All About Adoption from the Plano Animal Shelter

Are you interested in adopting a pet from the Plano Animal Shelter?

Keep in mind that all animals at our shelter are:

• Up-to-date on vaccines 
• Microchipped 
• Sterilized 
• Receive heartworm testing and treatment if needed 
• Given a collar and tags
• Loved by staff and volunteers 

Our standar...

Read the Special COVID-19 edition of The Business of Green

In this challenging time, we offer business tips and resources to help you weather the COVID-19 crisis in our latest edition of The Business of Green. Learn how to apply for the coronavirus (COVID-19) Small Business Administration loans...

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Weekly Update: March 5, 2020

Our staff, including our police and fire-rescue teams, are taking appropriate precautionary measures including conducting more frequent disinfection processes at our highly trafficked facilities.

While the immediate risk of COVID-19 is believed to be low a...

4 Reasons Why the Outdoor Warning System Could be Activated

Outdoor Warning Sirens are designed to alert people who are outside to seek shelter inside. In hazardous conditions, Plano's sirens will sound for 3 minutes. During monthly tests, Plano's sirens sound for 1 minute, followed by a voice saying "test.&q...

Preparation and Sale of Homemade Foods

Have you ever wondered what you might be able to make at home and sell? The City of Plano Environmental Health Division has received several inquiries recently and would like to clarify the rules around homemade foods. The Texas Cottage Food Law does allo...

Plano Fire-Rescue's Notice of Privacy Practices

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.

Plano Fire-Rescue is committed to protecting your personal health information. We are required by law to maintain the privacy of health information that could reasonably be used to identify you, known as “protected health information” ...

Plano Fire-Rescue 2019 Annual Report

Check out the 2019 Annual Report, with information on all aspects of Plano Fire-Rescue. 

Plano Fire-Rescue's 2019-2023 Strategic Plan

Plano Fire-Rescue has just released the 2019-2023 Strategic Plan.

Any successful agency must continually track progress towards achieving its stated short-term goals and objectives.  Periodically, it is important for an organization to stop and perform a more detailed assessment of its environment, its stakehol...

Saturday Stories at the Farmstead!

Follow Plano Public Library on Facebook for our nine-week storytime series: Saturday Stories at the Farmstead! We worked with Heritage Farmstead Museum to bring you storytime amongst the history and fun animals of this living museum.

Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. September 26 - December 19

Follow us on Facebook

Be sure to check out our fall book list on the Plano Library Learns blog

Check It Out! Theme Bags

Theme bags are professionally designed storytime kits about popular themes. Each Theme Bag contains a picture books as well as a relevant activity like a flannel board story, puppet or toy.

They are designed to be used with preschool-aged children. There are more than 40 topics including sensory, pets, potty training, new baby, bath time and weather.

Search Theme Bookpack in the library catalog

Watch

Spotlight Art - Fashion Illustration

Spotlight Artist Christine Song, a fashion illustrator, works with two colors of acrylic paint (black and gold). Watch, as she demonstrates how she uses these shades to paint different types of fashionable furs.

ReferenceUSA is now Reference Solutions

ReferenceUSA has changed its name to Reference Solutions. Reference Solutions provides information to help you start a business, conduct market research, find marketing prospects and more.

Register for our upcoming Zoom workshop: Building Your Business with Reference Solutions 

Ancestry Library Edition

Temporary remote access with your library card is available through December for Ancestry Library Edition. Search billions of records and discover your family’s story.

Patrons will not be charged $2.50 processing fee to use Ancestry Library Edition.

Research & Learn

Genealogy Resources

Launchpad Reading Academy Now Available

Help your child master verbal, reading, and writing skills with Launchpad Reading Academy. Kids can jump in at their current reading level and advance from there with multi-sensory learning tools all on one device! No internet or Wi-Fi needed.

There are tools for parents and teachers to evaluate current skills, watch kids master those skills and more.

Each Launchpad comes with:Apps that use gamified learning tools for mastering critical skills from letter recognition to complex spelling and comp...

Be a Chemist

Children ages 7-12 can play the role of chemists and discover the importance of chemistry to fields as varied as medicine, manufacturing, art and environmental conservation.

Plano Public Library in collaboration with Sci-Tech is one of 27 locations across the country to host the virtual program. The Be a Chemist program is Sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline and offered in partnership with The Franklin Institute and UNC Morehead Pla...

Book Bundles Available in English, Spanish & Chinese

Book Bundles are available in English and Spanish at all five libraries and in Chinese at Davis and Haggard. Discover new series, new authors, and great readings with pre-selected titles.

Picking up your Book Bundle is easy

1. Call the library when you arrive
2. Let us know the reading level you are interested in
3. We’ll bring a Book Bundle to you

Book Bundles in English are chosen to provide variety based on reading level

• Board Book Sets &am...

Library Closure Update

The library is now open by appointment for Grab and Go Service and Computer Access. Grab and Go appointments are for 1 hour to browse materials and use self-checkout, copy or fax (without computer access), and shop the Friends lobby sales.

Grab and Go reservations (PDF) are available at all five libraries and may be scheduled online. Computer access appointments (PDF) are for 2 hours and may be reserved by calling the library.

Patrons may return items to the library, pickup holds, make grab ...

Plano Neighborhood Services Has Moved!

Plano Neighborhood Services has moved to 777 E. 15th St. The building was completely renovated to fit the growing needs of our department. The new building includes two floors, additional conference rooms, a larger training room and natural light. The new...

Do You Have the Nuttiest Neighborhood?

Every September the North Texas Food Bank hosts a peanut butter drive to help combat hunger in Collin County. Mayor LaRosilliere says, “This is the time of year where our community comes together to spread hope with their generosity and care.&qu...

Pay Attention to Your Foundation!

Without a proper foundation maintenance plan, your home could experience serious structural issues and eventually begin to fail. Ward off serious foundation issues and keep repair costs low with these five tips:

1. Maintain a consistent moisture level around ...

Support Small Businesses in Plano!

Utilizing $200,000 in CARES Act funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Plano Neighborhood Services created the Small Business Grant Program to provide emergency grants to businesses in Plano who have been impacted by COV...

Plano City News: Bring on the Fall Fun

Make plans to attend the Plano Families First Health & Wellness Fair, sharpen your fire prevention skills and learn to grow a sustainable garden in this Plano City News.

Plano City News is distributed every Tuesday to 36,800 subscribers by the City of Plano Communications and Community Outreach department. To receive a copy directly in your inbox, please subscribe. Thank you for your readership!

Keep Alert for Lane Closures at Preston Road and PGBT Intersection

The City of Plano is working with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to improve the intersection at Preston Road and the President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT). Construction continues through 2021.

The improvements include:

• widening the southbound Preston Road bridge over the KCS railroad and PGBT
• creating a southbound right-turn lane at the PGBT westbound on-ramp
• adding dual left-turn lanes for southbound traffic to the PGBT eastbound on-ramp

Please sh...

Watch and Attend Plano City Council Meetings Online

Stay in and stay safe, watch or participate in City Council Meetings virtually.

Meetings are the second and fourth Mondays of each month. The executive session is at 5 p.m. and is immediately followed by the preliminary open meeting. At 7 p.m. the regular session begins. Review the meeting’s agenda (available Wednesday nigh...

Get Ahead of Your Next Emergency with SMART911

What if first responders had access to your drug allergies and medical history before the ambulance even arrived?

It’s possible when you set up a safety profile with SMART911. Plano Public Safety Communications has launched SMART911. This tool makes your profile available to dispatchers when you call for help from a cell phone. It fills a critical gap becau...

Subscribe to the Inside Plano Podcast

Listen along to Inside Plano to learn about city events, programs and services. Get to know your city team along the journey. New podcast episodes are available on the first of every month.

Subscribe to get the episodes automatically through your favorite podcasting platforms: iTunes, iHeart Radio, Soundcloud, Google Play and Stitcher. Be sure to check out the show notes to make the most of each episode.

Read on...

Limited Access During Arbor Hills Nature Preserve Improvements

A series of erosion control projects and construction of a new restroom building are underway at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve. During construction, parking will be limited and pedestrian traffic will be closed off on pedestrian bridges.

Over time, runoff from rainfall causes erosion to the creek banks adjacent to pedestrian bridges. The erosion control measures are designed to shore up those banks. The project began earlier this month and is expected to be completed in early 2021. Nature...

Registration for Fall Recreation Classes begins Sept. 19

Fall classes begin the week of October 5.

Registration for fall recreation classes begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 for Plano residents and 5 a.m. on Sept. 21 for non-residents. Due to the ongoing pandemic and our commitment to the health and safety of our patrons and staff, in-person class...

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update for Plano Parks and Recreation

The following facilities are open with limited services and reduced operating hours:

• Plano Aquatic Center
• Carpenter Park Recreation Center and indoor pool
• Liberty Recreation Center
• Oak Point Recreation Center and indoor pool
• Tom Muehlenbeck Recreation Center a...

Parks and Recreation supervisor nominated as TAAF region director

Congratulations to Aquatics Supervisor Kelly Kessler, who was recently named the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation’s (TAAF) Region 7 Director.

The Tom Muehlenbeck Recreation Center staff member will oversee all sports in this region, which is one of the largest in the federation. TAAF is a nonprofit organization established in 1925 to promote, organize and conduct amateur athletics in the state ...

Stay Connected With Plano Parks and Recreation This Fall

Fall is just around the corner, and Plano Parks and Recreation has a variety of ways to help your family stay active, healthy, happy and connected!

From tennis classes and adult sports leagues to virtual classes/activities for children and adults, you can sign up for all of our classes through Recreation Online.

• Explore Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve’s extensive trail system. At 800 ac...

Aerobats teams, students stay connected during COVID pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic began impacting in-person instruction for many of Plano Parks & Recreation’s programs last spring, one program in particular quickly learned how to adapt by going virtual for the first time in its history.

Plano Aerobats gymnastic coaches started their online practices back in April and are now working with teams and recreational students week in and week out. The coaches use online conferencing platforms to conduct classes in real time. The technology has ...

Explore Current Plano Parks and Recreation Projects

Did you know at any given time there are numerous parks and facilities under design, construction or renovation?

A lot of work happens from the design phase to completion of each project. Our Park Planning team is sharing the excitement of these projects with you on this web page filled with updates, meeting notices and photos of some of the work in progres...

New & Improved: Carpenter Park Athletic Complex Reopens

Plano Parks and Recreation is proud to announce the reopening of the Carpenter Park Athletic Complex north side. The fields are now open for scheduled play and practice.

The long list of renovations began in Spring 2019. The highlight of the improvements are four newly-installed artificial turf athletic fields with security fencing and an additional trail to complete a loop around the entire park. Other upgrades include t...

Grow Zones Established in Plano Parks

Plano is embarking on the natural reforestation of Plano’s creeks to reduce creek bank erosion, grow the tree canopy, reduce flooding, and filter harmful pollutants before they enter the watershed (the source of our drinking water) by creating g...

Bobwhite Quails at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve

Our Natural Resources group embarked on a special project this summer to re-establish the Bobwhite quail population at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve. So far, our staff has released 50 of these native birds into the wild with great success! Our hope i...

High Point Tennis Center Renovations

The long awaited renovations to High Point Tennis Center have begun. The center will remain open during construction.

The renovations will begin with the building of a new parking lot along Spring Creek Parkway and the construction of a new two-story pro shop. Once the new pro shop is completed, demolition of the old facility will take place and a new center court will b...

Watch and Participate in Planning & Zoning Commission Meetings Online

1st and 3rd Mondays7 p.m. (regular meeting)videoconference 

Each Planning & Zoning Commission meeting agenda is posted to the P&Z Commission webpage the Friday prior to the meeting.

Comment with one of these options: 

• Register to sp...

VIP 2018-2019 Annual Report

Check out this year’s annual report full of great information about how volunteers are creating impact for the City of Plano.

Read on...

VIP Connection Spring 2019

Celebrating Plano's volunteers

Dallas Morning News: Volunteering is secret to happiness

Giving back through volunteering makes Plano happy, according to the Dallas Morning News. 

A record number of people are volunteering in Plano

NBCDFW reports on VIP's record-setting success! 

VIP Celebrates Record-Setting Success

Annual Report Highlights:

•   35 years of VIP

•   Record-setting number of volunteers 

•   Volunteer awards

•   Corporate & academic partnerships

•   VIP Sup...

VIP Connection Newsletter Winter 2018

Thankful to serve

VIP Connection Newsletter Summer 2018

Committed to serve

ESL Teachers Needed

Harrington Library is looking for volunteer ESL teachers. Training is free and materials are provided. For more information, contact Julie Brown, ESL Program Director at juliebrown@lift-texas.org or call 214-824-2000 ext. 3218

Bank of America Volunteers Become Super Sorters

Thank you to the team of 14 Bank of America employees for giving an afternoon of service to Haggard Library. Employees from India and several different states joined together to help sort donations and package items for the annual fundraising books sale. ...

United Healthcare Employees Volunteer at Parr Library

Thank you to United Healthcare employees for lending a hand at Parr Library. Staff enjoyed a morning of service by cleaning and organizing children’s books for the library. Children’s book are frequently checked out and at the end of e...

Bank of America Rolls Up Their Sleeves

On Friday, September 30 six employees from one of Plano's Bank of America locations chose the Plano Animal Shelter for their volunteer day. Employees were excited to lend a hand in the kennels, help with laundry, wash many dog bowls and spend time togethe...Read on...

Hyundai Capital Lends A Hand

On Saturday, September 24th seven employees from Plano's Hyundai Capital office spent their morning volunteering at the Animal Shelter. Creating a team building event around service to the community is a great way to build comradery and motivate staff to ...

Capgemini Serve Plano

On Friday, September 23 staff from Capgemini selected the Plano Community Garden and the Animal Shelter for their service day. Staff members rolled up their sleeves helped provide maintenance of the garden, weeding, turning compost piles, laying mulch and...Read on...

Capital One, A Dog's Best Friend

On Friday, August 19 employees from Capital One spent the day volunteering at the Plano Animal Shelter. Corporate volunteers play a vital role in helping advocate for the shelter after they spend a day in the life of shelter staff. Groups are all smiles a...Read on...

Cambria Hotel & Suites Supports Animal Shelter

On Friday, September 9th staff from Cambria Hotel & Suites Plano rolled up their sleeves and spent the day volunteering at the Plano Animal Shelter. 9 Cambria employees enjoyed a day of service helping the shelter maintain a clean facility, provide se...Read on...

Frisco Roughriders lend a hand at Animal Shelter

On Sunday, August 21 staff from the Frisco Roughriders donated a morning of service to the Plano Animal Shelter. They spent time helping with cleaning and maintenance of the facility which improves the customer experience and provides a safe environment f...Read on...

Bank of America Volunteers Plant Seedlings for Parks Department

A big thank you goes out to the 10 Bank of America volunteers who planted 100 trees in the Russell Creek greenbelt for the Plano Parks Department.

Exam Weekend:

What to Bring and What to Know the Day of the Exam

Saturday Morning: bring your ID, exam ticket and completed and notarized PHS to the exam.  Wear athletic clothing as those who pass will immediately proceed to the physical agility test. ...