Feb, 14, 2025

This is the latest edition of Week In Review — a series of weekly messages from the Mayor and City Council to help Richardson residents and businesses keep up to date on municipal events. If you would like to sign up to receive this in a weekly e-mail click here.

Throughout the year, the City Council or City Plan Commission will hold meetings on topics of significant interest to local neighborhoods or the community in general. Links to view all City Council or City Plan Commission meeting documents that may have topics of interest to you can be found here:

City Council | City Plan Commission

Wildflower! 2025 Lineup Announced 
The musical lineup for the City of Richardson’s 2025 Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival was announced earlier this week. The annual event is scheduled to take place May 16-18 at Galatyn Park Urban Center.  

The performance line-up of entertainment across six stages features the following bands and musicians:   

Friday, May 16 

Saturday, May 17 

Sunday, May 18 

For a full list of performers, visit www.wildflowerfestival.com/lineup.  

Resident discounted tickets and general admission single day tickets also went on sale this week online. Single-day general admission tickets are priced at $25 (Friday and Saturday) and $10 (Sunday), with ticket prices increasing at the festival gates. Children ages 12 and under will receive free admission with a paid adult all weekend. Resident tickets are available for $15 online only through May 16 at 5 p.m.   

As additional artists are added to the lineup, updates will be announced on the festival’s website and social media channels.     

Website: www.wildflowerfestival.com     

Groundbreaking Held for New City Hall 
Last Saturday, the Mayor and City Council took part in a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of Richardson’s new City Hall. The modern three-story facility is set to be completed by early 2027 and will be located near the southwest corner of Arapaho Road and US 75, just northeast of the former City Hall. The new building’s exterior and interior design elements reflect Richardson’s heritage, including elements inspired by our railroad history, our local parks and wildflowers, and our tech-driven future.  

New City Hall is part of a comprehensive Municipal Campus revitalization funded through bond elections in 2021 and 2023 that include renovations to the Richardson Public Library (set to be completed in early 2026), improved parking, new landscaping and new public art, creating a gathering space for the community and serving as a catalyst for future growth along Arapaho Road.   

More information: www.cor.net/NewCityHall 

Detours and Lane Closures on Horizon for Three Major Road Projects 
Beginning next week, two of three major road projects are set to begin with a third ready to start in March. Each is either highly traveled and/or centrally located and comes with lane closures expected to cause major disruptions to area traffic patterns.  

Main Street Downtown 
Phase 2 of the Main Street Reconstruction Project from Greenville Avenue to Abrams Road starts Monday (Feb. 17) and is expected to finish in early fall. Work will improve infrastructure, accessibility, and streetscape features while maintaining business access, though motorists should anticipate traffic congestion and lane reductions, including box truck restrictions on Abrams Road. (Read more in “Projects” section below.) 

Glenville in The IQ^® 
All southbound lanes of the North Glenville Drive Reconstruction Project will be closed between Collins Boulevard and Arapaho Road beginning Tuesday (Feb. 18), with the Collins Boulevard to Campbell Road section set to close in March. The project involves utility and paving replacements, which requires phased closures, with two-way traffic on southbound Glenville Drive and additional lane closures on nearby roads. Construction is expected to wrap up this spring. 

Custer North of Renner 
Custer Parkway north of Renner Road will be closed to southbound traffic starting in mid-March. The work is related to waterline replacements underway as part of the 825-pressure zone improvement project. The closure is expected to last until early April.  

Updates on Construction: www.cor.net/Projects  

DART Resolution 
The Richardson City Council voted unanimously on Monday to support full funding for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). DART serves Richardson with four light rail stations, multiple bus routes, and the upcoming Silver Line commuter rail to DFW Airport, supporting transit-oriented developments like Galatyn Park and CityLine. The vote comes as DART works to prevent legislative actions from other cities aiming to alter the agency’s funding structure. 

Community Celebrates “Year of the Snake” at Lunar New Year Festival
Richardson’s annual Lunar New Year Festival was held last weekend amidst sunny, spring-like weather in the Richardson CORE District’s Chinatown neighborhood. Co-sponsored by the City and the Dallas Chinese Community Center, the event celebrated the Year of the Snake and included many cultural experiences, from music and dance performances to arts and athletic demonstrations to children’s games and crafts. Many food vendors and food trucks offered a variety of Asian dishes and nearby Chinatown restaurants were open as well.  

The Mayor and City Council closed out the festival by introducing the highlight of the day’s events, the much-anticipated Lion and Dragon Dances presented by JL Sports Association. 

Video: Link 

Soft Opening Tomorrow for Sherrill Park’s Revamped Course 2 
Sherrill Park’s Course 2 is opening for play starting tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 15) and tee times can be made online. Renovations began in February 2024 and included fixing drainage issues and improving the course’s playability, aesthetics and turf.   

A grand opening tournament for Course 2 will be held later in the spring when the weather is more predictable. More information on that tournament will be shared when it is available.  

Website: www.sherrillparkgolf.com 

Library Receives Excellence Award 
The Texas Municipal Library Directors Association (TMLDA), an affiliate of the Texas Municipal League, announced this week that the Richardson Public Library has earned the 2024 Achievement of Library Excellence Award. The recognition is due to demonstrated distinction with the facility’s many programs and services designed to meet the needs of a wide range of audiences, including increasing community outreach, a new seed library, a puzzle swap and multicultural events such as “Dance Around the World.”   

The award places Richardson’s public library in the top 19 percent of all public libraries in Texas. To achieve this designation, a library must exhibit excellence in 10 categories including services to underserved populations, collaboration with community organizations and literacy support for all ages.  

This is the 20th consecutive year the Richardson Public Library has been recognized with the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association's Achievement of Excellence in Libraries Award.  

Complete news release: Link 

30th Annual Community Revitalization Awards Recognize 12 Local Properties 
Twelve projects that were completed in 2024 (eight residential properties, one residential development and three non-residential properties) were recognized by the City Council Monday night as part of the 30th annual Community Revitalization Awards program. The program allows the City to thank property owners who have made a significant, positive impact on their property and the surrounding area. The selection committee for the 2024 awards included representatives from the City Council, City Plan Commission and Chamber of Commerce.   

Visit www.cor.net/CRA for more information including the complete list of the winning projects, and to nominate a property for the 2025 awards program. Photographs of each winning property can also be viewed in the upcoming March edition of Richardson Today.   

Monday’s presentation: Click here 

City Preps for Annual Recycling Bag Letter, Giveaway 
Shipments of blue recycling bags have started arriving at the City’s Service Center in preparation for the annual letter that’s mailed to residents by the Mayor and City Council that can be redeemed for two free rolls of bags. This week’s incoming truckload contained a total of 34 pallets, which is around 13,600 rolls.   

Though blue bags are available year-round for purchase at six City facilities (as well as free through redemption of previous years’ blue bag letters), there is always an increase in blue bag demand once the letter has been mailed—this year’s letter is expected to arrive in mailboxes around March 14.  

More information: www.cor.net/Recycling  

Reminder: City Services, Buildings Open President’s Day 
Monday, Feb. 17 is President’s Day, and as it is a federal holiday, most banks, many schools and federal entities such as the US Postal Service will be closed that day. It is, however, “business as usual” for many municipalities, including the City of Richardson. All City services will maintain normal operating schedules and City facilities will be open during regular business hours.    

Stage One of Main Street Infrastructure Project Phase 2 Begins, Lane Closures and Traffic Delays Expected 
All lanes of eastbound Main Street between Greenville Avenue and Abrams Road may be closed to traffic and shifted onto westbound Main Street at all times beginning Monday, Feb. 17, as work begins on Phase 2 of the Main Street Reconstruction Project. Only one lane for each direction of traffic will be open on the westbound side. In addition, Abrams Road will be narrowed to traffic at all times during this stage, and box trucks will be prohibited on Abrams Road south of construction due to reduced lane size. 

Stage 1 is expected to be complete in late April, with two more stages following. The entire Phase 2 of the Main Street Infrastructure Project is expected to wrap up in early fall.  

Lane Closures Expected Near Campbell Road/Owens Boulevard Intersection 
The right lanes of eastbound and westbound Campbell Road at Owens Boulevard extended 400 feet east and west of Owens Boulevard, and the left lanes of northbound and southbound Owens Boulevard between Campbell Road and Woodoak Drive may be closed to traffic from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. as upgrades take place on the nearby Oncor power line. Other streets that may experience lane closures due to the two-mile stretch of work include Somerset Place, Starshadow Drive, Owens Trail, Bell Meade Drive, Brookmeadow Drive and Plano Road. The work is expected to be complete by late March. 

Website: www.cor.net/Projects

Free Functional Fitness, Yoga Classes this Weekend 
The Parks and Recreation Department is offering free classes every weekend through March 2 to help you meet your fitness goals (and to help you and your community earn points if you’re participating in the statewide Healthier Texas Community Challenge)—here are this weekend’s offerings:   

The 2025 Challenge runs through March 9 and participation is free; actions/points are logged on the free HT Community Challenge app. Participation in the Healthier Texas Community Challenge not required to take either class.   

Healthier Texas Community Challenge website: Click here  

Family-friendly “Galentines” Vintage Market in The CORE District Sunday 
Lockwood Distilling, 506 Lockwood Dr., Ste. A
Admission: Free
Sunday, Feb. 16
Noon-5 p.m.  

Come celebrate all things Galentines with a family-friendly Galentines Market from NTX Vintage Markets that includes: 

Event link: Galentines Market at Lockwood Distilling | Facebook 

Love Song Sing-Along with the Richardson Community Chorale Tomorrow 
City Council Chamber, 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd. Suite 525
Admission: Free
Saturday, Feb. 15
1-2 p.m.    

All ages are invited to sing along with classic love songs performed by the Richardson Community Chorale in this Library-sponsored program. Registration is not required. Park near the City Hall entrance near Plano Road/Greenville Avenue intersection.  

More information: 972-744-4376 

Teen Program: Miles Morales Graffiti Art Style Tomorrow 
Youth Services Storytime Room
Admission: Free
Saturday, Feb. 15
3-4 p.m.  

In celebration of Black History Month, teens ages 13-18 are invited to learn how to draw graffiti style lettering inspired by the stylistic artwork of Miles Morales, aka Spider-Man. 

At the Eisemann Center:

• Amanda McBroom’s “Crimes of the Heart” Tonight 
  Bank of America Theatre
  Tickets: $35-$50 (tickets)
  Friday, Feb. 14
  8 p.m.  

  Legendary singer-songwriter and actress Amanda McBroom presents a musical Rogue’s Gallery of portraits of those who loved big, loud and often not too well, written by such musical masters as Stephen Sondheim, Irving Berlin and Leonard Cohen. Of course, McBroom’s own worldwide hit song, “The Rose,” will be included as well! Join her for a Valentine’s evening full of sweet romance, powerful passion and some big fun as well.

• “Sinatra and Bublé: A Tribute to the American Songbook” Tomorrow Night 
  Hill Performance Hall
  Tickets: $55-$90 (tickets)
  Saturday, Feb. 15
  7:30 p.m.  

  From Las Vegas to the Eisemann Center, Dave Halston and Michael Nugent star in an electrifying tribute to the timeless music of Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé, capturing the essence and charisma of these iconic singers while performing their classic hits. With a live big band and stunning showmanship, this show is a feast for the senses that will have you singing and dancing in your seat. Presented by Tribute Masters. 

   

At UT Dallas:

• “Greetings From Karen Springs!” Drama Opens Thursday
  University Theatre 
  Admission: Free 
  Feb. 20-March 1
  Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 
  7:30-9:30 p.m.
  
  This new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s classic, “An Enemy of the People,” is set in a Texas suburb called Karen Springs and explores a local environmental crisis through a mix of personalities—a doctor, a teacher, a mayor, reporters, business owners and everyday residents—all tangled in questions of truth, justice, friendship and loyalty. As tensions rise and secrets unravel, the cast confronts the real question: “Who is the true enemy of the people?” 
  
  Event link: Click here
  
  
• Documentary Photography: Panel Discussion Thursday 
  Jonsson Performance Hall
  Admission: Free
  Thursday, Feb. 20
  7-8:30 p.m.
  
  In conjunction with UT Dallas’ SP/N Gallery exhibition, “The Light in Between: Photographs by Alan Govenar,” a panel comprised of photography professionals in the field will address the subject of documentary photographic practice. The discussion will be moderated by UT Dalas professor Marilyn Waligore and will include Govenar along with Christopher Blay, Director of Public Programs at the National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth; Dr. Diane Durant, Photography Faculty at UT Dallas; and Sarah Meister, Executive Director at Aperture (nonprofit publisher).
  
  More information: Click here 

Chamber Music International Concert Tomorrow Night 
St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church, 1220 W. Belt Line Rd.
Tickets: $15-$45 (tickets)
Saturday, Feb. 15
7:30 p.m.    

Chamber Music International presents five talented artists performing works by Mozart, Granados and “the greatest piano quintet of all time,” Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op. 34” by Brahms. Artists include Jun Iwasaki and Chloé Kiffer, violin; Zoë Martin-Doike, viola; Ko Iwasaki, cello; and Alexandre Moutouzkine, piano.  

Website: www.chambermusicinternational.org   

Great Backyard Bird Count is this Weekend 
The 28th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, organized by the National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab or Ornithology and Birds Canada, takes place today (Friday, Feb. 14) through Monday, Feb. 17. Participants are asked to watch for birds in their backyard or anywhere they’d like for 15 minutes or more on at least one event day and identify/report all the birds seen or heard within that timeframe. The event offers three ways to report your findings depending on your level of bird expertise (beginners welcome!); click here for more information.  

To become more knowledgeable about birds, save the date for this upcoming class being offered by Richardson Parks and Recreation: 

Birding for Beginners 
Breckinridge Park, meet at South Parking Lot, 3501 Moroney Dr.
Admission: $5 (Children under 18 free with parent) (Registration Link)
Saturday, March 15
8:30 a.m.  

This bilingual event is led by a Texas Master Naturalist and is a great opportunity to learn about the natural environment we have right here in Richardson. 

Richardson 2025 Spring Recreation Guide: Click here 

Website: www.birdcount.org  

Clean Rain Gutters to Prevent Pests, Home Damage 
Cleaning gutters is a good way to prepare for potential icy weather and also a good overall spring-cleaning task. Keeping gutters free of fallen leaves has many advantages, including:   

Once leaves are collected from gutters, dispose of leaves in compostable bags or trash bags, or break them down into your landscape with a mulching lawnmower. Avoid washing them into the street and down storm drains, as they can reduce storm drain efficiency and, as they decompose, cause harm to fish and other aquatic organisms.    

Website: Stormwater | Richardson, TX (cor.net)  
Website: Make Mulch, Not Trash | Richardson, TX (cor.net) 

Driver/Loader, SWS Recycling ($43,136 - $60,013 Salary) 
The Public Services Department is looking for individuals who can drive and operate residential refuse and or recycling collection equipment. Work in a small crew to collect, load, transport and dispose of refuse, garbage, recycling and brush. Applicable Texas Commercial Learner’s Permit is required within 1 month of hire. Texas Commercial Driver’s License, Class B, is required within 6 months of hire. 

Heavy Equipment Operator ($48,661 – $66,830 Salary) 
The Public Services Department has multiple job openings for Heavy Equipment Operator for individuals with experience operating heavy motorized equipment. Depending on department, a Class A or Class B Texas Commercial Drivers License will be required or obtained within 6 months.  

Recreation Customer Services Representative ($20.00/hr to $24.02/hr) 
The Parks and Recreation Department has multiple openings at its recreation center for individuals who enjoy working with people and to help assist in supervising recreation center instructors, programs and activities.   

www.cor.net/jobs

Pet of the Week
Solo is a delightful 2-year-old mixed breed dog that has a heart full of love to give. He’s a sweet, friendly soul, always eager to make new friends, be they human or canine. Solo is a dream to walk with, always staying by your side and never pulling on the leash. He's also a social butterfly among his fellow dogs, showing respect and friendliness to all. His charming personality and easygoing nature make him a perfect addition to any family. 

For information about animals available for adoption, visit the Animal Shelter’s web page here.

City Council Links