Often described by city leaders as the “crown jewel” of Round Rock’s park system, Old Settlers Park has become one of the city’s most heavily used recreational spaces as population growth has increased demand for fields, events and amenities.

The 645-acre park, which is nearly twice the size of Austin’s Zilker Park, is now the focus of a major voter-approved investment.

The big picture: Old Settlers Park has been a central gathering place in Round Rock for more than 30 years. Now, a voter-approved bond is reshaping the city’s largest park with a series of upgrades intended to meet growing demand and expand its role as a regional destination.

What else: The Rock’N River water park is set to undergo one of the largest changes in its history as part of the Old Settlers expansion. The project includes construction of a new “action river,” cabanas with access to a private pool and additional parking. 

A new Indian restaurant is now open in Round Rock.

About the business: Simply Super Indian Cuisine & Bar opened in late December, in the Round Rock Crossing retail center.

The restaurant offers a variety of Indian dishes, including appetizers like pakodi, samosas and bajji; and main dishes including curries, different varieties of tikka masala, noodles and pulao.

This November, Texas voters approved 17 constitutional amendments, also known as state propositions. Here’s what’s next for some of those propositions and what they mean for Texans.

The overview: Texas voters authorized the state to spend $1 billion annually on water supply funding, totaling $20 billion over a two-decade period, through Proposition 4. Funding will flow into the Texas Water Fund, a state account created in 2023 to help finance water projects.

However, state law requires that the money does not begin moving into the water fund until September 2027, and it will not be available for grants until 2029. Until then, state agencies, water utilities and local organizations will need to plan for funding, adjust rules and processes to align with recent state laws and update Texas’ water and flood plans, according to the Texas Water Foundation.

More details: Texas homeowners were set to see expanded property tax breaks on their 2025 tax bills under Propositions 11 and 13. Four other property tax exemptions approved by voters will take effect Jan. 1.

Williamson County received over $20 million for road safety improvements through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program on Dec. 23.

The local impact: Using the SS4A grant, the county plans to install:

• 3,648 reflective signal backplates to improve traffic signal visibility at 238 intersections
• 75 pedestrian-activated warning lights at crosswalks
• 32 speed feedback signs