News Flash

Swim-beach relocation project underway

There's dirt moving at Stewart Creek Park as part of a new project to relocate the park's long-standing swimming beach.

Work began recently where the new beach will be located, within the no-wake zone on the south side of the park, across from the nearby marina. Contractors are also laying out the foundation of a new mini-trail that will run through the beach area.

The old ...

City wins financial excellence award

For the 23rd year in a row, the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the City of The Colony by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.

The Certificate of Achievement is for the city's comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR), and is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by...

New lighting adorns Wheel Zone Bike & Skate Park

Let there be light! As of December 2019, new solar-powered lights have been installed at The Colony Wheel Zone Bike & Skate Park next to the Recreation Center.

The new lights will enable skaters to late-trick late into the evening. This is especially important during the winter months when there's less daylight.

The solar lights are timed to shut off at 9 p.m.

For more information, visit the Wheel Zone Bike & ...

Traffic: Two new traffic-signals on Destination Drive

On Jan. 21, 2020, two previously dormant traffic-signals along Destination Drive in the Grandscape development will be activated. Both signals are located between Grandscape Boulevard and Plano Parkway.

Message boards also will be placed along the roadway to further alert drivers of the new traffic control. These signals are in addition to the already activated emergency traffic-signal adjacent to The Colony Firehouse No. 4, at the northeast corner of De...

CivicReady weather-alert system to be discontinued

For the past year, the City of The Colony has offered its residents access to an emergency weather-alert system called CivicReady. However, the service will expire Jan. 1, 2020.

The service was provided through our website vendor and enabled residents to sign up to receive localized text-message alerts from the National Weather Service in the event of severe weather warnings such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, etc. However, e...

Traffic: NTTA schedules overnight closures of Main at SRT

As part of its ongoing SRT Fourth Lane Project, the North Texas Tollway Authority has announced the following overnight closures starting Monday, Jan. 6, continuing through Friday, Jan. 31.

All lanes of the Main Street/Josey underpass, including the U-turns, between east- and westbound SH 121 (the SRT frontage road) will be closed nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Jan. 6-31.

Please see graphic for detour routes.

For information, call the project h...

DCPH reports first flu-associated death of 2019-20 flu season

Denton County Public Health (DCPH) is reporting the first influenza-associated death, an adult in Denton County, of the 2019-2020 flu season. To protect confidentiality, no further identifying information will be released.

“Announcing the first flu death of this season in Denton County is incredibly difficult. Flu activity remains high in Denton County, and we want to remind residents to receive their flu vaccine to best protect themselves and others,” s...

Monthly Customer Service closures for 2020

The Customer Service counters at City Hall will be closed for monthly staff training from 1 to 2 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month in 2020. As such, the closures will occur on the following dates:

• Jan. 14;
• Feb. 11;
• March 10;
• April 14;
• May 12;
• June 9;
• July 14;
• Aug. 11;
• Sept. 8;
• Oct. 13;
• Nov. 10; and
• Dec. 8 (1 to 3 p.m.)

Residents wishing to make a utility payment during those dates and times may do so by accessing their account online; calling the automated pho...

New fee schedule approved for Stewart Creek Park

At its regular meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019, The Colony City Council approved a new fee schedule for Stewart Creek Park for 2020. Fees for various services at the park have increased, including annual permits and day passes.

To review all park fees online, visit the Stewart Creek Park page of our website.The park fee increases go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020. For more information, contact Parks & Recreation at 972-625-1106.

New winter hours at Stewart Creek Park

Effective next Monday, Dec, 9, Stewart Creek Park winter operating hours will change to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

These hours will be effective annually each November through February. Normal parks hours (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) will resume March through October.

For more information contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 972-625-1106.

Reflector strips installed on thoroughfares

Per guidance from the City Council, city crews have been installing reflector strips at the ends of the medians on thoroughfares to better assist visibility of the roadway at night.

As of now, the strips are completed on Paige between SH 121 and North Colony, and on North Colony between Paige and Main. Installation on South Colony between Paige and Main is underway.

Unlike traditional reflective paint, the strips are a new safety prod...

Paige Road crosswalk underway

In August, the City Council approved funding for a new pedestrian crosswalk on Paige Road at Yager Drive that will primarily facilitate safer crossing of the roadway for students attending nearby schools or walking to the skate park and Recreation Center.

Following work to prepare the infrastructure, contractors will be installing a solar-powered hybrid beacon that will be much the same as the pedestrian-activated crosswalk at North Colony and Pruitt Drive. The new beacon is scheduled to be completed in th...

#Traffic: Emergency light activated on Destination Drive

Although the firehouse is not yet fully staffed and operational, motorists are advised that the emergency light on Destination Drive outside Fire Station No. 4 in Grandscape has been activated.

The light will be green the majority of the time. However, The Colony Fire Department personnel are conducting periodic training at the new station and the emergency light will be triggered as TCFD apparatus come and go.

As always, please drive safe and mo...

Utility rate increase to fund ongoing infrastructure upgrades

Alongside completion of the FY 2019-20 budget during public deliberations in August and September, The Colony City Council approved mechanisms for funding important upgrades to the Stewart Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).

The upgrades represent the next phases of a years-long process already underway to ensure the facility is operating at a level in line with continued growth and economic development, as well as to meet mandated guidelines set by the Texas Commission on En...

Council OKs homestead exemption for seniors, disabled

During its annual budget deliberations, The Colony City Council routinely seeks ways in which it can save money for its residents. As such, the Council recently authorized an ordinance enacting a homestead exemption for elderly and disabled homeowners.

This is in addition to the 1/4-cent reduction to the tax rate approved in September as part of the FY 2019-20 budget.

Essentially identical to Denton County’s existing homestead exemption, the City of The Colony’s new exemption is for d...

Denton County Burn Ban lifted

As of Oct. 25, the Denton County Burn Ban has been lifted. Keep apprised of the county's outdoor burning status by checking the Denton County Burn Control website, updated daily.

Denton County Burn Control website.

But remember, open burning is prohibited within city limits year-round. Fire pits, however, are allowed but shall not be installed within 10 feet of an adjoining property line, 15 feet from a residence and 10 feet from a...

NTTA: Fourth Lane Project update (5/28/19)

The North Texas Tollway Authority has kicked off 2019 with the early stages of a project to widen the Sam Rayburn Tollway (SRT). Motorists likely have noticed the recent lane closures, including the underpasses at both Main Street & Standridge.

Current closures include the following, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, May 28-31:

• two westbound left lanes of the Sam Rayburn Tollway between Legacy Drive and Business 121 (near Old Denton Road).

Current closures include the following, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m...