Lower Colorado River Authority volunteers help beautify downtown San Marcos

Staff Reports

SAN MARCOS – For the third year, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) selected the City of San Marcos as a recipient of its Steps Forward Day program. The annual program encourages LCRA employees to give back by completing service projects in communities across the state. 

On Friday, April 9 volunteers from LCRA spent hours painting the train pavilion on South Edward Gary Street. They also planted landscaping in the area, including native grasses and pollinator garden species. The LCRA volunteers were joined by members of City staff, including employees from San Marcos Electric Utility, Resource Recovery, Community Enhancement, Keep San Marcos Beautiful, Parks and Recreation, Urban Forestry, and Main Street.

“This area serves as an entrance to downtown San Marcos and we’re excited to enhance it as part of our ongoing efforts to activate the area,” said Downtown Coordinator Josie Falletta. “We’re grateful to LCRA and all of its volunteers. Our community will notice a night and day difference in the area because of the hard work they put into this project.”

In addition to LCRA, Union Pacific Railroad also contributed supplies and volunteers to the project, picking up trash and removing weeds ahead of planting with help from the Lambda Omega Alpha fraternity. Union Pacific also offered to purchase a new wrought iron fence which will be installed at a later date along the railroad tracks behind the train pavilion. 

The project was financed through grants and donations from LCRA, Union Pacific, and Keep San Marcos Beautiful, with the remaining $1,000 paid for through the Main Street budget. 

San Marcos is among more than 30 communities across Texas to host a project as part of LCRA’s Steps Forward Day. Other participating cities included Austin, Burnet, Fredericksburg, Lockhart, and Marble Falls.