Holiday closures for the city and a ban on personal watercraft on Lake Austin in effect today

City offices and facilities will be closed today to observe Independence Day, including rec centers, museums, library branches, Austin Energy centers and Downtown Austin Community Court services. However, curbside collections for trash, recycling and composting will follow regular schedules, and city parks, playgrounds and tennis centers are open for their regularly scheduled hours. For a complete list of city schedules for July 4, click here. Also for the holiday, the annual ban on personal watercraft on Lake Austin goes into effect at sunset on Wednesday, July 3, and ends on Friday, July 5, at sunrise. The ban covers personal watercraft, wet bikes, motorized surfboards and similar devices (designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel). Nonmotorized devices such as kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards are allowed. The Austin Police Department Lake Patrol Unit will enforce the ban on Lake Austin. For more details, click here.