A recreation center, a hundred-million-dollar expansion to Leander’s wastewater treatment plant and new traffic signals are all major infrastructure projects Leander residents can expect to see in the coming years.

Leander City Council adopted 70 infrastructure projects June 18, included in its capital improvement program for fiscal year 2026-27. Many projects are already underway, while the rest are slated to begin over the next decade.

“This capital improvement program isn't just a list of projects, it's a strategic blueprint for Leander's future,” council member Stephen Chang said.

By the numbers: The three most expensive projects are the expansion of the RM 2243 Wastewater Treatment Plant, the extension of Crystal Falls Parkway East from Ronald Reagan Boulevard to CR 175 and planning for a future recreation center.

The context: City officials have noted the rapid growth of Leander as a motivation behind many of the projects included in this year’s CIP. According to a draft of the city's Wastewater Master Plan, the population of Leander could double by 2042.

A new gym offering CrossFit classes and more is coming to Leander. Broken Walls CrossFit plans to open Aug. 24 near the Bryson neighborhood.

What to expect: CrossFit workouts emphasize high-intensity functional movements that can be adjusted for fitness level and skill. Beyond CrossFit classes, the business will offer personal training and nutrition coaching. Additionally, the gym will offer a space for children while their caregivers work out, according to the business's website.

“More than a gym, Broken Walls is building a welcoming community where people of all ages and abilities can improve their health, develop lifelong habits and find a place to belong,” Ariel Day, spouse of business owner Josh Day, said.

• 401 S. Chitalpa St., Unit 350, Leander

Travis County's push to expand affordable child care is running up against a workforce shortage.

The problem: Travis County has committed $51.7 million to make child care affordable, but there aren't enough teachers to staff the classrooms that money is meant to open.

Providers sit at 65% capacity as low wages drive turnover past 40% a year.

The wage issue: For the first time, Travis County will require child care providers to pay a baseline wage—pegged near Austin's $22.05 per hour living wage—to win contracts.

The county will begin procuring an administrator for the designated slots program, including a minimum wage for teachers, this fall.

Across Texas, public school districts have approved at least 150 campus closures in the last three years as they grapple with declining enrollment, state accountability issues and hefty budget shortfalls.

What's happening: Among the closures are 56 schools in Community Impact’s coverage areas. Some districts have said that additional closures are not off the table.

Roughly 76,000 fewer students were enrolled in Texas public schools during the 2025-26 school year than the year prior. This marks the first non-pandemic enrollment drop in recorded history, according to Texas Education Agency data collected annually since 1987.

Analysts warn that this year’s enrollment decline is not a one-off, with demographics expert Bob Templeton predicting that enrollment could “drop over 100,000 kids” next year.

What they're saying: “This was a decision that I made, even knowing some of the challenges our students are going to face, because I think the alternative is untenable,” Fort Bend ISD board President Kristin Tassin said as the district voted to close seven elementary schools ahead of the 2026-27 school year.