In observance of the Fourth of July holiday, City of Amarillo (COA) offices will be closed Friday (July 3). The COA service schedule for the Fourth of July week: The schedule for Solid Waste services: Ross Rogers and Comanche Trail Golf Complexes will have normal hours of operation.

Two of Amarillo’s most precious resources – water and the city’s future – were recognized at Tuesday’s city council meeting. In what has become a tradition, councilmembers honored the 2026 winners of the Every Drop Counts Calendar Contest. The contest allows young artists from kindergarten through high school to use their artistic talents to show the importance of water conservation in the Amarillo and Texas Panhandle community. The winning artists will have their art featured in the upcoming 2027 Every Drop Counts Calendar—a year-round reminder of the significance of water conservation. The Grand Prize Winner was Emma Arredondo.  Monthly winners featured in the calendar:

The City of Amarillo is adjusting hours for John Stiff Memorial Park and related city facilities for the Amarillo Red, White, & Boom! July 4 celebration. Amarillo Red, White, & Boom!, hosted by the City of Amarillo and Outdoor Amarillo, is a free fireworks and drone show at John Stiff Memorial Park. Festivities begin July 4 at 5 p.m. The following COA facilities will have adjusted hours on Friday (July 3) and Saturday (July 4). Friday (July 3): The McDonald Lake parking lot and the area surrounding McDonald Lake, including the walking path around the lake and bike trails, will close beginning at 1 p.m. and remain closed through midnight on Saturday (July 4). John Stiff Memorial Park will close beginning at 8:30 p.m. for Ready, Set, Glow – a free, untimed glow race. No street parking will be available on 48th Ave. and Parkside Drive. One lane on 48th Ave. will be shut down from 8:30 p.m. until midnight. Saturday (July 4): The Southwest Branch Library parking lot will be closed. Please note that citizens will not have access to the dumpsters in the parking lot. Amarillo National Tennis Center will close at noon. The Warford Activity Center will be closed. The McDonald Lake parking lot and the area surrounding McDonald Lake, including the walking path around the lake and bike trails, will be closed. Street parking will not be available on 48th Ave. and Parkside Drive. 48th Ave. and Bell Street will be blocked off from noon to 10:15 p.m. For information on Red, White, & Boom! go to: amarilloparks.org/programs-events/amarillofireworks

Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has named the City of Amarillo (COA) as a 2024 Triple Crown Winner. GFOA’s Triple Crown designation recognizes governments who have received GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting or Canadian Award for Financial Reporting, Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award, and Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for a fiscal year. COA is one of just 441 governments that received the Triple Crown for fiscal year 2024. “The Triple Crown is no easy feat. This demonstrates the exemplary work of various city departments, city leadership and city staff,” said COA Chief Financial Officer Lola Ogunremi. “Our gratitude and congratulations to all who worked hard to make this award possible.” The Triple Crown designation represents a significant achievement. To qualify, each entity must meet the high standards of all three separate award programs. Each award program recognizes governments that produce reports which communicate their financial stories in a transparent manner and meet applicable standards To learn more about the award, email coaprogram@gfoa.org or go to: www.gfoa.org/gfoa-triple-crown-winners