LCRA Volunteers Take on Projects in 30 Texas Communities During Steps Forward Day

APRIL 12, 2024

AUSTIN, Texas – Hundreds of Lower Colorado River Authority employees picked up paint brushes, shovels and more to volunteer on dozens of community projects throughout Texas during LCRA’s annual day of service, Steps Forward Day.

“Steps Forward Day is a day to work hard, have fun and give back to our customer communities,” LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said. “This year, about 700 employees volunteered to pitch in on these projects to help support Texans and Texas communities.”

During the annual day of service in April, employees volunteered for a variety of projects that local communities may not have the staff or time to complete. In some communities, city or electric cooperative employees joined LCRA volunteers on the projects.

Wilson said LCRA has a strong legacy of service.

“It’s a way of saying ‘thank you’ to our customers and helping to make a real difference in the communities in which we work,” Wilson said. “We’re excited to see these projects to the finish line.”

In 2024, LCRA employees worked on three dozen projects during the Steps Forward Day initiative:

• Austin – Improving walkways and erosion control, and cleaning up the grounds for the Community Inn at Community First! Village; and painting picnic tables, spreading mulch and cleaning up the herb garden at River City Youth Foundation.
• Bertram – Painting the exterior and awnings of the City of Bertram’s pool house.
• Brady – Painting a basketball court, fence posts and picnic tables at Willie Washington Park.
• Brenham – Installing playground mulch at Hohlt Park and Jackson Street Park playgrounds.
• Burnet – Spreading mulch and repairing and painting picnic tables and the windmill sign at the Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center.
• Burton – Cleaning light fixtures and painting signs and shade structures at Camp for All.
• Cuero – Installing fence screen slats at the Cuero Public Works Warehouse.
• Dripping Springs – Painting football field goal posts and the interiors of restrooms at Founders Memorial Park; cleaning up landscaped areas and painting dugout benches and a restroom at Sports and Recreation Park; and painting the office lobby and an adjacent hallway at Ranch Park.
• Eagle Lake – Removing algae from a groundwater storage tank.
• Flatonia – Painting a gazebo, archway and old-time horse tether near city hall.
• Fredericksburg – Picking up trash at four city parks, including Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, Oak Crest Park, Old Fair Park and Marktplatz.
• Giddings – Painting the restrooms and concession stand at Veterans Park.
• Gonzales – Cleaning up brush at Independence Park.
• Granite Shoals – Painting the handrails at Granite Shoals City Hall.
• Hempstead – Painting the fence around the Hempstead Recreation Center.
• Lexington – Painting parking stripes at Heritage Square.
• Llano – Staining benches at Grenwelge Park, and installing a split-rail fence and creating river rock beds at the Llano River Golf Course.
• Lockhart – Painting pavilions, restrooms and picnic tables at North Pecos Park.
• Luling – Painting benches, handrails and safety stripes on sidewalks in downtown.
• Mason – Painting the exterior of the animal control operations building.
• Pflugerville – Removing brush along Gilleland Creek.
• Prairie Lea – Painting the interior and exterior of the Tri-Community Civic Center.
• Round Rock – Painting cityscape buildings and adding sand and mulch to play areas at Play for All Abilities Park.
• San Angelo – Painting the entrance fence to the university rodeo team facility.
• San Marcos – Painting fire hydrants and curbs, and landscaping and cleaning up green spaces in downtown square.
• San Saba – Installing new landscaping and completing a new shade structure at San Saba River Nature Park.
• Schulenburg – Painting handrails and sidewalk safety stripes in downtown.
• Shiner – Painting and sealing the exterior of the Shiner Animal Shelter.
• Smithville – Painting light poles along Main Street and Railroad Park.

LCRA launched its Steps Forward employee volunteer program in 2015. LCRA works with its customers to identify service projects in their communities, supplies the labor and helps provide the materials needed to complete the projects. For more information, visit www.lcra.org/stepsforward.

About LCRA

The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations.

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