Keep Waxahachie Beautiful

05/27/2026

We just finished submitting the final grant wrap up paperwork for the N. P. Sims Library Pollinator Garden and we’re feeling incredibly grateful and want to celebrate.

This project would not have been possible without the generous support of the Our Texas, Our Future Grant through H-E-B and Keep Texas Beautiful.

The garden has now been in the ground for almost two months and it is truly beginning to bloom. Most of the plant identification signs have been installed and the main educational signage should be completed by July. Production took a little longer than anticipated, but it’s exciting seeing everything come together.

Thank you again to the Nicholas P. Sims Library for helping create space for this project, the Indian Trail Master Naturalists for their continued maintenance and stewardship of the garden, and A Oasis Pools and Outdoor Living for generously donating the landscape design, boulders, stones, and mulch that helped bring the space to life.

We are also deeply grateful to all 51 volunteers, including 21 kids, who showed up for planting day and helped turn this vision into a reality.

Watching the garden grow has already been incredibly rewarding, and we hope it continues serving as both habitat and a place for environmental education for years to come.

05/18/2026

Keeping Waxahachie Beautiful starts in our schools.

Recently, we had the opportunity to attend a special event at the Next Generation Education STEM Garden at Waxahachie High School, a space lovingly maintained and enjoyed by the Life Skills classes. The incredible staff, volunteers, and students behind the rain garden welcomed community partners for an afternoon of learning, connection, and celebration.

Students served as ambassadors for the event, guiding guests through the garden, sharing demonstrations, and offering delicious samples grown from their hard work. The garden produces a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, melons, and herbs that students help plant, harvest, and enjoy throughout the year. From homemade pumpkin dishes to fresh salsa, the program continues to create meaningful hands on learning experiences. According to the students, “pizza from the garden” was the crowd favorite.

Members of the Indian Trail Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists were also there to showcase innovative technology being used at the Mockingbird Nature Preserve in Midlothian. Their work is helping make nature more accessible for visually impaired visitors by providing opportunities to learn about the plants and habitats throughout the preserve.

We left inspired by the students, educators, volunteers, and community partners helping cultivate the next generation of environmental stewards right here in Waxahachie.

05/14/2026

🏆🌿 We’re incredibly honored to share that Keep Texas Beautiful has recognized Keep Waxahachie Beautiful as a 2026 Gold Star Affiliate, the highest recognition awarded to local affiliates across the state of Texas. ⭐️💚

Gold Star status is awarded to affiliates that demonstrate outstanding community leadership through meaningful programs, strong partnerships, volunteer engagement, and measurable impact. To be recognized at this level alongside communities across Texas is something we are deeply proud of. 🤝✨

This recognition belongs to our volunteers, partners, city staff, schools, local businesses, and residents who continue showing up for Waxahachie again and again. 🫶🌎

In 2025 alone:
• 303 volunteers served alongside Keep Waxahachie Beautiful 👥
• 611 volunteer hours were donated back into our community ⏰💚
• 2,158 pounds of trash were cleared from local streets and streams 🗑️🌱

From community cleanups and recycling education to pollinator gardens, school partnerships, beautification projects, and environmental outreach, this recognition reflects what can happen when a community works together with pride and purpose. 🌼♻️

We are especially grateful to the City of Waxahachie, our committee members, Keep Texas Beautiful, and every volunteer who has picked up a bag, planted a flower, attended an event, or supported our mission in ways both big and small. 🙏🌸

Waxahachie continues to prove that small actions truly do add up to meaningful change, and we’re excited to keep building on this momentum together. 💪🌟

04/28/2026

Wrapping up a great Spring Cleanup this Saturday. 🌿

With two locations across Waxahachie, our volunteers showed up in a big way to serve their community. 🙌💚

We are grateful for every individual, family, and organization who came out to make a difference. Your time and effort directly improves the beauty and health of our creeks, streets, and shared spaces. 🌎🌱🏡

Thank you to Academy Sports + Outdoors for hosting one of our locations and providing water for volunteers throughout the morning. 💧👏

We also appreciate the support of our local officers who stopped by to check in and help ensure a safe event for everyone involved. 👮‍♂️🚓

A special moment from the day came when a young community member said, “I never saw that there was so much garbage until now. We should be doing this every day.” It is always encouraging to see the next generation taking pride in their community. 🌟👧👦

Event totals 🗑️💪
45 volunteers
390 pounds of trash removed from Waxahachie creeks and streets

Thank you to Waxahachie Parks and Recreation for collecting all gathered litter and supporting our volunteers on site. 🌳🤝

Plus a special thank you to Keep Texas Beautiful for providing cleanup equipment that helps make events like this possible. 🧤🪣✨

We are proud of what this community can accomplish together. 💚

04/25/2026

Join us TODAY from 9am – 11am!

Keep Waxahachie Beautiful will be set up in front of Academy with all the cleanup supplies you need. Come out, lend a hand, and help keep our community looking its best! 💚

04/24/2026

⏰ TOMORROW is the day, Waxahachie! 🌿💚
Our Annual Spring Cleanup is happening, and we’d love to see you out there making a difference!
🗓 Saturday, April 25
⏰ 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
📍 Choose your spot:
• Freedman Memorial Plaza – Help clean the nature trail
• Academy Sports + Outdoors – Help clean the Northgrove & Hwy 77 area
🧤 Supplies provided
💧 Bring a reusable water bottle
Grab a friend (or a whole crew!) and come help keep our community clean, beautiful, and something we’re all proud of. Every little bit helps!
See you tomorrow! 🌎✨

👋 Hi Waxahachie! 💚

Calling volunteers of all ages to come out and help make a difference during our Annual Spring Cleanup. 🌿

🗓 Saturday, April 25
⏰ 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

📍 Choose one of two volunteer locations:

• Freedman Memorial Plaza – 430 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Help clean up the nature trail.

• Academy Sports + Outdoors – 1650 N Hwy 77
Help clean up the Northgrove & Hwy 77 area.

🧤 All litter cleanup equipment will be provided, along with water refill stations.
💧 Please bring your own reusable water bottle.

This is a great opportunity to give back, enjoy the outdoors, and help keep Waxahachie beautiful for everyone. Grab your friends, family, coworkers, or service group and join us!

We hope to see you there! 🌎✨

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day 🌎

We like to think of every day as Earth Day, but this one was made extra special by Ellis County Homeschool Teens & Tweens Outdoors, who volunteered to clean Little Creek.

18 youth and 12 parents came together, making 30 volunteers who cleared about 120 pounds of trash out of the creek.

If your family, group, or you as an individual would like to host a cleanup, contact the Parks Department. It truly takes a village.

Y’all are helping keep Waxahachie beautiful, and we truly appreciate it.

04/15/2026

We’re gearing up for our Spring Cleanup, and our volunteers have been hard at work spreading the word all across Waxahachie.

A heartfelt thank you to the local businesses who welcomed our flyers. Your support truly makes a difference, and you’re helping keep Waxahachie beautiful right alongside us.

If you’d like to hang up a flyer and our volunteers missed your shop, feel free to swing by the Parks Department. We’ll have extras printed and ready.

Only two more weeks to go. We’re excited to see everyone come together for this.

04/10/2026

What’s blooming at the library? 🌿
The N. P. Sims Library Pollinator Garden is beginning to come to life.

We’re still in awe of the many organizations, volunteers, and community members who helped make this space a reality. It truly reflects what can happen when people come together with a shared vision.

Enjoy a few photos of what’s currently blooming and taking root.
As a reminder, when it comes to native perennials, there’s a common gardening phrase:
First year they sleep, second year they creep, third year they leap.

In that first year, plants are focusing on establishing strong root systems. You may not see dramatic growth above ground yet, but important work is happening below the surface. With time, patience, and care, they’ll continue to fill in and flourish.
We invite you to take a quiet moment and visit the garden. Watch how it changes with the seasons and grows alongside our community. 🌼

04/09/2026

👋 A couple weekends ago, we had the chance to be part of one of our favorite events of the year....
the Master Gardener Lawn and Garden Expo.🌷🌿

We were back in the kids' section, where all the fun happens, helping educate kids and parents about recycling programs here in Waxahachie.

Our partners at Waste Connections joined us at the table and shared helpful magnets showing what can and cannot be recycled in our city.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who made the day such a success. We are grateful for each of you.