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Nearly $2.2M in infrastructure improvements coming to Allen’s Greengate neighborhood

Residents in Allen’s Greengate neighborhood can expect to see sidewalk improvements later this year.

Allen City Council unanimously approved a $2.15 million construction contract with Fort Worth-based Cole Construction for neighborhood infrastructure improvements at an April 14 meeting.

A closer look: The project includes replacing 109 ramps, 50 alley approaches and 63% of the sidewalk panels within the Greengate neighborhood and surrounding portions of Allen Heights Drive, Director of Engineering Chris Flanigan said. The neighborhood was built in the '80s and contains many broken sidewalk panels and areas that are no longer compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, per city documents.

“There are various means at our disposal to combat decline within different neighborhoods of our community and help bridge that disparity in current standards of today versus those that may have been in place back when they were originally constructed,” Flanigan said.

 
Coming Soon
Vedora Nail Lounge coming soon to Allen

Vedora Nail Lounge is coming soon to Allen, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. 

The details: Construction began in February and is expected to wrap up in late July. The 3,722 square-foot construction project is expected to cost $200,000 and is privately funded.

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Why an A-F letter grade isn’t enough for DFW schools

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YOUR WEEKEND TO-DO LIST

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Hoppy Marketplace

'The Prince of Egypt'

April 17, 6-9 p.m.
Frisco

April 17-19, various times
Plano

More info

More info

 

Spring Native Plant Sale

Wine tour

April 18, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; April 19, 1-5 p.m.
McKinney

April 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Grapevine

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

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Q&A: Learn lawn care tips to enhance your yard year-round from TurffMutt Foundation President Kris Kiser

Community Impact sat down with the president and chief executive officer of the TurfMutt Foundation, Kris Kiser, to discuss the importance of lawn maintenance and a few tips to ensure your yard looks good year-round.

The TurfMutt Foundation is a nonprofit that advocates for outdoor living and the care and stewardship of yards, parks and other green spaces, according to its website.

Responses have been edited for length, clarity and style.

Why should homeowners take care of their lawns?
Our outdoor spaces, particularly our lawns, are an extension of our home. During COVID, people really did reconnect to the outdoors. It was a safe space where you could entertain, cook and meet with friends and family. It created a connection to the outdoors that we used to have.

What common mistake should homeowners watch out for when planting?
Time of year. You want the ground to essentially be thawed, so you don't want a hard freeze. Remember that newly planted plants will need water, likely supplemental water, until they're established.

 
CI Texas
Texas education board moves forward with first mandatory K-12 reading list

The State Board of Education gave preliminary approval April 10 to roughly 200 literary works that all Texas public school students would be required to read beginning in 2030.

What happened: The SBOE trimmed about 100 titles from a list proposed by the Texas Education Agency, which board members and educators criticized as too long to be taught. The Republican-led board signed off on a revised list in a 9-5 party-line vote April 10.

The details: The draft list ranges from nursery rhymes and short stories in early grades to classical and 20th-century literature in high school. The list also includes about a dozen excerpts from the Bible. While students learn about world religions today, Texans testified that if the reading list is approved, it would be the first time in recent history that state leaders mandate religious readings in the classroom.  

Next steps: Board members are scheduled to take a final vote on the reading list in June. If approved, the list will be used in classrooms in the 2030-31 school year.

 

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General Manager

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