modified opening hours, because of a shortage of lifeguards.
Beginning Saturday, May 28, the Recreation Center outdoor pool will be open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Williams Drive pool will be open seven days a week, 1 to 7 p.m. The Recreation Center outdoor pool will be closed May 30. The Village and River Ridge pools will remain closed.
Beginning Friday, June 10, the Village Pool will open Thursday-Monday, 1 to 7 p.m., and River Ridge Pool will operate Wednesday-Sunday, 1 to 7 p.m. The Williams Drive Pool will shift to a Tuesday-Sunday schedule, with operating hours 1 to 7 p.m. The Recreation Center outdoor pool will increase operating hours to Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Click here for more details.
Splash pads: The splash pads at San Jose Park, 1707 San Jose St.; Downtown, 816 S. Main St.; and Rabbit Hill Park, 1109 Blue Ridge Drive, are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day through Sept. 30. The splash pad at Garey Park is open daily during park hours from April 1-Oct. 31. The Garey Park splash pad closes 30 minutes prior to park closing.
GoGeo paratransit service
There will be no service Monday, May 30.
Solid Waste and Recycling Collection
There will be normal solid waste and recycling collection for City of Georgetown customers on Monday, May 30. Carts should be at the curb by 7 a.m. on pickup day. The Collection Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive, will be open normal hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Monday, May 30, for the Memorial Day holiday.
For questions about solid waste collection, call TDS at 512-930-1715.
Curative COVID-19 testing site
The COVID-19 testing site located at 707 S. Martin Luther King Jr. St. (near the Georgetown Public Library) will be closed Monday, May 30.
COVID-19 testing is by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, click here. To schedule a rapid PCR test, which provides results in fewer than four hours, click here.
Memorial Day Ceremony and Reception
The annual Memorial Day Ceremony will start at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 30, at the Georgetown-Williamson County Veterans Memorial Plaza in Sun City, 2 Texas Drive. The event will honor the men and women of our armed forces who gave their lives in service to our country and our freedom and include remarks from a guest speaker, retired Marine Corps General Robert B. Neller. It is free and open to the public.
Strategic Partnerships for Community Services grants: Apply by June 8
The City of Georgetown is now accepting applications from eligible nonprofit agencies for Strategic Partnerships for Community Services grant funding for the City’s 2022-23 Fiscal Year, which begins Oct. 1, 2022.
Application forms and supplemental materials should be filled out and submitted no later than 5 p.m. June 8, 2022. Funding decisions will be made by the City Council in compliance with the policy and funding guidelines subject to the availability of funds. Grants will be awarded in a range from $10,000 to $50,000.
The Strategic Partnerships for Community Services Advisory Board, which is appointed by City Council, will review the applications received. The board will then make funding recommendations to City Council for potential approval in the 2022-23 Fiscal Year.
Applications, supplemental materials, and more information is on the City website at government.georgetown.org/city-management/strategic-partnerships-for-community-services-grant-funding.
For questions, contact Shirley Rinn in the City Manager’s Office at shirley.rinn@georgetown.org or 512-930-3723.
Election results for District 7 city council seat
Final unofficial results as of 10 p.m. by the Williamson County Elections Department for the City of Georgetown election.
27 of 27 polling locations reporting:
| District 7 | Percent | Votes |
| Ben Stewart | 67.93 | 322 |
| Jaquita Wilson-Kirby (write-in) | 32.07 | 152 |
To see complete May 7 election results, go to wilco.org/elections.
Votes will be canvassed at a special City Council meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, May 16. During that meeting, newly-elected city council members will be sworn in.
City hosts lifeguard hiring event May 13
The City of Georgetown is facing a lifeguard shortage that may lead to operational changes at the public swimming pools. The Parks and Recreation Department currently has 20 lifeguards on staff, about one-third of the more than 60 needed to fully operate pools this summer.
The City will be hosting a hiring event from 4-6 p.m. May 13 at the Georgetown Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Ave. The event will feature free food, drinks, and prizes, as well as on-site application and hiring opportunities. Lifeguard pay ranges from $10.50-$16.50 an hour depending on position and experience. Lifeguard certification will be provided.
The department is also hiring swim instructors, camp counselors, childcare and recreation aides, and an adventure camp specialist.
Summer jobs like these are great opportunities for teenagers, college students, and anyone looking for a fun way to earn extra money.
Apply today or learn more at Georgetown.org/jobs.
South Lake Water Treatment Plant groundbreaking May 10
The City of Georgetown will break ground on the South Lake Water Treatment Plant on May 10. The new plant will double the treatment capacity of the water utility with planned construction completion in two phases from 2025-2026. The new plant will be located on the south side of Lake Georgetown, near Cedar Breaks Park.
The new treatment plant is needed to continue to meet the water demands of a growing community and has been part of the Water Master Plan for decades.
“With more than 5,000 new residents coming to Georgetown last year, the demand for water continues to increase rapidly,” Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “As a result, the City Council voted to accelerate the schedule for this new water treatment plant. In doubling the treatment capacity of our water utility with this plant, we will be ready to serve the water needs of our growing city.”
After a competitive bid process, PLW Waterworks was awarded the construction contract for the plant, which will have a capacity of producing 44 million gallons per day of treated water. CDM Smith is the design engineer for the new plant.
The contract cost is $175.3 million, which will be funded by water utility revenues. Impact fees paid by developers of new homes, as well as utility revenues from water bills, will fund the 30-year revenue bonds for the new plant.
The project includes the water treatment facility as well as a raw water intake on Lake Georgetown and a raw water transmission line. Other elements of the project include an administration building that houses a secondary control center, process control labs, and additional office and administration space.
The City purchased the land for the plant site about three years ago and began design for the facility about two years ago.
City to host household hazardous waste event May 18
The City will host a free household hazardous waste collection event from 3-5 p.m. May 18 at the old show barn site in San Gabriel Park, 425 E. Morrow St.
The event will be available for up to 200 Georgetown solid waste customers who have solid waste service through Texas Disposal Systems. Customers must contact Customer Care at 512-930-3640 or customercare@georgetown.org to have their names placed on a list. Please include your name, address, and utility account number when emailing customer care. Customers must have their names on the list to participate.
Residents must remain in their vehicles during the no-contact collection. Staff will unload items from the back seat or trunk of the vehicle.
All items to be dropped off must be in their marked original containers. Commercial disposal and trailers are not allowed.
Acceptable items include:
- Batteries (household, hearing aids, cell phone, etc.)
- Automobile batteries
- Pool and spa chemicals
- Used oil/oil filters (up to five gallons per vehicle)
- Transmission fluid
- Light bulbs (including regular, compact, and four-foot fluorescent)
- Grease
- Thermometers
- Over the counter, residential lawn and garden chemicals
- Aerosols
- Household cleaners and disinfectants marked caution, warning, or poison
- Art and hobby chemicals
- Paint (up to 10 gallons per vehicle)
- Over the counter one-pound disposal propane bottles
- Gasoline (up to five gallons per vehicle)
Unacceptable items include:
- Unmarked containers or unknown chemicals
- Construction, commercial, or landscape waste
- Professional, concentrated chemicals that require a professional license to mix
- Medications or pharmaceuticals
- Oxygen tanks
- Electronics
- Tires
- Explosives (including ammunition and fireworks)
- Radioactive materials
- Biological materials
The City is planning additional household hazardous waste collection events for 2022.
For more information about the City’s solid waste and recycling services, visit recycle.georgetown.org.
Williamson County hosts two household hazardous waste collection events open to all county residents each year. The next event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Gupton Stadium Parking Lot in Cedar Park. Details for the county’s event can be found here.
Tweetalong with Animal Control Supervisor Angela Jones
This Animal Control Officers Appreciation Week, we decided to join Animal Control Supervisor Angela Jones for a tweetalong to learn about her, her job, and see a day in the life of an animal control officer in Georgetown.
While no two workdays are the same for a lot of us, when it comes to animal control, Jones said anything is possible. From loose dogs and stray cats to wildlife and loose livestock, Jones told us to be prepared for anything.
“Our calls vary so much day by day and season by season,” she said. “One month we can impound 40 animals, and the next month 11. In the spring, we tend to bring in more cats so those numbers can increase drastically.”
Jones said her tips for people to keep their pets safe are to vaccinate them for rabies and make sure your license them with the City each year.
“It’s also very helpful to microchip your animals so in the event they get lost we can reunite them with you much faster,” she said.
Her other tip is to have a plan in place in case of emergencies such as natural disasters, hospitalizations, changes in family status, or accidents. You can find information about pet emergency plans here.
We joined Jones on Thursday, April 14, for her eight-hour shift. During our time together, we helped reunite two dogs with their families, had the opportunity to educate several residents on the City’s leash ordinances, moved a snake from a resident’s back porch, and rescued an opossum.
You can relive the day with us here.
Here are some highlights from our day:
City hosts riverbank cleanup event May 14
The City of Georgetown is hosting a riverbank cleanup event May 14 in Rivery Park, 1125 Woodlawn Ave. Free public parking is available in the Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center garage, 1101 Woodlawn St.
Volunteers can check-in for the event beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the white tent near the playground, which is located in the middle of the park. A safety briefing will be held at 8:55 a.m. The cleanup will be from 9-10 a.m.
Volunteers must fill out this waiver to participate. Volunteers may sign the waiver at the event.
During the event, trash bags and gloves, as well as light snacks and drinks, will be provided. Participants are asked to wear appropriate clothing such as long pants, hats, and sunglasses, as well as comfortable closed-toe shoes.
Individuals interested in volunteering can email MS4Operator@georgetown.org to register or sign up here. The cleanup event may be canceled in case of bad weather. Follow the City’s social media pages for updates: Facebook and Twitter.
Red Poppy Festival in downtown Georgetown on April 22-24
Rodney Atkins to headline Red Poppy Festival
The City of Georgetown’s Red Poppy Festival has a new headliner this year. Country music artist Rodney Atkins will take the main stage at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23.
Atkin’s singles include “Watching You,” “Farmer’s Daughter,” “Going Through Hell,” and “Caught Up In The Country.”
Saturday’s initial headliner, country music artist Jack Ingram, is unable to perform due to unforeseen circumstances.
This signature festival on the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas is this Friday through Sunday, April 22-24, and features live music, entertainment, family fun, food, and more than 100 arts and craft vendors.
The festival starts at 6 p.m. Friday. 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.
For all the details, go to RedPoppyFestival.com.
Red Poppy Festival in downtown Georgetown on April 22-24
Celebrate the City’s signature event on the most beautiful town square in Texas at the 21st annual Red Poppy Festival. The festival kicks off on Friday night and runs through Sunday with three days of music, entertainment, family fun, and more than 100 artisan vendors.
The City is offering a variety of options for visitors to get to this year’s Red Poppy Festival. Several free public parking lots are available throughout downtown, as well as shuttle options Saturday.
“We are so excited to bring Red Poppy back to April after two years,” Tourism Manager Cari Miller said. “We have a great lineup, lots to do, and we can’t wait to see everyone again. I do want to remind people to plan to arrive early, be patient, and be prepared to be amongst hundreds of people, especially Saturday night.”
Volunteers needed
Each year, thousands of people attend the Red Poppy Festival. And each year, attendees generate more than 10,000 pounds of waste. Georgetown wants to recover as much recyclable materials as possible to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill and to keep the Square beautiful. To do this, the City is asking for volunteers who want to make a difference in our community.
Volunteers will walk through the event to pick up litter, assist vendors with breaking down and stacking cardboard, and provide recycling information to attendees. No experience is needed, and the first 100 volunteers to sign up will receive a free Red Poppy Festival T-shirt. Sign up for a two-hour shift here.
Enter the Poppy Parade
As of April 5, Saturday’s Red Poppy Parade had 11 openings for a place to be in the parade. There is no fee to participate in the parade. Entry options range from walkers and dancers to car riders and trailers, and the goal is simple: Celebrating all things Red Poppy!
Apply here while spots last. Contact Assistant City Secretary Karen Frost with questions: 512-930-3651.
Event schedule
Rodney Atkins is the headliner Saturday night and takes the stage at 9:30 p.m. Chris Knight and Peterson Brothers will open for Atkins at 7:45 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively. Longtime festival favorite Dysfunkshun Junkshun is back for the Friday night concert at 7 p.m. There is no admission charge for the concerts or other festival activities. Feel free to bring your own chair and cooler if you are coming for the day.
Other festival highlights include the Red Poppy Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday. The parade route has changed this year and will go down Ninth Street, rather than 10th Street, to increase the availability of handicap parking. The Car Show starts at 11 a.m. Saturday. On Sunday, come see the pet parade at 11 a.m.
The Red Poppy Kids Zone is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The Kids Zone is free and includes an obstacle course, a huge slide, a basketball game, and a toddler playground.
Event parking
The Williamson County parking garage at Rock and Fourth streets and the public parking lot on Austin Avenue between Fifth and Fourth streets (next to The Monument Cafe) will be open during the festival. Public parking lots on Martin Luther King Jr. Street at West Eighth and West Sixth streets are also available. There is no charge for parking.
Attendees are asked to be courteous when parking on neighborhood streets and avoid blocking driveways or parking in No Parking Zones. No Parking Zone restrictions will be enforced. Parking in a No Parking Zone can result in a citation as well as your vehicle being towed.
Handicap parking is available at the parking lot at 10th and Main streets.
The City parking lot at Sixth and Main streets will be closed starting at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 21.
Free shuttles on Saturday
Free shuttles will run 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23.
Shuttles will run from East View High School, 4490 E. University Ave., and from First Baptist Church, 1333 W. University Ave. Both shuttles will drop off at the corner of Austin Avenue and Ninth Street, a block from the Red Poppy Stage.
There will be no GoGeo fixed-route bus services. People with a qualifying disability may receive paratransit services until 7 p.m. Friday. Eligible riders pay $2 per trip and must make a reservation 24 hours in advance. More information at gogeo.georgetown.org.
Street closures
Austin Avenue closes Friday morning: Starting at 6 a.m. Friday, April 22, Austin Avenue will be closed from Sixth to Ninth streets. Traffic will be detoured to Rock Street. This is to allow the placement of the main festival stage. Austin Avenue will be closed through 11 p.m. Sunday, April 24.
Other streets around the Courthouse Square will close at 6 a.m. Friday, April 22, to allow for vendor set-up. Streets around the Square will remain closed through 10 p.m. Sunday, April 24.
Where are the poppies? Click here for a map showing the locations of red poppies in Georgetown. You can also stop by the Visitors Center at 103 W. Seventh St.
For a complete schedule and more details, including information on parking and road closures, visit RedPoppyFestival.com.
