City of College Station

What better way to celebrate spring break than to explore the beautiful parks near your own backyard? With College Station’s 54 developed parks covering more than 1,864 acres, we have plenty of space and activities to discover. Allow us to suggest five free adventures.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, March 11. The meetings are streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start after 4:30 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

The College Station City Council meets at city hall on Thursday for its workshop (after 4:30 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. The meetings are streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. Here are five items to watch.

College Station Water Services will conduct routine smoke testing next week to evaluate the condition of wastewater lines in the area bounded by Holleman Drive, Wellborn Road, George Bush Drive, and Texas Avenue. The testing will occur between 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. from Monday through Friday. It’s not actually smoke, so it isn’t hazardous.

The College Station Municipal Court has received the Municipal Traffic Safety Initiative Award from the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center for the 11th straight year. College Station, La Porte, Conroe, and Mesquite were the only four Texas municipal courts to receive the award in the medium-volume category, which includes cities with populations between 30,000 and 149,999. Only 17 courts from cities of any size were recognized.

Throughout March, The Parks & Recreation Department is giving away free bags with information on how you can help save the monarch butterfly. We’re even throwing in activity sheets, Butterfly Retreat seed packets, coloring sheets, and more. If you have a bit of a spare garden space to plant native milkweed and other nectar-producing plants, we encourage you to become part of this worthwhile community effort.

In the mid-1990s, Lillian “Jean” Clark Robinson, the Lincoln Recreation Center’s former supervisor, commissioned a mural in the original gymnasium to honor iconic black leaders. The faces and stories illustrated in the simple mural serve to inspire us all.

Old, abandoned tires are a common sight along roadways, vacant lots, and various other places. What can you do with your scrap tires? The best options are recycling and reusing -- and it beats getting a citation from Code Enforcement.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Feb. 25. The meetings are streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start after 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

The College Station City Council meets at city hall on Thursday for its workshop (after 5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. The meetings are streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. Here are five items to watch.

The 27th Meeting Planners Showcase set for March 11 at the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center allows meeting and event planners to establish relationships with local businesses to make their events successful. The showcase is free to the public, starts about 10 a.m., and wraps up at 1 p.m. Preregistration is required by March 4.

The City of College Station’s Planning and Development Services is waiving required permit fees for residential or commercial repairs related to this week’s winter storm. To receive the waiver when applying through the city’s online permitting system (eTRAKIT), select “2021 Winter Storm Repair" as the permit type, then the appropriate subtype for the repair. The permit fee waiver will be in effect for permit applications through March 7. Work not related to storm damage does not qualify.

With sustained freezing temperatures in our forecast, it's time for a quick chemistry lesson. Water expands when freezing, so any water left in pipes such as sprinkler systems can freeze, expand, and — POW! — create a big, messy water leak. With that in mind, College Station Water Services has some precautions to help protect your water pipes and irrigation system.

The College Station City Council meets at city hall on Thursday for its workshop (after 5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. The meetings are streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. Here are five items to watch.

College Station welcomes 120 youth football teams to Veterans Park and Athletic Complex this weekend for the Texas Youth Football All Star Showcase. The tournament includes 3,500 football and 250 cheer athletes from Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Arizona.

Take a look back at some of the positive things that happened in the City of College Station in January, including the naming of the basketball court at Castlegate Park "Alex Caruso Court," the reopening of the Fun for All Playground, a CSPD officer rescuing a man from a burning car, and the naming of two assistant fire chiefs.

In September, the Centers for Disease Control issued a temporary eviction moratorium, allowing some property owners to pause evictions for nonpayment of rent in certain circumstances. The moratorium remains in effect through March 31. If you are unable to pay rent, you might wonder what this means for you. Do you have to pay your rent?

Whatever your political opinions are, we can all agree on one thing — voting is essential. In parts of the country, a concept called ranked-choice voting has captured the imagination of some as a way to eliminate costly run-off elections. Could ranked-choice voting happen in College Station?

The City of College Station is conducting a series of virtual meetings and an online poll throughout February to collect public input on a proposed Restricted Occupancy Overlay (ROO) ordinance. The meetings will be via Zoom on Monday (Feb. 8), Feb. 16, and Feb. 22. The online poll goes live Monday evening and closes Feb. 26.

With spring on the horizon and Easter approaching, the Parks & Recreation Department has devised a way to help the Easter Bunny during the COVID-19 pandemic — a socially distant, candy-filled egg hunt. From March 22-27, we’ll bring the hunt to you with Egg Scramble. We offer two personal egg hunts for all ages, and you may purchase as many 25-egg bundles as you like for $15 each.

The City of College Station has limited federal funds available for another round of rental assistance for residents who have been economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program can provide up to six months of rent assistance, including past due rent.

The generosity of donors, families, and business leaders made College Station's Fun for All inclusive playground happen. You can help complete the third and final phase of the project through the Kroger Community Rewards program -- and it costs you nothing! If you are a Kroger Plus Shopper, the program donates a percentage of your Kroger expenditures to the playground.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Jan. 28. The meetings are streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start after 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

Like most of you, my 2020 experiences were often difficult ones. You know who increased the difficulty even more? The College Station families who welcomed more than 1,600 babies during a year like no other. As if going on safari for toilet paper and hand sanitizer wasn’t enough. As has become tradition, it’s time to examine the 1,640 names we registered in 2020.

The College Station City Council meets at city hall on Thursday for its workshop (after 5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. Here are five items to watch.

Don't use hand-held communication devices for texting or making calls while driving in College Station. It's against the law and could result in fines up to $500.

Our CPR blended learning format is for ages 12+ and combines online learning and in-person skills with instruction like what you receive in traditional classes. But blended learning reduces the time needed for class and allows you to finish the online learning at your own pace. After completing both portions, you’re issued a two-year certificate from the American Red Cross.

City of College Station offices and facilities will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Sanitation and recycling collections will operate on their normal schedules. Electric, water or wastewater outages can be reported to 855-528-4CSU (4278). Please have your account number ready. Payments due to the Municipal Court on Monday must be paid by close of business on Tuesday.

The recent rise in local COVID-19 cases has led the Parks and Recreation Department to delay the reopening of senior programs at the Lincoln Recreation Center and Meyer Senior and Community Center. Limited programs had been scheduled to resume on Jan. 19. We'll re-evaluate the program every two weeks starting on Jan. 25.

Registration is underway for Friday Night Lights 7v7, which focuses on fast-paced, competitive play for teams preparing for their school’s next season. Age groups are grades 3-4, grades 5-6, and grades 7-8. Registration closes Feb. 28 and the season runs March 5-April 30.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Jan. 14. The meetings are streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop begins after 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

Take a look back at some of the positive things that happened in the City of College Station in December, including additional funds received for the small business assistance program, the city’s 2020 employee of the year, and being named a Bicycle Friendly Community. Now that’s something completely positive!

In this episode of the “Actually…” series, City Traffic Engineer Troy Rother explains how the city determines speed limits on our roadways.

The College Station City Council meets at city hall on Thursday for its workshop (after 5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. The meetings will be streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. Here are five items to watch.

Take a look back on the city's best-performing blog posts, podcasts, and videos of 2020. Happy New Year!

As we bring in the new year, we offer a sampling of the Public Communication Office’s best photography work of 2020. Special thanks to our tireless multimedia coordinators Rachel Mayor and Kendra Gilts, along with our talented newcomer, Public Communications Assistant Jennifer Kingsbury, for their hard work in documenting city events and activities throughout the year.

In September 2018, city employee Harold "Dendy" Brown was struck by a car while collecting a container on his solid waste route. Some 25 months later, Dendy returned to work in the Solid Waste Division after enduring 11 surgeries. This film tells the story of his courageous comeback.

During national turmoil in 1963, Dr. King gave his immortal “I Have A Dream” speech that created an expectation of positive change. We invite you to join us at the Lincoln Recreation Center for Dream Works in Action as we embark on another year of commemorating King’s life and legacy throughout January. Participation is free.

On Dec. 28, Brazos County Judge Duane Peters received notification from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (DSHS) that Trauma Service Area N (in which Brazos County is located) has surpassed the limit set forth by Gov. Abbott in Executive Order GA-32.

City of College Station offices and facilities will be closed Friday for New Year’s Day. Friday’s solid waste and recycling routes will be collected on Saturday. Report electric, water, or wastewater outages to 855-528-4CSU (4278). Please have your account number ready. Payments due on closure dates must be paid by the end of the next business day.

In the last nine months, we’ve seen many people discover and explore College Station’s 54 wonderful parks. We’ve especially noticed that more people are using the fabulous Lick Creek Hike and Bike Trail. With so many people using the trail, proper etiquette is necessary if we want safe and enjoyable experiences for all. Here’s some simple suggestions.

City of College Station offices and facilities will be closed Thursday and Friday for Christmas. Thursdays’ solid waste and recycling routes will be collected on the normal schedule, while Friday’s routes will be collected on Saturday.

More help is on the way for local small businesses through the city's Economic Assistance Grant Program. Applications are open today through Jan. 6 and Jan. 11-Feb.

On Tuesday, Dec. 15, the unofficial tabulation was at 512 votes (20.49%) for Craig Regan and 1,987 votes (79.51%) for John Nichols.

As registration opens for our spring sports activities, we’re trying to resume the indoor and outdoor programs that have been impacted by the pandemic. We’ve adjusted some of our rules, and we’ve added a few things. Still, our commitment to offering great programs hasn’t changed. Here’s a list of our upcoming sports programs.

Take a look back at some of the positive things that happened in the City of College Station in November, including new directors for two city departments, the installation of new electric meters, a milestone in the construction of the new city hall, and recognition for a pair of firefighters for their rapid response to a drowning.

In times of so much uncertainty, one thing is sure — parents need after-school care for their children. That’s where the Lincoln Recreation Center comes in with our after-school program for kids ages 6-15. The spring semester runs from Jan. 5-May 21. Space is limited, and participants must be engaged in on-site classroom learning through CSISD.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Dec. 10. It’s not the official minutes. The meetings are streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19.

If you drive down State Highway 6 south of Rock Prairie Road, you may be intrigued by the tall red and white pole south of the Baylor Scott & White Hospital. The giant candy cane is supporting the crane being used to construct College Station’s third water tower, which will provide water pressure, storage, and fire protection to the city’s east side.

The College Station City Council meets at city hall on Thursday for its workshop (after 5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. The meetings will be streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. Here are five items to watch.

College Station Mayor Karl Mooney and Bryan Mayor Andrew Nelson will participate in the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas campaign by ringing bells and collecting donations at local Walmart stores on Saturday from noon-1 p.m. Mooney will be at the College Station Walmart, while Nelson will be at the Bryan Walmart on Briarcrest. Donate online in advance at salvationarmybcs.org.

Early this year, improvements and enhancements were underway at many of College Station’s favorite and most-visited park facilities. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, followed by the economic downturn. In most cases, construction came to a screeching halt. So, what’s the status of those projects now?

Royder Road from Backwater Drive to Victoria Road will be closed for construction starting Wednesday until next summer. Detours will be in place.

Have you ever been frustrated and overwhelmed when trying to locate a gravesite at a cemetery? Thanks to the wonders of technology, those days are over in College Station. The Parks and Recreation Department has unveiled an online grave locator that allows you to quickly find specific graves or deeded lots at our cemeteries. All you need is a smartphone or computer.

People typically think of recycling as tossing cardboard boxes or plastic bottles in their blue collection bin and calling it a day. But recycling is much more complicated than that. Recycling is a critical link in the manufacturing supply chain and a vital component of our economy.

City of College Station offices and facilities will be closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving. Thursday’s solid waste and recycling routes will be collected Friday, and Friday’s routes will be collected on Saturday.

Holiday shopping may look different this year, but those ideal gifts remain in abundance. In fact, with many businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, shopping in College Station is more vital than ever. You have friends, family members, and neighbors who own or operate — or are employed by — these businesses. Our entire community needs them to stay afloat.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Monday, Nov. 23. The meetings are streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start after 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Stephen C. Beachy Central Park. College Station’s beautiful Christmas in the Park displays began in 1984 when a local family funded a couple of light panels. The displays have since grown to more than one million lights and are a holiday mainstay. Here are two ways you can enjoy the time-honored tradition of holiday lights at Beachy Central Park.

The College Station City Council meets at city hall on Monday for its workshop (5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. The meetings will be streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. Here are five items to watch.

Bob Brick has been re-elected to Place 1 on the College Station City Council after Thursday’s recount was withdrawn. After absentee and mail-in ballots were recounted with no changes to the outcome, challenger Jason Cornelius withdrew. The rest of the Election Day ballots will not be recounted.

With the arrival of November, you may wonder what the City of College Station’s winter youth basketball season will look like. Rest assured that the Parks and Recreation Department follows CDC and local guidelines regarding COVID-19 and youth sports. Registration runs through Jan. 3.

In this episode of College Station Innovation, Officer Mike Fisher demonstrates the College Station Police Department’s portable FARO 3D scanner, which helps investigators recreate accidents and crime scenes. Fisher said the technology captures accurate measurements, documents scenes, and gets roads back open about 50% faster than the older techniques.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Nov. 12. The meetings are streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start after 4 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

The College Station City Council meets at city hall on Thursday for its workshop (4 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. Public attendance is restricted. The meetings will be streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19.

Take a look back at some of the positive things that happened in the City of College Station in October, including a hometown hero winning a world championship and a fire inspector saving a resident's life. Now that’s something completely positive!

Welcome to our live election blog from the Brazos Center. The results are also available on the City of College Station’s Twitter and Facebook pages and on Suddenlink Channel 19.

Among Brazos County's 25 Election Day vote centers (Tuesday, Nov. 3, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.) are three City of College Station facilities

In November, College Station Utilities' contractor will begin installing advanced electric meters throughout its system to provide detailed usage and outage information for customers and the utility. Installing the new meters for our 42,000 customers will be done in phases and will take about a year to complete.

For the first time since the pandemic changed everything, College Station Communications Director Jay Socol interviews Economic Development Director Natalie Ruiz. In spite of the local, state and federal funding put into the hands of local businesses, we still lost far too many. So, now what?

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Oct. 22. The meetings are streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop starts after 4 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

The traditional Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos — or Day of the Dead — is celebrated Nov. 1-2. We invite you to celebrate with a free grab bag filled with facts, coloring sheets, and a fun craft. The bags may be picked up at the Stephen C. Beachy Central Park Office from Monday through Friday next week between 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Wednesday marks the sixth annual Imagine a Day Without Water, a day of action and awareness that highlights water's essential nature in our daily lives and the importance of investing in our water infrastructure to responsibly provide a sustainable water supply for future generations.

The College Station City Council meets at city hall on Thursday for its workshop (after 4 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. The meetings will be streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. Here are five items to watch.

Eight-two years ago today, area residents overwhelmingly voted 271-39 to incorporate College Station as a city. To that point, College Station had been the simple name of a train station mail stop since 1877, a year after a small, rural college opened its doors near the railroad tracks. But the members of the growing community dreamed of more. Happy 82nd anniversary, College Station!

Area residents are invited to participate in the fall household hazardous waste collection event on Saturday from 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Texas A&M University General Services Building. The free event is open to Brazos Valley residents and offers safe disposal of a wide range of household hazardous wastes.

Take a look back at some of the positive things that happened in the City of College Station in September. Now that's something completely positive!

Dangers lurk in the great outdoors and you should always be prepared for any possible emergency. That’s where the Parks & Recreation Department’s Wilderness & Remote First Aid Certification course comes in.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council's workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Oct. 8. The meetings are streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. The workshop will start after 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

Many people see visions of festive winter wonderlands and Santa loading his sleigh at the North Pole when they think of Christmas. That may be about to change. Visit College Station, in partnership with Santa's Wonderland, wants to make our community THE destination for holiday celebrations.

The College Station City Council meets at city hall on Thursday for its workshop (after 5 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. Public attendance is restricted. The meetings will be streamed live on Suddenlink Channel 19 and at cstx.gov/cstv19. Here are five things to watch.

The City of College Station is recognizing the dedicated professionals of College Station Utilities and Utility Customer Service during Public Power Week, which runs through Saturday.

A long-held belief among College Station city councils and city staff is that effective economic development fuels tourism, and effective tourism fuels economic development. The recent merger of those two worlds within the City of College Station organization just took some bold, additional steps.

Veterans Park and Athletic Complex is a jewel in College Station's parks system, attracting more than one million local and out-of-town visitors a year. The city council recently approved a $1.9 million contract for improvements that will make this fantastic complex even more impressive.

If you are following the news regarding the “Do Not Use” order for Lake Jackson residents related to the discovery of the Naegleria fowleri in that city’s drinking water system, it’s understandable to have questions about the safety of our local drinking water. Below are some facts about this specific amoeba, as well as what the cities of Bryan and College Station are doing to ensure the safety of your water supply.

With the arrival of October, only one topic could compete with football in the minds of many residents — what will Halloween look like this year? The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to create new ways to socialize and enjoy traditions, So the Parks & Recreation Department has devised a plan. A socially distant, candy-filled plan.

Looking for a chance to meet those who recently moved into your neighborhood? Monday is National Good Neighbor Day, and it's an ideal opportunity to welcome the newcomers — the first step in being a good neighbor. As an icebreaker, you can even present them with a free City of College Station welcome bag.

Although we’re all glad football is back, COVID-19 restrictions will make for a completely different atmosphere around Aggie games. One thing hasn’t changed, though. With thousands of fans descending on Kyle Field, finding a place to park nearby will still be daunting challenge, especially in the Southside neighborhood.

Welcome to our live blog from the College Station City Council’s workshop and regular meetings on Thursday, Sept. 24. The workshop will start no earlier than 3:30 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6.

Visit College Station, the newly created city tourism division for the Heart of Texas A&M University, on Thursday announced a strategic partnership with Santa's Wonderland ꟷ the largest outdoor Christmas attraction in the southern United States.

Texas A&M’s football season begins this week and will bring much-needed relief to local businesses, despite the limited number of fans allowed at Kyle Field. The vast majority of our businesses, residents, and students are doing their best to follow COVID-19 guidelines, but there are a few key things to remember to have a fun, safe, and compliant game day experience.

The College Station City Council meets at city hall on Thursday for its workshop (after 3:30 p.m.) and regular (6 p.m.) meetings. Here are five items to watch.

This week, more than 30 signs will be installed around College Station that label the city as having a hands-free ordinance in effect as it relates to drivers and their wireless communications device of choice. The idea is that fewer distractions will result in fewer crashes, injuries and deaths.

In October, the City of College Station Parks & Recreation Department is conducting American Red Cross training for babysitters 10 years and older. The $75 class provides the knowledge and skills to safely and responsibly care for children and infants.

Park Place will be closed starting Monday from Anderson Street to Aurora Court as part of the first phase of the Southside Safety Improvement Project. The road will be closed until utility and infrastructure work is completed.

Take a look back at some of the positive things that happened in the City of College Station in August. Now that’s something completely positive!

The College Station Parks and Recreation Department’s Start Smart Football in Your Own Backyard program was created to encourage families to spend time together while teaching kids to play the game. The six-week program is specially designed for 3-6-year-olds. Registration closes Sunday, Sept. 27.

Today's workshop and regular meetings of the College Station City Council have been canceled due to a software change by Zoom, implemented Wednesday, that prevents citizen participation via a toll-free phone call.