City of Richardson, TX
07/02/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/02/2026 16:09
Week in Review, July 2, 2026
July 2, 2026
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
"Richardson's Family 4th" Takes Place Saturday
The City of Richardson is hosting its annual Family 4th Celebration on Saturday, July 4, at Breckinridge Park, 3555 Brand Rd., beginning at 6 p.m. Anyone wishing to attend the free event is invited to bring picnics, blankets and/or lawn chairs and enjoy an evening that includes activities for children, live music, concessions/food trucks and a spectacular fireworks show. Because fireworks can easily frighten and distress dogs, we kindly ask that you leave your pets safely at home.
Plan for Weather
The high temperature on Saturday is forecast to be at or near 100 degrees, so dress appropriately, wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water. There will be concessions available for purchase at the park.
It is recommended to sign up for event weather alerts to appear on your mobile device by following the steps below:
-
Text FAMILY4TH to 888777
(You will receive texts related to weather impacts and other event information)
Note: Following National Weather Service safety guidelines, the site will be evacuated if lightning is detected within 10 miles of the event site.
Parking
Due to limited parking at Breckinridge Park, free round-trip shuttle service will be offered from designated off-site parking locations at 3001 & 3101 President George Bush Turnpike in Richardson.
-
Shuttle bus service begins at 6 p.m.
-
Last bus to event departs at 8:45 p.m.
-
Final shuttle service to parking site departs at 11 p.m.
Note: Shuttle buses have limited seating with no undercarriage storage. Riders are encouraged to minimize items.
Schedule
6 p.m. Concessions and Kids' Activities Open (includes bounce houses and more)
8:15 p.m. Richardson Community Band Patriotic Salute Concert
9:30 p.m. Fireworks Begin
Event website: www.cor.net/Family4th
Recycling/Trash Changes for Independence Day Holiday
There will be NO solid waste, Brush and Bulky Item Collection (BABIC) or recycling service provided Friday, July 3. Normal Friday recycling collection was picked up today. There will be NO make-up day for trash collection or BABIC.
Municipal Facility Closures for Fourth of July Holiday
|
Animal Shelter |
Closed July 4 |
| City Hall and City Hall Annex, Municipal Court, Richardson IQ® HQ, Service Center | Closed July 3-4 |
| Eisemann Center | Closed July 4 |
| Gymnastics Center | Closed July 3-4 |
| Heights and Huffhines Recreation Centers | Closed July 4 |
|
Heights Family Aquatic Center |
Open noon-5 p.m. July 4 |
| Library | Closed July 4 |
| Neighborhood Pools | Open 1-5 p.m. July 4 |
| Senior Center | Closed July 4 |
| Sherrill Park Golf Course |
Open July 4 |
| Tennis Center | Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. July 4 |
Visit www.cor.net/HolidaySchedule for the holiday facility and solid waste schedule. For information on delays to the solid waste schedule, visit www.cor.net/ServiceDelays.
Main Street Lanes Open During Peak Traffic Times
All lanes on Main Street in The CORE District's downtown neighborhood are now open during peak traffic times as the Main Street Reconstruction Project nears completion.
Crews have completed striping work and are finishing sidewalk, landscaping and related infrastructure improvements. Temporary lane closures will still be needed throughout July for waterline work, but those closures are expected to take place during off-peak hours, from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Nearby, work continues on Main Street between Grove Road and Walton Street as part of the City's Arterial and Collector Street Rehabilitation Program, which repairs and extends the life of major roadways by replacing worn sections of concrete.
All lanes are expected to be fully open in August.
For more information, visit www.cor.net/Projects.
Miss Texas, Miss Texas' Teen Crowned at Eisemann Center
Miss Houston Regan Hutsell was named the new Miss Texas and Miss Dallas' Teen Zoe Zogleman became Miss Texas' Teen during finals held June 27 at the Eisemann Center. A total of 51 women from across the state participated in the Miss Texas competition, with 51 additional women participating in the Miss Texas' Teen competition. Preliminaries and finals have taken place in Richardson since 2014.
Hutsell will represent Texas at the Miss America 2027 competition, and Zogleman will compete in the Miss America's Teen competition.
Website: www.misstexas.org.
Richardson Fire Department Celebrates 100th Anniversary
The Richardson Fire Department celebrated its 100th anniversary Saturday with an event at Fire Station 1. Current and former firefighters, city officials and the public celebrated the department's history, which began on April 9, 1926 with 20 volunteers, a used pickup truck and donated equipment.
Fire Department 100th Anniversary Video: Link
Celebration Video: Link
Miss Belle's House Restoration Update
Work is underway on the next step in the preservation of Miss Belle's House at Huffhines Park.
The City of Richardson has hired contractors to install foundation beams and make exterior repairs to the historic home. This week, the house was moved about 30 feet on-site to prepare for foundation work. Crews are expected to begin tying steel, with drilling for house piers planned to start Monday, July 6. Foundation work is expected to take less than 10 days, weather permitting.
Built between 1886 and 1889, Miss Belle's House is the oldest building in Richardson and a Texas Historic Landmark. The home was recently relocated to Huffhines Park as part of a long-term effort to preserve the structure and prepare it for future restoration and renovation.
The new location near Duck Creek Trail and Huffhines Recreation Center was selected to help position Miss Belle's House as a future cultural and educational destination for the community.
Work currently underway is expected to be complete by the end of summer.
Website: www.cor.net/MissBellesHouse
No City Council Meeting, Work Session Next Week
Due to the Independence Day holiday, there will be no City Council meeting or work session Monday, July 6. The Council will next meet Monday, July 13 beginning at 6 p.m.
City Council calendar: www.cor.net/CityCouncil
Concrete Rehabilitation Work to Take Place on Renner Road Near Breckinridge Park
Various lanes of eastbound and westbound Renner Road between Murphy Road and Telecom Parkway may be closed to traffic along different locations from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. so joint and crack sealing of the concrete pavement can take place. This work is being performed section by section as a rolling closure and the entire section will not be closed at the same time. The work is expected to be complete by early August.
Fiber Optic Work to Take Place on Plano Road Between Greenville Avenue and Lookout Drive
The right lane of northbound Plano Road between Greenville Avenue and Lookout Drive may be closed to traffic from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. so fiber optic work can take place. The work is expected to be complete by early October.
To see what is coming up in Richardson, subscribe to our free weekly Things to Do newsletters. The newsletter comes out each Wednesday and will help you plan your weekend and find things to do locally.
Sign Up: Link
Now is the Time to Plant Fall Tomatoes
If you want tomatoes this fall, now is the time to plant them. According to the Dallas County Master Gardeners, fall tomatoes grow during the heat of the summer but they won't really produce tomatoes until the temperature at night is below 90 degrees. Since they will produce tomatoes until the first hard freeze, you might have fresh tomatoes all winter if the weather is mild enough.
Tomato Tips
-
Don't plant fall tomatoes in the same place where spring tomatoes grew. Planting them in the same area lets diseases and pests get a head start.
-
Spread about an inch of compost on the area and mix it in the top two to three inches of soil to start your tomatoes off right.
-
Give the tomatoes an inch of water twice a week. Don't get the foliage wet when watering as that can lead to diseases.
-
Don't fertilize your tomatoes until you see small fruits beginning to grow.
Website: Link
It's Tick Time! What to Know
As temperatures rise and Texans spend more time outdoors, the risk of tick bites (and possibly contracting tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme Disease and Alpha-gal Syndrome) increases.
Ticks thrive in areas where there is moisture and they are most likely to "catch a ride" on a host to feed on-they're very good at waiting and finding those hosts (including humans), as they can detect heat, carbon dioxide, shadows and vibrations. "Hot spots" for tick life include edge habitats (transition spots between clean/manicured grass and rough/naturalized areas with tall grasses and shrubs); wooded areas; and under leaves, woodpiles, stone walls and groundcover.
Staff from Texas A&M AgriLife Research recommend the following steps to spot and avoid ticks:
-
Wear light-colored clothing
-
Tuck pants into boots or socks when walking through tall grass or brush
-
Consider using masking tape barriers made by folding tape lengthwise and wrapping around your tucked pant legs with the sticky side facing out to trap ticks as they crawl
-
Apply EPA-approved tick repellent
-
Always perform a tick check after outside activities, for humans as well as pets. A proper tick check inspection includes behind the ears, on the scalp, the waistline and under arms and legs.
More information (including how to identify and safely remove a tick): click here
Open Records Specialist ($45,457-$52,276 Salary)
The Police Department is looking for an individual who can perform all duties necessary for the successful completion of all requests for Open Records. Work alone as necessary. Work any shift, holidays and/or weekends, as required, for scheduling by supervision. Perform functions of Records Technician as needed. Perform other related duties as required. High school diploma or G.E.D. required. Texas Driver's License, Class "C" or above, required.
Crew Chief - Meter Shop ($57,541-$80,347 Salary)
The Public Services Department is currently looking for an individual who can supervise and lead small crew engaged in the maintenance, repair, testing, and installation of water meters. Participate in maintenance, repair, testing, and installation of water meters. Work on water mains, sewer mains, sewer clean-outs, etc., and other related work as required while working on call/stand-by duty. Perform other related work as required. High School Diploma or GED required. Texas Commercial Driver's License, Class A, is required or must be obtained within 6 months. Must have and maintain a Class II Wastewater and Class C Water Distribution License or must be obtained within one year of hire.
Custodian (PM) ($21.00/hr-$22.93/hr)
Custodial Services is looking for an individual who can clean facilities and perform event setups and breakdowns. Work schedules will vary between days and evening. However, schedules may change due to the needs of the division and employees may be required to work weekends. Perform other related work as required. Completion of eleventh grade required; High School Diploma or G.E.D. preferred. Texas Driver's License, Class C required.
Pet of the Week
Meet Sabertooth, a sweet and friendly 1-year-old pitbull mix with a unique charm. Despite his goofy antics, Sabertooth has a lot of love to give. He's known for his gentle nature and enjoys spending time with people, making everyone around him smile. With a heart as big as his personality, Sabertooth is looking for a forever home where he can share his endless affection and joy. Adopting Sabertooth means bringing home not just a pet, but a loving companion who will enrich your life with happiness.
For information about animals available for adoption, visit the Animal Shelter's web page here.
City Council Links
Council Members
Meeting Agendas and Documents
Videos
To read previous Week in Reviews,
visit www.cor.net/WIR.
City of Richardson, TX published this content on July 02, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 02, 2026 at 22:09 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]