Welcome to Plano City News, your weekly update
on what's happening in the City of Plano.
Recycle Your Real Christmas Tree and Holiday Lights
As you take down the holly and pack up the ornaments, prepare your real Christmas tree for life after the holidays. Live trees, garland and wreaths can be recycled into Texas Pure Products mulch and compost. Holiday lights also can be recycled through our electronics recycling program.

Before you take trees and greenery to the drop-off locations, remove all ornaments, lights, decorations, tinsel and the tree stand (no plastics or metals). Flocked trees cannot be recycled.  
 
At the Drop off Sites 
Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020-Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 
  • Jack Carter Park, 2601 Pleasant Valley (south parking lot off Pleasant Valley) 
  • Old Shepard Place Park, 1301 Winding Hollow Lane (northeast corner of the Shepton High School parking lot off Plano Parkway) 
  • Russell Creek Park, 3500 McDermott Road (northeastern parking lot off McDermott) 
  • Schell Park, 2305 Laurel Lane (southeastern parking lot directly off Laurel) 
 
In Your Weekly Yard Trimmings
Beginning Monday, Jan. 4 
Follow the instructions above for preparing trees for recycling and place it out with your weekly yard trimmings on trash day. Save space in your recycling cart by adding empty flattened cardboard boxes to your yard trimmings too. 

NOTE: Yard trimmings are not collected the week between Christmas and New Year's. 
Fill the Holiday Break with Recreation and Library Activities
By now your house is shaking with the excitement of the holidays and of the school break.

Consider these Plano Public Library options:  
  • Visit Parr Library this month to experience the BIND: Unmasking Brain Injury art exhibit. Be inspired by the unique masks designed and created by survivors of brain injury. Each mask represents an individual’s journey through the trauma of brain injury to recovery. 
  • Use your Plano Public Library card to access free eMagazine, eBooks, eAudiobooks, films, tv series and more. Explore our digital offerings.
  • Try Book Bundles – request in English, Spanish and Chinese for children and teens. 
  • Experience science, learning and creativity as a family with STEAM Kits for preschoolers through adults.  
  • Pick up the Dec. 19 Take It & Make It Thermometer Activity 
 
Burn holiday calories and have fun with these free Plano Parks and Recreation activities: 
Sharpen Your Disc Golf Skills
If you are a fan of disc golf, Shawnee Park disc golf renovations have begun! Envision an updated and expanded course, going from 9 holes to an 18-hole recreational course with concrete tee pads and replacement baskets. Look forward to improved game play and new caution signage. The disc golf course is closed until construction ends around late April 2021. 
Can Technology Help Keep Plano Streets Safe?
You may see data collection vehicles making their way across Plano. Data Transfer Solutions, LLC (DTS) is taking inventory of the condition of city roads. This national firm provides professional asset management and mobile data collection services to local and state government agencies.  

DTS’s fleet of vans use digital cameras to collect video images of all pavement and above-ground-transportation-related assets located within the right-of-way. The vehicles will travel all city roads during daylight hours to ensure the highest quality of data and imagery. 

If you have questions about the vehicles, project or process, call the City of Plano at 972-769-4140. 
Happenings

Thursday, Dec. 17 
5 p.m.
videoconference

City Council will discuss an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between the City of Plano and Collin County for Municipal Direct Public Safety Expense Funding to address and respond to COVID-19. Instructions for commenting are on the meeting agenda. 

Watch the meeting live

Plano Municipal Center is closed Thursday and Friday, Dec. 24 and 25, and Friday, Jan. 1. 

Trash collection will not be impacted by the holidays this year. Place extra holiday trash in plastic bags outside your cart. Bags are collected the week after the holiday. 

Late December 2020

The City has partnered with Volunteers of America Texas to launch a new Tenant-Based Rental Assistance program. The program provides up to 12 months of housing assistance and case management to homeless households economically impacted by COVID-19.

Check the Neighborhood Services website in coming weeks for details.

Parking at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve remains limited as our erosion control project continues. Nearby neighborhood streets are NOT public parking spaces.

If the parking areas are full or if trail usage is high, please visit another one of our 85 award-winning City parks.


Thank you for reading Plano City News. Have a safe and happy holiday. We look forward to sharing more city stories in 2021.
 
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