The city’s official fireworks show – which is planned, produced, and performed by the Austin Symphony with the help of sponsors like H-E-B – will take place at Auditorium Shores and the Long Center this Tuesday (July 4) at 8:30 p.m.  The event, which features a performance by the symphony against the city skyline, fireworks, and local vendors, is free and open to the public.

In terms of getting there, city officials recommend parking north of Lady Bird Lake in order to avoid congestion to the south of the park at South Lamar Boulevard, Barton Springs Road and Riverside Drive and avoid scheduled road closures. (But you know what’s best for you.) In addition, the lake itself will be closed between the railroad trestle and South First Street from 8 a.m. until midnight, for safety reasons.

According to the city, “The Bouldin Creek Neighborhood will have neighborhood parking restrictions in place for safety. Parking in prohibited areas (on green spaces and parkland, along rights of way and medians or blocking private drives and lots) or in ‘Not Permitted’ areas may subject you to fines, ticketing and/or towing at your own expense.” To circumvent the parking issue entirely, attendees can bike, walk, scooter or bus, but the city has also mapped a few parking options as well.

More information about the event’s rules and safety information can be found here.

As reported by Mayor Kirk Watson, it looks like the Zilker Vision Plan is indeed headed to City Council at the end of August. A June 27 memo from Parks and Recreation Department Director Kimberly McNeeley explains that she intends to bring the plan to the Aug. 29 Council work session and seek a vote at the subsequent Aug. 31 meeting. In the meantime, writes McNeeley, staff “will spend the next two months reviewing the recent feedback” that they continue to get from the public over what has become a (predictably) heated topic in recent months.

The city of Austin on Thursday announced closures for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Almost all of the city’s offices and facilities will be closed Tuesday. There a few notable exceptions, including:

• Parks and Recreation: City parks, playgrounds, tennis centers and golf courses will be open regular hours on Tuesday. Check the city’s website for specific pool hours.
• Austin Public Library: Though physical branches will be closed, you can still access remote library resources online.
• Recycling, Compost and Trash Collection: Curbside services will not be affected. The Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center will be open by appointment only.
• Austin Public Health: Environmental Health Services at the Rutherford Lane Campus, Office of Vital Records, all WIC and Shots for Tots clinics, and Neighbor Centers will be closed Tuesday.

Visit the city website for more holiday hours info.

It’s time, once again, to pick your favorite tree for the Austin Tree of the Year Awards. Nominations open on Saturday, and members of the public are invited to pick the best: small tree, large tree, schoolyard tree, story tree and unique tree (though it’s perfectly fine to nominate multiple trees in each category). A news release from TreeFolks, which hosts the awards with the city of Austin, notes that trees must be in a public or business space in Austin. Nominators who pick winning trees in the five categories will receive an award “for their dedication towards nature in Austin.” A list of last year’s winners can be found here.

Feel a nagging desire to get more tech savvy? APL Innovate, Austin Public Library’s “digital makerspace for collaboration and creation,” will hold an open house from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Central Library. “We are providing community access to state-of-the-art computer hardware and software to create digital content such as podcasts, videos, 3D renderings, music, and more,” an event announcement reads. All ages welcome; find the Innovation Lounge on the fifth floor.

As a way of remembering O. Henry
Austin has jokingly honored his legacy
Puns weren’t enough
(This rhyme is tough)
So now we’ve expanded to poetry

That’s right. The city’s O. Henry Museum is branching all the way out to limericks with its latest contest, the Lone Star Limericks online writing competition, which is free and open to the public. Submissions, which can be in video, image or text, are open July 1-22 here. What is the contest, exactly? Per the city: “Pay tribute to this great city and state’s people, places, sights, and sounds by immortalizing (or gently mocking) them in verse! Your limerick can reference anything about Texas or Austin – your favorite (or least favorite) Texas person, city or state park, wildflower, animal, road trip experience, (barbecue) joint, I-35 exit, debilitating allergen – the sky’s the limit! Just keep it short and snappy, and family-friendly!”

The public will be able to view and vote on their favorite limericks July 23-31, with winners announced on Aug. 1.

The city is now is taking feedback on the well-publicized, ongoing expansion of Austin’s airport, giving travelers an official place to channel their frustrations and delight with air travel these days. The official survey on the expansion now known as “Journey with AUS” is intended to help guide those working on the project. According to a news release from airport information officials, “Survey responses will be used to create passenger profiles that capture the typical AUS traveler. These passenger profiles will help inform design standards, which will be used to design and eventually build the midfield concourse.” In addition to the online survey, in-person surveys will be conducted at the airport today. The online survey is open to anyone that has traveled through Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in 2023 and until July 7.

The Lower Colorado River Authority announced Tuesday that it will award grants of up to $50,000 to support first responders and improve local community centers, museums, parks and more. The Community Development Partnership Program grants are given out twice a year to nonprofit organizations located in an eligible county, including Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Burnet and more. “In the most recent round of grants in spring 2023, LCRA awarded almost $815,000 in grants to 34 projects, which included new emergency gear for first responders; improvements to parks, museums and community centers; and new ball field lights,” according to the LCRA. Applications open next month and are due by midnight on July 31. For more info, go to lcra.org/community-services/community-grant-program, email grants@lcra.org or call 800-776-5272, ext. 3140 or ext. 1627.

On Friday, the boat ramp at Mansfield Dam Park will be closed due to the low water level at Lake Travis. According to a news release from Travis County Parks, “Boat launching and retrieving will not be allowed after Thursday of this week. If you have a boat in the water and plan to pick up passengers at Mansfield Dam Park, that will be allowed.” At the moment, the Pace Bend Park boat ramp at Tournament Point is the only boat ramp at a Travis County park that is currently in the water at Lake Travis, so holiday boaters might want to plan accordingly.

Commuters, this one’s for you. Braker Lane will be closed along the MetroRail tracks between Burnet Road and Metric Boulevard from July 5 to 14, the Transportation and Public Works Department announced Monday. Drivers in North Austin might find intermittent partial closures already in progress. The closures come as Capital Metro works on improvements to the MetroRail line. Access will not change for bicyclists and pedestrians, according to the department. Recommended detour routes can be found via Kramer Lane, Rutland Drive, Burnet Road and Metric Boulevard.

The Austin Police Department recently issued a reminder of its traffic-enforcement policies for the Fourth of July holiday. The department will be patrolling under a special DWI Enforcement Initiative from June 23 to July 9, focused on highways and high-speed roadways. There will be an extended no-refusal period from June 29 to July 9, when officers will “apply for blood search warrants on suspects who refuse to provide a breath or blood specimen as required,” according to a news release. “This initiative is an effort to enforce DWI laws while keeping the public safe by encouraging drivers to make responsible decisions,” the release reads. Find more info on the city’s website.

Calling all creative kids: You could win $400 in a city art contest. The Financial Services Department recently announced the fourth annual ArtConnect as part of Digital Inclusion Week (Oct. 1-7). The week is meant to raise awareness of the lack of reliable, high-speed internet service for more than 40,000 Travis County households, according to the department. The theme for this year’s ArtConnect: What would be possible if everyone had internet access? Ages 10 to 18 are eligible to enter the contest. Entries can be submitted online, in person or through the mail until Aug. 31. First place receives $400, second place receives $200 and third place receives $100. Winners will be announced at a Digital Inclusion Week celebration, and the artwork will be hosted in various city gallery spaces, according to the department. Get more information on contest rules at austintexas.gov/artconnect.