Celebrate Safely for 4th of July

As you plan for Independence Day, please celebrate safely.

The possession and use of fireworks in Mesquite is illegal, as is discharging firearms into the air. The penalties for fireworks and gunfire can be costly. 

Report illegal activity by calling the Police hotline at 972-204-4888. You also can report fireworks violations by emailing fireworks@mesquitepolice.org.

For more information and ways to report please visit www.cityofmesquite.com/CelebrateSafely.

July is Parks and Recreation Month 

July is National Park and Recreation Month, and the Mesquite Parks and Recreation Department has a lot of fun events for all ages planned.

Special activities include two pop-up events. The first will be from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, July 12, at the Spray Zone at Clay Mathis Park, 2181 Clay Mathis Road. This night of family fun will include outdoor games and free popsicles.

The next pop-up will be from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, at the Leash Free Zone at Copeland Park, 2250 Creek Crossing Road. Bring your dogs out for this free, family friendly playdate.

For more information about other events during National Park and Recreation Month, please visit www.cityofmesquite.com/July.

Use the hashtag #MesquiteParksandRec to tag your pictures on social media to show how you are enjoying Mesquite Parks and Recreation facilities during July.

Budget Survey open until July 9

The City is seeking resident input in the annual budget development process.

Feedback will be collected until July 9 and then it will be made available to City leadership as they make budget decisions for the next fiscal year.

The Budget Priorities Citizen Survey is available in English and Spanish, and it takes about 15 minutes to complete.

Find the surveys and a video that explains the budgeting process by visiting www.cityofmesquite.com/BudgetSurvey2024.

Also, please make plans to attend the next Town Hall Tuesday on July 16 to discuss the budget and answer resident questions.

The gathering will be from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 757 N. Galloway Ave., in Training Rooms A and B upstairs.

Monarch Fest! on July 20

Keep Mesquite Beautiful presents the 2nd annual Monarch Fest! from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 20 at the Mesquite Arts Center.

The free community festival includes a vendor market, concessions, live entertainment, face painting, arts and crafts for kids, demonstrations and three contests: homemade cookie, homemade salsa and butterfly costume.

And don’t miss a special appearance by KMB’s new mascot! Sponsorships and spots for vendors are still available but are filling up fast. For more information, visit www.KeepMesquiteBeautiful.org.

First-time home buyers class on July 11

As part of its Get Fit Mesquite program, the City will offer a class designed for first-time home buyers from 12-1 p.m. on July 11.

The session will explain that grant programs for first-time home buyers are not a myth, and attendees will learn about eligibility requirements, the application process, and the benefits of different grant programs.

Jennifer Salazar of Fairway Independent Mortgage and Sara Rodriguez, grant coordinator with the City, will facilitate the class, which will be held in Training Rooms A&B, second floor of City Hall, 757 North Galloway Ave. 

In January, the City rolled out the Get Fit campaign to encourage residents to improve their physical, mental and financial fitness. To learn more, visit www.cityofmesquite.com/GetFitMesquite.

Leadership program for citizens open

The City of Mesquite in partnership with Mesquite ISD is looking for motivated citizens interested in learning about leadership, growing as civic leaders and contributing to the growth of our city and school district through Project LEAD.

Applications will be accepted now through July 19.

For more information and to submit your application, visit www.cityofmesquite.com/ProjectLEAD.

Donate to two collections this summer

The City of Mesquite is collecting food for kids and solar eclipse glasses this summer.

Residents are invited to donate jars of peanut butter and jelly during the annual Spread the Love collection campaign, which runs through Labor Day (Sept. 2). The City also is calling for donations of alternative butters that are safe for kids with nut allergies, such as sunflower seed butter or pumpkin seed butter. Turn in donations at both Library locations, City Hall and the Municipal Center. To learn more, visit www.cityofmesquite.com/SpreadTheLove.

Also, the Eclipse Glasses Roundup launched in May to collect gently used viewing spectacles left over from the total solar eclipse on April 8. They will be donated to Astronomers Without Borders to send to places around the world that have eclipses coming up. Drop off solar glasses in good condition through July 15 at both Library locations, City Hall, the Municipal Center or any of the four Recreation Centers. Visit www.cityofmesquite.com/EclipseGlassesRoundup to learn more.