Cedar Park - Far Northwest Austin Edition | May 2025

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Cedar Park Far Northwest Austin Edition VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 MAY 15JUNE 13, 2025

Deep waters to supply Cedar Park

Cedar Park has access to ample water for years to come, according to Dan Sousa, assistant director of communications and engagement for Cedar Park. That said, the reliability of the city’s water supply is being bolstered through various projects at the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority. Drought resilience is one of the main drivers of the ongoing projects, which include a deep water intake in Lake Travis and miles of underground pipelines.

INSIDE

BCRUA’s underground pipeline will be able to pump 145 million gallons of water per day.

COURTESY CITY OF ROUND ROCK

Also in this issue

State: Read our exclusive interview with Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (Page 33)

Impacts: Check out new dining, shopping and health care options in Cedar Park (Page 6)

Education: See how local school districts stack up in TEA’s delayed AF ratings (Page 12)

Saturday

Old Town Leander June 7th 2025 Leander, TEXAS 5

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• Give at least three feet of space when passing a cyclist. • Check your blind spots before changing lanes. • Slow down in bike-heavy areas. • Always look before opening your car door. This Bike Safety Month, it’s important to pay attention to everyone on the road. SHARE THE ROAD RESPONSIBLY

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

1st Home & Commercial Services Adaptive Path Adelton Advanced Air Conditioning and Heating Alliance Bank Central Texas Alpha School Amberlin Georgetown Amberlin Pugerville Anthology Senior Living of Arboretum ArborView Active Adult Living Austin Capital Bank Austin Diagnostic Clinic Austin Elite Smiles Austin ENT Associates

Cabinet Central Austin Capitex Homes Care First Clinic

Georgetown Health Foundation Georgetown ISD Georgetown OBGYN Goodnight Ranch Grand Endeavor Homes Greater Austin Pain Center Habitat For Humanity Restore Harmony Public Schools Harris Insurance Services Headwater Commercial Hill Country Water Gardens Homes with Hall Realty Howerton Eye Center Huntington Learning Center Immanuel Lutheran Day School International School of Texas Invictus: An Acton Academy Jovie Pugerville Kara Hobbs Design Karimah Thomas Kessler Dental Kurtz Properties Kyle ER Lake Travis High School PTO Lariat Liberty Hill Legend Tennis Academy Liberty HIll ISD Liz Hart Lone Star Circle of Care Longhorn Village

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Market leaders & metro team

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Reporters Brittany Anderson Jacquelyn Burrer Dacia Garcia Sarah Hernandez Elisabeth Jimenez Anna Maness Haley McLeod Jamie Moore Hannah Norton Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Gracie Warhurst Chloe Young Graphic Designers Abbey Eckhardt Alissa Foss Abigail Hines Sabrina Musachia Karoline Pfeil Sam Schaer

Synergy Dance Studio Texas Digestive Disease Consultants Texas Disposal Systems Texas Gas Service Texas Physical Therapy Specialists Texas State University Hearing Clinic Texas Tiny Pools

Premier Family Physicians Quality Natural Learning Raise Your Hand Texas Rivette Tower Rock Chiropractic Rock Springs Rush Creek at Star Ranch Apartments Sage Valley Senior Living San Gabriel Rehabilitation and Care Center Sava Face and Body Sensational Shutters and More Shipp Family Dental

Denise Seiler General Manager dseiler@ communityimpact.com

The Counseling Choice The Hills Hearing Center The Knight School North Austin The Salt Lick BBQ The Texas Girls School The Wild Center Thiel Pediatric Dentistry Town Square Adult Day Center UT Health Austin Velocity Credit Union Versatile Performance Training

Austin Public Health Austin Radiological Association MSO LLC Austin Regional Clinic Austin Skin Physicians Austin Waldorf School BASISTX Baylor Scott & White

Minh Nguyen Joseph Veloz Managing Editor Darcy Sprague Product Manager Gloria Amareth Quality Desk Editor Adrian Gandara Austin Market President Travis Baker

Steve Guntli Editor sguntli@ communityimpact.com

Small Wonder Eyecare Snapology in Cedar Park Soccer Pups Solea Lewisville SPJST Assisted Living at Lake Travis

Beck Commons Dental Care Belmont Village Senior Living BioVitality, LLC Blaze School Blink Boutique Eyecare + Eyewear Bone DRs Orthopedic Care Butler Contracting

Volante Senior Living Waterloo Swimming

Wellness by Wilder Wes Peoples Homes Whisper Valley Community Wurzel Builders

St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital

Beth Burton Account Executive bburton@ communityimpact.com

16225 Impact Way Pugerville, TX 78660 • 5129896808 CI Careers

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Impacts

Cedar Park & Leander

apparel and accessories. Customers can find additional services including boot fittings, mounting and skate sharpening. • Opened April 14 • The Crossover, 1717 Scottsdale Drive, Ste. 102, Leander • www.instagram.com/pro_ice 3 Skin by Deep Roots The team behind Deep Roots ATX Salon opened the med spa to provide a range of skincare and rejuvenation services including wrinkle treatments, biostimulators, dermal fillers and facials. The business has a staff of nurse practitioners, nurse injectors and aestheticians to perform services. • Opened Feb. 11 • 1310 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. 560, Cedar Park • www.skinbydeeproots.com 4 SmileCraft Dental Led by Dr. Sheel Patel, the practice offers general dentistry services, including root canals, as well as dental implants and oral surgery. Cosmetic services such as teeth whitening and dental veneers are also available. • Opened March 10 • 1513 E. New Hope Drive, Ste. A1, Leander • www.smilecraftdentalclinic.com 5 Spike Frog The Crossover stated in an email that Spike Frog offers recreational youth training and leagues for volleyball with a focus on learning and fun. • Opened March 1 • The Crossover, 1717 Scottsdale Drive, Leander • www.spikefrog.org 6 Tech One Automotive The family-owned and operated shop offers vehicle maintenance and repair. Customers can find a range of services from alignment services and brake repair to oil changes and maintenance services, as stated on its website. • Opened April 1 • 701 Cypress Creek Road, Cedar Park • www.techoneauto.com

Leander

183A TOLL

2 5 8 13

SCOTTSDALE DR.

183

VISTA RIDGE BLVD.

ANDERSON MILL RD.

AVERY RANCH BLVD.

Cedar Park

LITTLE ELM TRL.

45 TOLL

PECAN PARK BLVD.

LAKELINE MALL DR.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

620

company stated in an email. • Opened March 1 • The Crossover, 1717 Scottsdale Drive, Leander • www.austinvelocity.com 2 Pro Ice The business sells a variety of boot and blade brands,

Now open

1 Austin Velocity Volleyball Club Austin Velocity Volleyball Club is a competitive club volleyball program focused on athlete growth, team excellence and strong values for players ages 11-18, the

We help visitors discover hidden gems and local favorites that make Cedar Park special. From events to eats, we’ve got them covered .

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UPCOMING EVENTS >>

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

GreenPal GreenPal, an app that connects homeowners with local vetted landscapers, began offering services in Liberty Hill, Leander and Cedar Park on April 25. People can list their lawns and requested services and dates, and then various landscapers will bid on the projects, according to a release from the company. • Launched in area April 25 • www.yourgreenpal.com/local/lawn-care-austin-tx

is set to finish renovations by November, as stated on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The business is expected to include a bar, a tasting room, a wine display area, a sales area and unisex restrooms. • 601 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. 600, Cedar Park 10 Patel Brothers Grocery Store According to TDLR, the store will begin construction on May 20 and finish by October 20. The grocery store has more than 50 locations nationwide that sell Indian produce, dairy products, baked goods, beverages and more. • 11066 Pecan Park Blvd., Unit 101, Cedar Park • www.patelbros.com 11 Teaspoon Construction on the new tea shop location will begin in September and be completed in November, as stated on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation website. The business sells coffee, tea, signature drinks, boba and pastries, as listed on its website. • 1811 S. Lakeline Blvd., Ste. 200, Cedar Park • www.teaspoonlife.com

Coming soon

7 Cedar Park Cafe The cafe will offer breakfast and lunch options near Lakeline Boulevard. Reps from the business said it is hoping to open on May 15 but will realistically open closer to June 1 due to city and contracting delays. • Opening early summer • 2005 Little Elm Trail, Bldg. A, Ste. 500, Cedar Park • No website available 8 TPH Academy TPH Academy is now accepting applications for student- athletes for the 2025-2026 academic year. Student- athletes study, train and play at their highest potential at the academy, The Crossover stated in an email. • Opening in August • The Crossover, 1717 Scottsdale Drive, Ste. 100E, Leander • www.tphacademy.com/austin Launch Entertainment With over 30 parks across the country, Launch Entertainment is known for a wide range of family entertainment options, such as arcades, bowling, climbing walls, indoor trampolines, ninja warrior courses

14 Pizza Twist & Taco Twist Pizza Twist offers a wide variety of pizza, pasta, wings, salads and desserts, and features signature pizza flavors such as lamb kabob and chicken tikka masala. Taco Twist offers a selection of tacos, burritos and burrito bowls, and like Pizza Twist, the restaurant fuses traditional tacos with Indian flavors. • Opening late May • 13920 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Ste. 205, Leander • www.pizzatwist.com Forest neighborhood. • Closed March 31 • The Crossover, 1717 Scottsdale Drive, Leander • www.packtraining.com/contact 15 Ziggy’s Kielbasa House The business’ market sells house-made meats, frozen foods, pickles and kraut, condiments and sauces, fish and canned meats, cookies, snacks, jams, honey and soup mixes and seasonings. On weekends, the business sells hot food for pick-up including pierogi in various flavors and kielbasa, a type of Polish sausage. • Closing in June • 2403 S. Hwy. 183, Ste. 104, Leander • www.ziggyskielbasa.com

Relocations

12 A.J’s Yotas Now operating out of a 2,500 square foot space on West Whitestone Boulevard, the shop specializes in preparing Toyota and Lexus vehicles for off-road excursions. A.J’s Yotas offers services including: maintenance, suspension work, engine diagnostics, transmission and electrical services and more. • Relocated March 15 • 2301 W. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park • www.ajsyotas.com

and virtual reality. • Opens 2026-27 • Location TBA • www.launchfamilyentertainment.com

Closings

13 The League The fitness program, which was originally founded in 2013, offered 45-minute group classes and specialized in a program called PAC(K) training, which stands for power, aerobics, circuit training and keep moving. The business still operates a location in Houston’s Oak

What’s next

9 Cork 2 Glass The new wine bar started construction in March and

CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Impacts

Far Northwest Austin

Now open

Coming soon

620

O'CONNOR DR.

1 Halal Joy The food truck serves Mediterranean cuisine such as falafels, gyro wraps, pita bread, hummus and rice bowls. • Opened in February • 8925 Anderson Mill Road, Austin • www.instagram.com/halal_joy_austin 2 Smoothie King The smoothie chain offers a wide variety of blended beverages, with the option to add nutritional enhancers like protein and collagen. • Opened March 31 • 7399 O’Connor Drive, Round Rock • www.smoothieking.com 3 AZ Esthetics & Head Spa The spa offers a variety of face, body and hair treatments, including customized facials such as hydradermabrasion and LED light therapy; Japanese head spa treatments; and body sculpting. • Opened in early April • 10601 Pecan Park Blvd., Ste. 302, Austin • www.instagram.com/austinheadspandfacials

4 D1 Training The athletic training facility will offer strength and conditioning training for athletes of all ages through one-on-one training, group or family classes. • Opening in June • 11521 N. FM 620, Ste. 800, Austin • www.d1training.com

183A TOLL

GREAT OAKS DR.

LAKELINE BLVD.

LAKELINE MALL DR.

45 TOLL

What’s next

PECAN PARK BLVD.

LAKE CREEK PKWY.

5 Hounds Town The center, which offers daycare services, grooming services and overnight boarding for dogs, has leased its first space in Austin, according to commercial real estate agency representative. • Opening TBD • 10700 Anderson Mill Road, Austin • www.houndstownusa.com 6 Panda Express Per a project filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the new location is slated to be constructed between Salad & Go and Chick-fil-A. The American-style Chinese restaurant chain serves chow

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mein, rice, orange chicken, egg rolls and more. • Opening TBD • 105 Deer Ridge Drive, Round Rock • www.pandaexpress.com 7 Woori America Bank Per a project filing with TDLR, the South Korea-based banking institution is slated to open its first Austin- area location. The bank offers checking and savings accounts, debit cards, money markets, personal and business loans, and online banking. • Opening TBD • 14028 Hwy. 183, Ste. G-330, Austin • www.wooriamericabank.com

In the news

Coming soon

9 Thundercloud Subs The Austin-grown sub sandwich restaurant celebrated its 50th anniversary in March. • A 13776 US 183, Ste. 152, Austin B 6920 RM 620 N., Austin • www.thundercloud.com 10 West Austin Chamber of Commerce The Chamber celebrated its 15th anniversary in April. The organization supports Austin businesses. • 7710 N. RM 620, Bldg. 13-D, Austin • www.westaustinchamber.org

Relocations

11 HTeaO The franchised beverage chain will offer a variety of fruit flavored ice teas and refreshers; hot and iced coffee; lemonade; and a “secret menu” of flavored drinks.

Worth the trip

8 Russian School of Math The school is slated to relocate from its current location on Research Boulevard. RSM offers after school and summer elementary, middle and high school advanced math programs and preparation for SAT and AP exams. • Relocating end of May • 9500 Parmer Lane, Austin • www.mathschool.com

Malibu Barbie Cafe The experience features photo opportunities like the life-size Barbie box; a food, dessert and cocktail menu; and 21+ skate nights on May 17 and June 14. • Open now through June 15 • $25 (starting price) • Wanderlust Wine Co., 610 N. I-35, Austin • www.bucketlisters.com/experience/malibu-barbie- cafe-austin

• Opening this summer or fall • 16419 RM 620, Round Rock • www.hteao.com

CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Government

BY HALEY MCLEOD

‘Substantial decline’ seen in fentanyl-related deaths

Travis County officials highlighted a 36% reduc- tion in deaths involving fentanyl and a 22% decrease in total opioid-related deaths during a preview April 21 of the annual Medical Examiner’s report for 2024. Fentanyl-related deaths dropped from 279 to 179 between 2023 and 2024, which Travis County Medical Examiner Dr. Keith Pinckard called “a substantial decline.” How we got here Since 2021, opioid overdose deaths have sur- passed vehicle collisions as the leading cause of accidental deaths in Travis County, according to county officials. Travis County Commissioners voted to renew a 2022 public health crisis declaration in November. As part of this effort, the county allocated $100,000 for naloxone and an additional $300,000 for future overdose prevention programs. The county has allocated nearly $5 million in federal and local funding to address the opioid

Travis County opioid deaths

In December, the county announced the first downward trend in accidental opioid deaths for the first time in three years.

120 150

0 30 60 90

2024

2025

Jan.

Feb.

March

April

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

March

SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER/COMMUNITY IMPACT

overdose public health crisis, County Judge Andy Brown said, adding that in April the county received another $1.4 million in new opioid abatement funding from pharmaceutical settlements. A closer look In 2024, there were 1,102 emergency medical service dispatches and 878 emergency room visits

for overdoses, according to the Austin Public Health opioid overdose dashboard. While last year saw a slight decline in over- dose-related calls, 2025 is shaping up to show a more “dramatic” drop, said Robert Luckritz, chief of Travis County Emergency Medical Services.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Government

BY SAM SCHAFFER & STEVE GUNTLI

Cedar Park City Council approves city pool additions City Council authorized the city manager to negotiate a $1.05 million professional services agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates for engineering services for a Veterans Memorial Pool expansion and Milburn Pool Renovation at an April 10 meeting. Two-minute impact The Veterans Memorial Pool expansion is 1 An interactive play structure 2 A lazy river with tunnel 3 Additional waterslides 4 A family slide 5 Spray features 6 Additional shade pavilions The proposed additions to the Veterans Memorial Pool include:

Alexis Frezza wins Cedar Park Council Place 1 race Alexis Frezza has won a seat on Cedar Park City Council. Frezza defeated incum- bent Bobbi Hutchinson with a final count of 54.10% to 45.9%. With only a small percentage of registered voters turning out in each county, the difference is 171 ballots. Dig deeper The two candidates competed for the only contested seat on the council. Anne Duffy and Kevin Harris ran uncontested for re-election to places 3 and 5. NOTE: All results are unofficial until canvassed. Visit communityimpact.com/ voter-guide/election-results to see results from all local elections in your community.

expected to expand the existing pool to potentially include a lazy river with a lounge area, according to agenda documents. The Milburn Pool portion of the agreement is to develop concept drawings and engineering cost estimates. According to agenda documents, pro- posed improvements include renovating the pool house, HVAC system, staff break room, restrooms, offices and more. The Milburn playscape and slide were also recommended to be replaced, according to the documents.

SOURCE: CITY OF CEDAR PARK/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

LISD OKs $4M toward Early Childhood Center Officials are preparing to break ground on Leander ISD’s first prekindergarten Early Child- hood Center, but a recent funding gap identified more funds are needed to complete the project. The board of trustees approved 4-1 to reallo- cate $4 million in bond funds toward the ECC during the regular board meeting April 10. The 2023 bond allocated $161 million toward repurposing underutilized campuses, $60 million of which has been allocated for building an early childhood center at Halsey Drive. What’s changed A $4 million funding gap was identified following a refined design scope and additional site work, Chief Operating Officer Jeremy Trimble said. The ECC differs from a traditional elemen- tary campus, which is where the cost differences lie, Trimble said.

Leander ISD updates budget assumptions The Leander ISD board of trustees adopted updated budget assumptions to be considered in creating the 2025-26 fiscal year budget at its March 27 meeting. LISD Chief Financial Officer Peter Pape said the board asked administration to increase the deficit threshold to 4.5% and increase the attendance assumption to 94.125%. Dig deeper The new budget assumptions are param- eters that will guide decision-making in crafting the 2025-26 proposed budget, which the board will vote on. The increased attendance assumption, up from 94%, could increase state funding, which is based on average daily attendance, according to the state.

The Early Childhood Center is expected to have:

A capacity of about 600 prekindergarten students

Five learning pods with literacy areas, free play stations and meals

Outdoor play areas with covered porches, gardens, trike tracks and free play areas

A gym, media center, administrative offices and community resource spaces

Space for the Parents as Teachers program

SOURCE: LEANDER ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

With the reallocation of funds toward the ECC, there is now $97 million in bond funds remaining for other campus repurposing projects.

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Education

BY BROOKE SJOBERG

RRISD expands teacher resident programs Round Rock ISD administrators are exploring ways to expand a program that provides paid expe- rience to students during their last year of study in an undergraduate program. In April, Chief of Human Resources Eddie Curran said the district has not yet landed on a number, but is working to expand the program. What you need to know The RRock residency program will conclude its first year with the end of the 2024-25 school year in May. The program paired seven residents from Texas State University and Concordia University with master teachers at C.D. Fulkes Middle School to receive hands-on classroom teaching experience. "I believe strongly that what this has done is that it brings those residents into our culture a lot earlier than they would typically as a brand new teacher," Curran said. "They're actually learning the systems

RRISD seeks funding for firearm locks The Round Rock ISD Police Department is seeking a grant from the Capital Area Council of Governments to purchase firearm locks as part of a community firearm safety initiative. What you need to know RRISDPD Chief Ryan Urrutia told admin- istrators in an April 17 board meeting that his department was seeking to provide cable locks to community members. Urrutia said the grant is competitive, and if awarded, the department would aim to purchase up to 15,000 firearm locks, cable locks and trigger locks. What’s next? Urrutia said the district would most likely hear from CAPCOG by the start of the 2025- 26 school year.

The teacher residency program is just one of several ways to address the ongoing shortage of teachers and retain staff. The district also offers:

RRock International: RRISD staffs bilingual and special education positions through J-1 visas to meet different staffing needs in the district. RRock Teach: Provides a pathway for employees who have a bachelor’s degree but are not certified to teach to receive alternative certification.

SOURCE: ROUND ROCK ISD

in Round Rock ISD." Curran said the district has already signed contracts with six of the seven residents to teach for the 2025-26 school year, with the seventh unable to sign on due to moving out of state. About the program RRISD launched its teacher residency program in June 2024. However, teacher residents are paid a full-time salary and provided benefits, unlike student teachers.

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Education

Leander, Round Rock ISDs 2022-23 TEA ratings released

LISD Superintendent Bruce Gearing said doing so was an expression of the district’s dedication to ensure the accountability ratings are based on a system that provides “clear signalizing of improvement and success.”

the COVID-19 pandemic and two lawsuits. The TEA has provided a “what if” score for 2021- 22, which is the grade the district would have received using the 2023 model, for year-over-year comparison. After joining the lawsuit in 2023,

On April 24, nearly two years after they were due, the Texas Education Agency released public school accountability ratings for the 2022-23 school year. This is the first time since 2019 that schools have received complete ratings, due to

Round Rock ISD

Reading Math This shows how well a district is ensuring that all student groups are successful. Closing the gaps

District score

Percent of students per rating

The “What-if” rating scores the 2021-22 data using the 2022-23 methodology as a comparison point. 2022-23 2021-22 “what if”

45%

72% 63% Two or More Races 43% 32% African American

51% 43% Hispanic

79% 71% White

41%

60% 63% American Indian 63% 60% Pacific Islander

45% 39% High Focus* 70% 63% All Students

B B

87/100

92% 91% Asian

School scores

School

2021-22 “what if”

2022-23

*HIGH FOCUS INCLUDES ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND THOSE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSES

Anderson Mill Elementary Deerpark Middle School

C B A A A B A A A A A

C C A C A C B A B B A

Percentage of students approaching grade level or above on STAAR tests

Four-Year Graduation Rate

England Elementary

Forest North

State

District

State

District

Grisham Middle School Live Oak Elementary McNeil High School

Pearson Ranch Middle School Pond Springs Elementary

Purple Sage Elementary Westwood High School

Reading

Math

Science

Social Studies

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

Leander ISD District score

Percent of students per rating

School scores

The “What-if” rating scores the 2021-22 data using the 2022-23 methodology as a comparison point. 2022-23 2021-22 “what if”

School

2021-22 “what if”

2022-23

55%

Canyon Ridge Elementary

36%

Cedar Park High School

Cedar Park Middle School

Cox Elementary

86/100

88/100

Cypress Elementary

Deer Creek Elementary

Reading This shows how well a district is ensuring that all student groups are successful. Closing the gaps

Math

Faubion Elementary

49% 33% African American 70% 55% Two or More Races

57% 43% Hispanic

73% 60% White

Four Points Middle School

Grandview Hills Elementary

57% 47% American Indian 77% 65% Pacific Islander

47% 38% High Focus* 70% 57% All Students

Henry Middle School

Laura Welch Bush Elementary

87% 84% Asian

Naumann Elementary

Reagan Elementary

Reed Elementary

*HIGH FOCUS INCLUDES ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND THOSE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSES

River Place Elementary

Percentage of students approaching grade level or above on STAAR tests

Four-Year Graduation Rate

River Ridge Elementary

State

District

State

District

Rutledge Elementary

Steiner Ranch Elementary

Vandegrift High School

Vista Ridge High School

Reading

Math

Science

Social Studies

Westside Elementary

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Class Instruction On-Demand Reformers

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CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Transportation

BY STEVE GUNTLI

TXDOT to add feeder roads between Whitestone, Avery Ranch

The Texas Department of Transportation will soon begin a project to help alleviate traffic along the 183A Toll corridor in Cedar Park. This summer, TXDOT will begin construction on non-tolled frontage roads to connect RM 1431, or Whitestone Blvd., and Avery Ranch Blvd. The approximately 3-mile project is slated to begin this summer, with an estimated completion date of 2028, according to TXDOT. The details The project will require the construction of two grade-separated lanes on either side of 183A Toll road. According to TXDOT documents, this project has been in the works since 2018. The plans also include a shared-use pathway on the northbound road, which will connect to existing trailheads along 183A. The project has been in development since 2018, when it underwent its schematic and environmental development phase.

What else? According to the TXDOT website, the increased growth and development in the region has necessitated creating relief routes to keep traffic flowing. The new routes will help alleviate backup on the toll road while allowing traffic to continue to flow during periods of maintenance. The goal of the project, according to TXDOT documents, is to: • Increase mobility by providing an alternate route for 183A traffic. • Improve safety by bringing the roads up to current TXDOT standards. • Reduce environmental impact by cutting emissions from idling cars. • Allow more flexibility for Cedar Park to grow.

1431

183

183A TOLL

Cedar Park

Community First: Fire Safety & Home Protection with ESD9

Cycle and soak Split the time you run your irrigation system into two cycles to prevent runoff and promote deeper roots and healthier plants. Every drop counts toward preserving our water supply – lakes Travis and Buchanan.

Stay Safe This Wildfire Season – Follow These Tips: Create Defensible Space: Clear flammable materials like dead leaves, branches, and debris around your home.

Fire-Resistant Landscaping: Use drought-tolerant, non-flammable plants and keep trees trimmed.

Stay Informed Before You Burn: Check local fire regulations and restrictions to avoid fines. For details, visit the Williamson County Fire Marshal’s website at www.wilcotx.gov/378/Fire-Marshal.

Learn more at www.lcra.org/drought

Be Prepared – Sign Up Today! Available to all residents within ESD9 boundaries. Scan to register for your fire blanket. Want to Learn More? Read about our Wildfire Safety & Preparedness efforts:

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Transportation

BY HALEY MCLEOD

Steck Avenue and MoPac entrances closed through 2025

The project so far

Those who regularly commute down MoPac into Austin should plan for additional time, with southbound entrance ramps now closed at Steck Avenue and ongoing construction causing a two- lane bottleneck along the major thoroughfare just north of US 183. Explained The entrance ramp closure announced in April is expected through the end of 2025, while the exit ramp closure announced in February is expected to only remain closed for three months, according to the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, the agency in charge of the project. Closures are due to progress on the 183 North Mobility Project. The $612 million roadway initiative aims to relieve congestion along 183 North—the 9-mile section of road between MoPac and SH 45—by adding two toll lanes in each direction that will connect to the existing tolls on MoPac and 183A in Cedar Park. The 183 North Mobility Project is in its third year

The 183 North Mobility Project is in its third year and ahead of schedule.

Drilled shafts 79.6%

Drainage 58%

Pavement 69.4%

Bridge columns 87.4%

Bridge caps 84.5%

Retaining walls 64%

NOTE: PERCENTAGES ARE PERCENT COMPLETE

SOURCE: CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

of construction and ahead of a targeted completion date of 2026. However, the initiative for roadway expansion and extension was first launched in 2013 by the CTRMA and Texas Department of Transportation. Brittany Anderson contributed to this story.

MOPAC

N. MOPAC SERVICE RD.

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CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Deep waters to supply Cedar Park From the cover

The overview

BCRUA raw water intake project 1 Raw water intake

4 Raw water pump station

2 BCRUA maintenance building

5 Proposed piping connection

A project to pull water from the deepest locations of Lake Travis to supply the BCRUA—a partnership made up of the cities of Round Rock, Leander and Cedar Park—is roughly halfway complete. Once completed, the BCRUA’s raw water intake project will have the capacity to pump 145 million gallons of raw water from the lake per day. The project is meant to help the three cities meet future water demands by providing a stable source year-round. Phase 1 of the project included the construction of a oating barge and raw water system on Lake Travis, pulling roughly 32 million gallons of water per day from the lake. However, ocials say the barges are susceptible to drought conditions. “These projects reect [Cedar Park’s] ongoing commitment to proactive water planning,” Sousa said.

3 Existing Cedar Park Water Treatment Plant

6 Existing Sandy Creek Water Treatment Plant

New BCRUA intake tunnel New BCRUA transmission tunnel Existing BCRUA water pipe

Lake Travis

Water distribution for Phase 2 of the BCRUA’s Raw Water Intake project The member cities of the BCRUA will each contribute funding for the new project, proportional to the amount of water each city will receive.

The details

The other side

The localities participating in the regional partnership originally met in 2006 to determine how much water each city would need at full build-out. The deep water intake project, which began construction in 2022, includes the con- struction of a 2-mile pipeline delivering water from intake screens to a new pump station. A raw water transmission tunnel and pipeline will move the pumped water to existing Cedar Park, Leander and BCRUA water treatment plants. Michael Thane, executive director of public works for the city of Round Rock, said the com- bination of BCRUA projects, along with its other sources, secures Cedar Park and neighboring cities’ water well into the future. “This will take us a long way out there—prob- ably around 2070 and 270,000 customers,” he said. “So we have water under contract that can meet our demands for the next 45 years.” In 2022, the BCRUA approved a contract with Thalle Construction Co. and SAK Construction for $224.8 million to build the intake system. The total cost is estimated at $293 million and is funded with cash contributions and contract revenue bonds, according to the BCRUA.

Lakes Travis and Buchanan serve as the primary water supply reservoirs in the Highland Lakes system. The last time both lakes were full was July 2019, according to the Lower Colorado River Authority. As of April 15, the lakes combined were 48% full. The Central Texas Water Coalition is an organization dedicated to protecting the water resources of the Highland Lakes. The CTWC calls for increased conservation and planning measures in light of histori- cally low inows into the lake, which the organization attributes to thousands of unregulated upstream ponds, Executive Director Shannon Hamilton said. “Whether we like [the pipeline] or not, it’s coming online. We just have to plan for it,“ Hamilton said. “We’re just not getting the same amount of water that we used to get for the same amount of rainfall. ... I don’t know when another rain event is coming, but I do know that we’ve got a lot of people relying on our lakes, and this is what we have today.”

Round Rock: 40.8 MGD Cedar Park: 42 MGD Leander: 62 MGD

29%

42.8%

28.2%

Total 144.8 MGD

Cost distribution

Round Rock: $63.4 million Cedar Park: $65.1 million Leander: $96.3 million

29%

42.8%

28.2%

Total $224.8M

SOURCE: BRUSHY CREEK REGIONAL UTILITY AUTHORITYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY GRACE DICKENS, GRANT CRAWFORD & SAM SCHAFFER

Water use Of the 70.53 million gallons per day, or MGD, of water collectively allocated through LCRA contracts to the cities, about 30.09 MGD was used on average in 2023, or 42.66%.

Going forward

Dig deeper

Once the Phase 1D Water Treatment Plant Expan- sion portion of the project is complete later this year, Cedar Park’s total water treatment capacity— between the BCRUA plant and the Cedar Park Water Treatment Plant—will be 37.2 MGD, Sousa said. The city will also benet from increased reliability as part of the deep water intake project. Based on the city’s current water plan, Cedar Park’s additional treatment capacity that will result from Phase 1D is expected to meet demands through 2040, Sousa said. As a result, the city does not need additional treatment capacity from the Phase 2A Water Treatment Plant Expansion and will not participate in that phase of the project. Both Phase 2 and Phase 2A of the project are expected to nish by the summer of 2027. Cedar Park expects to participate in the Phase 3 Water Treat- ment Plant Expansion portion of the BCRUA proj- ects, which will bring the BCRUA’s total treatment capacity and the pumping capacity at the raw water pump station to 106 MGD, with Cedar Park’s portion rising to 15 MGD. The timeline for that project is yet to be established but will be decided by the three participating cities, according to BCRUA’s website. Sousa noted that Cedar Park, on average, pulls 1.5 MGD from the BCRUA. Daily water use uctuates signicantly throughout the year though, he said. “Demand typically rises during warmer months due to outdoor water use, while in the winter, the city often takes no water from the BCRUA at all,” he said. Sousa said Cedar Park is committed to proactive water planning to provide for the needs of residents in the future. “[The pipeline] will allow the city to access its full raw water supply from Lake Travis even during periods of extreme drought,” he said.

Sousa said Cedar Park is committed to proactive water planning to provide for the needs of residents in the future, and that the BCRUA projects reect that. The LCRA began the process to update its water management plan in March, and Hamilton said the CTWC is calling for increased conservation measures for future planning. “The new intake will help provide a more reliable way for the cities to reach water for which they have contracted but will not provide them the right to any additional water,” LCRA ocials said in an emailed statement. More information on the project timeline can be found at www.bcrua.org.

BCRUA

Leander

Cedar Park

70.53 MGD

42.66% of total water allocated

11.02 MGD 4.32 MGD

14.75 MGD

Amount of water used

Total amount of water allocated

SOURCE: LAKEWAY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Water allotment

12 10

11.2 MGD

8 6 4 2 0

8.7 MGD

Before Phase 1D

After Phase 1D

Workers tour the underground pipeline project.

COURTESY CITY OF ROUND ROCK

SOURCE: BRUSHY CREEK REGIONAL UTILITY AUTHORITYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

1407 N. Bell Blvd. (Hwy 183) Cedar Park  H illCountryWaterGardens.com  512-260-5050

CEDAR PARK FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Development

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

BY STEVE GUNTLI

Ascension Seton acquires Cedar Park Regional Medical Center

Cedar Park breaks ground on new hotel Members of Cedar Park City Council came out on April 14 to mark the beginning of construction for a new hotel and convention center. The two-minute impact The city ocially broke ground on the future site of a Marriott Hotel at 750 E. New Hope Drive. The hotel will be Cedar Park’s rst full-service hotel, according to previous reporting. The building will include approximately 300 rooms, in addition to a 30,000 square foot meeting space, a full-service restaurant and bar, a separate breakfast cafe and a swimming pool. The new hotel is being built in conjunction with the Nebraska Furniture Mart retail store, currently under construction. When completed, the Cedar Park NFM will be one of the largest retail spaces in Texas, encompassing more than 1.1 million square feet of retail space.

Base Power raises funds for new factory Austin-based Base Power has raised $200 million in funding which will go toward the construction of the rst Base Power Company factory in Texas. The details The funding will support the growth of its battery-powered home energy service including the building of the rst Base Power factory in Texas, as stated in a news release. A representative with the company said the factory is expected to be built in Travis County but an ocial location in the county is still being discussed. What else? The company has expanded past Austin metro areas into Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston with goals to expand nationwide.

183

Ascension Seton ocials announced in an April 15 news release that the hospital system will take ownership of the Cedar Park Regional Medical Center. Two-minute impact Per the release, Ascension is expected to fully take over this summer once the transaction is closed and will focus on expanding advanced medical services and improving eciencies. “With full ownership, we can accelerate growth, streamline operations and introduce new services that meet the evolving needs of the community,” Ascension President Eduardo Conrado said in the release. Ascension operates 13 hospitals and 22 sites of care, per the release. The system partners with Dell Medical School at The University of Texas through the Dell Seton Medical Center, the region’s only adult Level I trauma center.

183A TOLL

CPRMC currently features 126 beds, has two 24/7 emergency rooms and provides a variety of medical services, including: Robotic and general surgery Interventional cardiology Level IV trauma Stroke center Outpatient rehabilitation Urology and gastroenterology services

The new hotel, which is expected to be complete by 2027, will include approximately 300 rooms and a 30,000 square foot convention center.

STEVE GUNTLICOMMUNITY IMPACT

Together, the hotel and NFM will be the corner- stones of the new CedarView development, which will also include a Scheel’s Sporting Goods store and other retail options to be determined. Construction on the hotel and convention center is expected to conclude in 2027.

Cedar Park Regional Medical Center will come under the management of Ascension Seton medical group this summer.

COURTESY CEDAR PARK REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

HYMEADOW 12611 Hymeadow (512) 506-8401

NORTH 620 10601 N FM 620 (512) 506-8316

CEDAR PARK 13530 Ronald Reagan Blvd (512) 986-7681

ARBORETUM 10515 N Mopac Expressway (512) 342-6893

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