North Austin News

Austin residents can expect changes to city services and facilities during the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays. Due to both Christmas Day and New Year's Day falling on Mondays, various departments and facilities will be closed or operating on adjusted schedules.

Austin Resource Recovery will be adjusting its trash, recycling, and composting collections for the entire week. The collections will slide forward by one day and take place one day later than regularly scheduled. The Recycle and Reuse Drop-off Center will be closed on Monday, Dec. 25, and Monday, Jan. 1, but will be open by appointment for the remainder of the week. Additionally, Austin Water's Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant will be closed for yard trimmings and large brush drop off on both Mondays.

Austin Public Health will also be affected by the holidays. Environmental Health Services at the Rutherford Lane Campus, the Office of Vital Records, all WIC and Shots for Tots clinics, and Neighbor Centers will be closed on Dec. 25, 26, and Jan. 1. However, COVID-19 testing will still be available at private and non-profit sites throughout Austin, including pharmacies, hospitals, and urgent care centers. Private insurance holders are advised to contact their doctor's office or insurer for assessment and testing options.

City of Austin Utilities will have closures as well. The Customer Care Call Center and Utility Customer Service Centers will be closed Monday, Dec. 25 through Tuesday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 1. Customers can make utility payments online or by using other payment options such as authorized locations, mailing money orders or checks, or using drop boxes at specified locations. Power outages can be reported through the outage map or by calling the designated number.

Austin Parks and Recreation facilities will mostly be closed for the Christmas holiday from Monday, Dec. 25 through Tuesday, Dec. 26, and for New Year's Day on Monday, Jan. 1. Some exceptions include Bartholomew, Big Stacy, Deep Eddy, and Springwoods Pools, which will close early on Sunday, Dec. 24 and reopen on Dec. 26. Barton Springs Pool will remain open on Dec. 24, 25, and 26. Golf ATX courses will close early on Dec. 24 and will be closed all day on Dec. 25, but will not close for New Year's.

The Austin Public Library will be closed on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, Dec. 24, 25, and 26, as well as Sunday, Dec. 31 and Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. However, library resources will still be accessible remotely through the Austin Public Library website.

The Austin Animal Center will have adjusted hours during the holidays. It will close early on Dec. 24 and remain closed on Dec. 25-26. The center will be open regular hours on Tuesday, Dec. 27, but will close early on Sunday, Dec. 31 and remain closed on New Year's Day. The center will resume regular hours on Monday, Jan. 2.

For any questions or information about city services, residents can call 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000. They can also submit service requests through the Austin 3-1-1 mobile app.

As the holiday season approaches, it is important for Austin residents to be aware of the closures and adjustments to city services and facilities. Planning ahead and utilizing alternative options, such as online payments and remote library resources, will help ensure a smooth holiday period for everyone in the community.

Click this link to access more information: https://www.austintexas.gov/news/2023-city-austin-holiday-closures