A city of Dripping Springs-led event hosted the community on Mercer Street to experience the total solar eclipse April 8. (Elle Bent/Community Impact)
Check out Community Impact's list of the top 16 stories on Dripping Springs in 2024. This list is in chronological order and is noncomprehensive. For the top Dripping Springs ISD stories of 2024, click here.
A second public meeting on a pending wastewater permit filed by a California-based company seeking to develop an amphitheater took place Jan. 29, and community members came out to urge officials to deny the permit. (Elle Bent/Community Impact)
The details: The roundabout replaces what was previously a three-way stop, and now includes medians, pedestrian crossings and sidewalks with ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. With its completion, access to and from Cypress Springs Elementary School changes, with the western driveway to be used only as an entrance, while the eastern driveway will be an exit only.
Construction began in June 2023 and cost $3.2 million, funded by the 2016 Road Bond Program.
The city of Dripping Springs will not be holding an election this May as all three candidates whose terms were up for re-election are uncontested.
The overview: Mayor Bill Foulds, who has served as mayor since 2020, and council members Wade King and Travis Crow will be sworn in for another two-year term on May 7.
What’s next: Council members Taline Manassian, Geoffrey Tahuahua and Sherrie Parks are up for re-election in May 2025.
As the sky darkened and the air chilled, an eruption of cheers broke out at about 1:35 p.m. on Mercer Street in Dripping Springs on April 8.
The Dripping Springs community gathered on the street to witness a rare celestial event—a total solar eclipse. Spectators were clearly able to see the moon cover the sun for about three minutes despite clouds overhead.
What happened: The city-led event, aptly named the “sunblock party,” was about two years in the making, with much of the planning done by the Dripping Springs Communications Director Lisa Sullivan. Sullivan teared up during totality and said she was “emotional the whole time.”
Some context: City officials told Community Impact they predicted the event to almost “quadruple” the population. In preparation, City Council members passed a resolution March 19 declaring a local disaster. This allowed officials to activate the emergency services plan and provide extra support in case of an emergency, as a strain on cellular towers, traffic and emergency service was expected.
Eclipses happen somewhere on the planet every six months when one of two specific locations amid Earth’s orbit allows for the sun, moon and Earth to line up. However, only a specific region can see an eclipse in its totality. (Elle Bent/Community Impact)
The details: The park is named in honor of a Dripping Springs High School student who died in February 2023. Kweller was the son of local musician Ben Kweller.
Dorian Zev Kweller Memorial Skatepark is located at the north end of Founders Memorial Park, 419B Founders Park Road, Dripping Springs.
City and county officials joined residents to celebrate the start of construction on a skate park in Dripping Springs. From left, Dripping Springs Mayor Pro Tem Taline Manassian, Ben Kweller, Liz Kweller, Judah Kweller, Dennis Baldwin and Hays County Commissioner Walt Smith. (Courtesy Hays County)
The setup: In just five years, between 2017-2022, the city’s population nearly doubled while Hays County saw similar growth between the years 2010-2020. This growth makes the current space too small for most events and unable to shelve any new items without removing another first.
The details: A new facility would be 37,000 square feet, located adjacent to the existing property at the end of Benney Lane, a cul-de-sac off Mighty Tiger Trail. Some of the new amenities residents could use include:
Storm damage was not enough to stop Dripping Springs Community Library staff from celebrating the start of the busiest season for the library.
Two-minute impact: The DSCL reopened June 3 following a closure May 31 when the building was damaged by a lightning strike. The lightning hit the ceiling above the main desk at about 6:30 a.m., and no one was injured, DSCL communications manager Christina Thompson said.
Despite the damage, library staff hosted the annual Summer Kick Off event in the parking lot, with snow cones, face painting, inflatables and a petting zoo. Children even participated in a “snowball” fight with ice from the snow cones. Thompson said this year’s event was likely the biggest turnout they’ve ever had.
Nonprofit Foster Village has encouraged children to raise funds via lemonade stands in their neighborhoods every summer the last three years through a campaign called Growing the Village is Sweet.
The details: This year, Foster Village officials set a goal to raise $40,000, which will provide therapeutic support and needed items, such as clothing, toys or bedding, to foster families and children.
The Growing the Village is Sweet raises money that goes toward supplies foster familes and children need in addition to therapeutic care. (Courtesy Foster Village)
Dripping Springs Community Library officials have been making strides toward a recent goal—making library materials more accessible to seniors.
What’s happening: DSCL director Mindy Laird began her outreach this year at Ledgestone Senior Living, where she hosted a library card drive, where residents could sign up for a library card, and has been personally delivering books to residents.
Laird has also applied for DSCL to become a demonstration site for the Talking Book Program, a program offered through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission that offers services to those with visual or physical impairments that make reading more difficult.
Additionally, Laird is seeking to fund the purchase of Stay Sharp Kits for the library, which includes activities that improve memory and cognition.
Lastly, another way DSCL officials have made materials more accessible was the removal of overdue fees this year.
Dripping Springs city officials celebrated the move to a new office for both the Building Department and the Planning and Development Department with a ribbon-cutting June 28.
The details: Building department officials handle building permits while planning and development department officials oversee permits as well as manage growth and development in the city.
Dripping Springs officials have released a draft of the city’s comprehensive plan and are seeking feedback on the guide to the city’s development.
The details: Known as “Reimagine Dripping Springs,” or the “2040 Comprehensive Plan,” the plan will set guidelines for real estate, infrastructure, economic development and zoning for the next 15 to 20 years. This will be an update to the last comprehensive plan adopted in January 2015.
Patriots’ Hall of Dripping Springs and the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 3. (Elle Bent/Community Impact)
Around 75 members of the Dripping Springs community gathered on a Sunday afternoon in late September to make glass butterflies that will "fly" in the community's newest library.
Get involved: The first group of sponsors attended their butterfly workshop Sept. 29 at Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room, 2250 Hwy. 290, Dripping Springs. The workshop was hosted by Texas artist Carlyn Ray, known for her glass art.
Members of the Dripping Springs community customized their own glass butterflies at the first butterfly workshop that's part of a campaign to raise money for a new facility. The butterflies will hang in the new facility, as if they are flying. (Elle Bent/Community Impact)
Renovations at Dripping Springs City Hall are underway. The building temporarily closed in early October to begin the project.
Zooming in: The renovations include new office space for staffers, more energy-efficient infrastructure and upgraded technology. City offices are still open and all employees are still reachable.
Outdoor entertainment venue Dreamland will close its doors at the end of the year after almost four years in Dripping Springs.
The details: The business announced the closing on social media, but did not disclose the reason as to why the venue is shutting its doors. Dreamland Dripping Springs opened in February 2021 and has 16 pickleball courts, two different mini golf courses, an art and sculpture garden, a live music stage and other features. The venue also serves food made in-house, cocktails, beer and other drinks.
What's next: Dreamland will host a farewell event on Dec. 31 to mark the occasion.
