Connect LHTX Summer 2026

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Summer 2026

THE NEXT GENERATION COWORK COMMUNITY Envision living in our luxury apartment community, thoughtfully positioned between Liberty Hill and Georgetown, where modern living meets a vibrant sense of connection.

SPECIALS

5% discount on base rent for our preferred employers – including Liberty Hill ISD! Discounted rent for those who qualify.

View our website for more information.

2101 Kauffman Loop Georgetown, TX 78628

Designed with both comfort and convenience in mind, this community features a dynamic social hub and a beautifully designed coworking space, giving you the flexibility to focus, collaborate, and unwind — all just steps from your front door.

CavalryAtLibertyHill.com 2 Summer 2026 727-382-7233 | CavalryLibertyHill@cushwake.com

CavalryAtLibertyHill @cavalryatlibertyhillapts

AMENITIES Unit Amenities: • Pet Friendly • Full-Size Washers & Dryers • Private Patios & Balconies • Granite Countertops • Stainless Steel Appliances • Wood Vinyl Flooring • Smart Thermostat

2 &Floorplan 3 Bedrooms Details:

Studio & 1 Bedrooms Studio, 1, 2, & 3 Bedroom – ranging from 576 to 1454 sq. ft.

Community Amenities: • Located in Liberty Hill ISD • Resort-Style Pool • Outdoor Grills & Lounge Seating • Fitness Center & Yoga Studio • Bar Room with Beverages on Tap • Bark Park • Private Garages • Valet Trash

Four of eight floorplans shown below. See more on our website.

B1 E1

2 BED | 2 BATH | 1064 SQFT

$ PER MONTH STUDIO | 1 BATH | 576 SQFT $

B3 A2 3

PER MONTH

2 BED | 2 BATH | 1209 SQFT

$ PER MONTH 1 BED | 1 BATH | 744 SQFT $

Summer 2026

PER MONTH

2101 Kauffman | Georgetown, TX 78628

B2 A1

C1 A3

2 BED | 2 BATH | 1153 SQFT

$ PER MONTH 1 BED | 1 BATH | 696 SQFT $

PER MONTH

3 BED | 2 BATH | 1454 SQFT

$ PER MONTH 1 BED | 1 BATH | 843 SQFT $

PER MONTH

Club Cowork Amenities: • Open 24/7 • High-Speed WiFi • Standing Desks & Ergonomic Chairs • Framery Pods & Phone Booths • Podcast Studio • Focus Library • Private Offices with Business Mailing • Locally Roasted Coffee • Curated Music • Outdoor Patio Workspace Club Cowork is a community-based, cross-generational professional coworking space with 24/7 access, designed exclusively for Cavalry at Liberty Hill residents. Located within the heart of the clubhouse, Club Cowork provides dedicated workspace options tailored to complement your lifestyle. It’s a place where productivity meets comfort — and where community is always just steps away.

Hello Liberty Hill!

W

elcome to the fourth edition of ConnectLHTX, your annual guide to the people, projects and progress shaping the City of Liberty Hill and Liberty Hill Independent School District.

Each year, this publication gives us a chance to pause and take a closer look at the community we call home — where it has been, where it is headed and the many ways Liberty Hill continues to grow while holding tightly to the character that makes it special.

Whether you have lived here for generations or are just beginning to put down roots in the Texas Hill Country, you are part of one of the most dynamic and fast-growing communities in Central Texas. That growth can be seen across every corner of Liberty Hill, from new neighborhoods and expanding school campuses to road improvements, business development and renewed investment in the heart of downtown.

Liberty Hill ISD continues to meet the needs of a growing student population with new campuses, programs and opportunities for families. In just a few short years, the district has transformed from a small collection of schools into one of the region’s fastest-growing school systems, while continuing to focus on student success, community pride and the traditions that unite Panthers and Wranglers alike.

The City of Liberty Hill is growing, too, with new businesses, restaurants and services opening along State Highway 29 and throughout the community. What once required a drive to a neighboring city is increasingly available right here at home, giving residents more ways to shop, dine, work and connect locally. At the same time, ongoing efforts to improve downtown and preserve Liberty Hill’s history are helping ensure that progress does not come at the expense of identity.

That balance — between growth and tradition, new opportunity and small-town connection — is what makes Liberty Hill unique.

Even as new homes are built and new families arrive, the spirit of this community remains rooted in its history, its open spaces, its schools, its local businesses and the people who continue to show up for one another.

Liberty Hill has come a long way from its early days as a stop along the stagecoach trail, but the qualities that have long defined this town remain: pride, resilience, generosity and a deep sense of belonging. With Austin just a short drive away and the Hill Country all around us, Liberty Hill offers something rare — room to grow, space to breathe and a community that still feels like home.

We hope you enjoy this edition of ConnectLHTX and the stories inside. On behalf of the City of Liberty Hill, Liberty Hill ISD and The Liberty Hill Independent, thank you for being part of this beautiful and ever-evolving place we are proud to call home.

— Scott Akanewich and Rachel Madison Owners/Publishers, The Liberty Hill Independent

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5 | INSIDE CAVALRY Liberty Hill's vision for growth

6 | BOND UPDATES

Learn about recent and upcoming updates to LHISD

8 | LIBERTY HILL BY THE NUMBERS

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What makes the City unique?

10 | SETTING THE TEMPO

Liberty Hill bands lead Friday night

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12 | FLIPPING THROUGH TIME

A look inside Liberty Hill's yearbooks

16 | Q&A WITH CITY MANAGER Thomas Hunter

17 | SHAPED BY COMMUNITY

Learn about on-going planning projects from the City

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18 | DANCING THROUGH THE DECADES

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A tradition that keeps Liberty Hill moving

21 | LHISD BY THE NUMBERS

Learn about what makes LHISD unique

22 | GROWING CITY PARK TOGETHER From where we've been to what's next

23 | 50 YEARS LATER

About Our Cover

F

or generations, students in Liberty Hill have received yearbooks as a memory keeper of their school years. When thinking about the theme of “Look how far we’ve come,” we chose to capture Liberty Hill ISD alumni and students holding a collection of yearbooks dating as far back as the 1940s.

From black and white photos and a typewriter to today’s colorful, digitally-designed books, the feeling of nostalgia remains when opening the pages. Inside this edition, learn more about the tradition of “The Panther Den” from Liberty Hill High School and the debut of “The Blueprint” from Legacy Ranch High School.

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The legacy of the 1976 Liberty Hill International Sculpture Symposium

26 | SHARE YOUR INPUT

Current and future projects

28 | PURE WATER LHTX Growth & water

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As Liberty Hill expands, one development is blending affordability, connection, and coworking to meet the moment

Inside Cavalry at Liberty Hill’s

vision for growth

By Rachel Madison, Liberty Hill Independent Owner/Publisher

As Liberty Hill’s skyline fills with rooftops and construction cranes, the transformation is hard to miss. What was, just a decade ago, largely open land is now one of the fastest-growing pockets in Central Texas—driven by new infrastructure, a rapidly expanding school district and an influx of families seeking space and opportunity outside Austin.

For Darin Davis, managing principal at Cavalry at Liberty Hill, that kind of growth feels familiar.

“This community reminds me so much of my early days in Plano,” Davis says. “It was a small farm town that evolved into a thriving suburb because of its schools and infrastructure.

Liberty Hill is on that same trajectory.”

But alongside that growth, Davis says he sees a challenge that hasn’t changed much in decades: finding housing that allows people to live in the communities they serve.

“I remember when my family moved, my mother was recruited into an emerging school district, and we struggled to find a home,” he says. “Fast forward 50 years, and we’re seeing the same issue here—especially for young teachers and families.”

That realization helped shape the vision behind Cavalry at Liberty Hill, a luxury apartment community positioned between Liberty Hill and Georgetown, near the intersection of State Highway 29 and Ronald Reagan Boulevard—an area Davis describes as a “center point” of the city’s growth.

From the beginning, the goal was not just building apartments. It was to build something more lasting.

“We want to create a community within a community,” Davis says. “A place where people don’t just live, but where they can build relationships and feel connected.”

Designing for a changing way of life Cavalry at Liberty Hill offers studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 576 to more than 1,400 square feet, with modern finishes like granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, wood-style flooring and private patios or balconies.

But the development’s defining feature is not found inside the units—it is inside the clubhouse.

Known as Club Cowork, the on-site workspace is open 24/7 and includes high-speed WiFi, private offices, soundproof pods, a podcast studio and a mix of quiet and collaborative work areas. The space is intentionally designed to enable the live-work-play concept and reflect how work—and social life— continue to shift and co-exist.

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“If you look at what happened during the pandemic, there was a real disconnect in socialization,” Davis says. “People missed out on years of interaction, whether it was students or professionals. And that doesn’t just snap back overnight.”

Rather than treating coworking as a luxury add-on, the team reimagined it as a core part of daily life—integrated into the fabric of the community.

The layout allows residents to choose how they engage: a quiet corner for focused work, a shared table for collaboration or a more social environment for conversation and connection.

“We want to give people options,” Davis says. “You can be completely focused and private, or you can be part of a social scene. It’s about meeting people where they are.”

More than amenities While the coworking space is a standout, it is part of a broader ecosystem designed to bring residents together.

The property includes a resort-style pool, outdoor grills and lounge seating, a fitness center and yoga studio, a bark park for pets and a bar room with beverages on tap. Practical features—like private garages, private storage and valet trash service—round out the experience.

But for Davis, amenities alone do not define a community.

“At the end of the day, it’s about the people,” he says.

“Anyone can build something nice. What matters is what's happening after people move in.”

That philosophy is reflected in how the development approaches both leasing and long-term engagement.

The team focuses on attracting residents who want to be part of Liberty Hill—not just passing through it.

Addressing affordability head-on A key component of that effort is making the community accessible to a broader range of residents.

Through its employer partner program, Cavalry offers rent discounts to workers connected to local businesses and institutions, including Liberty Hill ISD. The development also includes essential housing options, which provide reduced rental rates for qualifying residents through a state-supported affordability model.

“It’s a collaborative public-private system,” Davis says. “If we designate a portion of units at certain income levels, it allows us to offer high-quality housing at a more attainable price point.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

BOND UPDATES Anna Jenkins, LHISD Communications & Community Engagement Coordinator

LEGACY RANCH HIGH SCHOOL For the past two years, Legacy Ranch High School students have been housed in the Legacy Ranch Middle School building. This August, they will officially move to their new campus located just across the street from Legacy Ranch Middle School on County Road 258, just east of U.S. Highway 183. When the campus opens, it will include freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. The Class of 2028 will be the first graduating class the following year.

The new building is 475,000 square feet with a capacity of 2,800 students. It was funded by 2021 and 2023 bond dollars and includes three stories with a fine arts and career and technical education (CTE) wing. Wrangler student athletes will find a football stadium that holds nearly 10,000 fans, three gyms, baseball and softball fields, and 12 tennis courts. Fine arts students will find state-of-the-art performance spaces for band, choir, and theater.

Community tours will be available this summer so the community can share in the excitement of this new campus opening.

LIBERTY HILL HIGH SCHOOL Liberty Hill High School opened in 2013 at its current location and was previously located at what is now Liberty Hill Middle School. Today, it has nearly 2,000 students with a capacity of 2,200.

Executive Director of Operations Dustin Akin shared, “Our recent

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renovations and additions to Liberty Hill High School were made to create equity among our campuses and make sure our Panthers had the space they needed to continue to be successful.” Inside the campus, updates and additions include: A cafeteria expansion A new band hall New engineering classrooms A CTE building for woodshop and construction classes New choir space An upgraded black box for our theater program Athletics also saw updates, including: Increasing Panther Stadium seating to 9,800 with new concessions and restrooms on the north end A new wrestling room Four new tennis courts, bringing the total to 12 New turf on the baseball and softball fields and new turf and track at the competition football fields A new weight room An additional locker room Field house renovations

LARIAT TRAILS ELEMENTARY This fall, elementary school No. 8 will open inside the Lariat subdivision located north of State Highway 29 on County Road 214. This school is funded by the 2023 Bond and slated to be completed this summer, with students arriving on campus in August.

It will have a capacity of 1,000 students and be led by founding principal Christina Gamez, who is moving over from Bill Burden Elementary School. Gamez shared, “I’m honored to be entrusted with this role and excited to work alongside our community to create a welcoming campus where students feel known, supported, and inspired to learn.”

Saddleback Elementary Saddleback Elementary (ES #9) is currently under construction. It is located in the Saddleback Neighborhood of Santa Rita Ranch and Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Tower Road, just south of County Road 858. Students zoned for Saddleback Elementary are located north of State Highway 29, east of U.S. Highway 183, and west of Ronald Reagan Boulevard based on current and future attendance boundaries with a few exceptions.

Elementary Expansions As LHISD continues to grow, plans are underway to expand two elementary schools from 800 to 1,000 students. The campuses of Bill Burden Elementary School and Santa Rita Elementary School will have a new addition added to their existing layout. Bill Burden Elementary School will also have improvements to its major mechanical and electrical systems, fire alarm systems, kitchen, and restrooms.

The district will continue to monitor growth to determine when elementary expansions will be necessary. By adding room for 200 students to two campuses, LHISD could prolong needing to add another elementary school for a few more years.

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SETTING THE TEMPO: Liberty Hill Bands Lead Friday Nights Anna Jenkins, LHISD Communications & Community Engagement Coordinator

Friday night lights in Liberty Hill aren’t just about football—they’re a full-on community event. From little kids sprinting across the field to the wellknown Slot-T offense, the stands are packed with loud and proud fans. And right in the middle of all that energy? The high school marching band.

They lead the school song, hype up the crowd after big plays, celebrate touchdowns, and put on a show at halftime.

But what fans see on Friday nights is just the highlight reel. Behind the scenes, band students are hard at work from July to May, supported by a dedicated team of teachers and parents who help them shine.

Liberty Hill High School Band Success

Liberty Hill High School Senior Rita Gerten, one of three drum majors for the Panther Band, knows just how much work goes into it. A clarinet player since sixth grade, she remembers her freshman year as a whirlwind. “You are just learning the basics and so focused

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on technical things,” she said. “Every single thing that happens that year is new in some way.”

By her sophomore year, Rita stepped into a leadership role as a section leader and started thinking bigger. She became interested in becoming a drum major and helping shape the band experience.

That same time marked a new chapter for the program with the arrival of director Joshua Munoz. With more than a decade of experience in leading programs throughout Central Texas, Munoz quickly found something special in Liberty Hill. “I’ve worked on a few campuses in my time, and nothing has ever felt like this,” he said. “The support, the students, the team—it’s all so special.”

Each fall, the band takes the field with a themed performance for marching competitions, including Bands of America and UIL. And these aren’t your basic formations. Today’s shows are full productions, complete with intricate visuals, storytelling, and even a few hidden “Easter eggs” dropped by directors before the big reveal. Recent shows like Full Tilt, Drawn Upon, and Whirlwind have all advanced to the state level—a first for the Panther Band.

Among those bringing the visuals to life is the color guard, where students blend movement, equipment, and expression to elevate each performance.

Junior Camy O’Dell joined the color guard just last year, despite having no prior band experience. “I was super nervous,” she said, “but the community is so inviting, and I immediately made new friends.”

In the spring, the color guard takes the spotlight with its own competitions.

This year’s show, Wallflowers, explores personal growth, something Camy said many performers connect with.

Props also play a starring role in the fall shows.

This year’s Full Tilt theme transformed the field into a giant pinball machine, complete with oversized silver pinballs rolling across the turf. “Our prop parents had leaf blowers to inflate the pinballs and polished them before every show,” Munoz said.

That kind of parent support is essential to the program. From chaperoning trips to washing uniforms, band families are always behind the scenes, making things happen. Marisa McKnight is part of the wash team, tackling 10 uniforms each week. After Friday night games, uniforms go home with parents, get washed over the weekend, and are ready to go again the next week.

“They can take several days to dry,” she said. “So they’re hanging all around my house like curtains.” Her family is doubly invested—one daughter is in the LHHS band, while another performs with the Legacy Ranch band.

For Munoz, all of this points to one key ingredient: culture. “The culture crushes everything,” he said. “Without it, you have compliance—not passion.” That culture is built on teamwork, accountability, and a shared love for what they do. It’s something percussion director Justin Zimerman sees every day. For him, work ethic, family, and accountability make up the culture of their band.

That culture will help senior Rita Gerten after her time in the band is over.

As she prepares to head to Texas A&M University, she knows the lessons she’s learned will stick with her. “I’ve learned time management,” she said, “and how to break big challenges into smaller steps.”

The Debut of the Legacy

Ranch High School Band While the Panther Band has years of tradition, the Legacy Ranch High School band is just getting started—and making a big impression.

When the school opened in 2024 with only freshmen, Kyle Ruschhaupt stepped in to help build the program from the ground up. That first year, he served as drum major, leading 43 students and setting the tone for what was to come.

Now in year two, sophomore Haven Huckabee has taken over as drum major—and she wasn’t always sure she wanted the role. “I didn’t want to be drum major because I wanted to keep marching,” she said. “My dad encouraged me to try out.”

Ruschhaupt saw something special

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in Haven right away. “She’s a model student,” he said. “She’s mature beyond her years and very even-keeled.” As drum major, Haven serves as a leader and a bridge between students and staff, helping solve problems and keep the band moving forward.

“I’m learning how to work well with others,” she said. “We’re like a little family.” Building that family—and the program’s culture—has been a priority from day one. “Our culture is growing,” Haven said. “We get to define what it will be.”

That sense of purpose is already paying off. In their very first competition, the LRHS band took first place and just missed advancing to state. That near miss became motivation. “When we rehearse, we’re competing,” Ruschhaupt said.

The mindset worked. This past fall, the band not only made it to state but finished second—an impressive leap in

just two years. And they’re just getting started.

With more than 60 new freshmen expected next year and a move to Class 5A competition, the program is growing fast. Add in their first varsity football season in a new stadium, and there’s plenty of excitement ahead. From planning run-out music to energizing a full student section, the Legacy Ranch band is ready for its next big moment.

From the roar of Friday night crowds to the quiet focus of rehearsals, Liberty Hill’s bands are doing more than performing—they’re building something lasting. With passionate students, supportive families, and strong leadership, the music doesn’t stop when the season ends. It carries on, growing louder with every new class that joins the band.

Flipping Through Time:

A Look inside Liberty Hill yearbooks

Anna Jenkins, LHISD Communications & Community Engagement Coordinator One of the most exciting days of the school year is yearbook distribution day. It’s a chance to relive the year through photos of special events, big wins, fine arts performances, and, of course, that one picture day when everything somehow came together.

And let’s be honest—there’s nothing quite like flipping through the pages and finding that note from a classmate that instantly makes your day.

THE HISTORY OF THE YEARBOOK According to Yearbook Life, yearbooks date back to the 17th century. Back then, they didn’t include photos at all—they were more like written records of events, achievements, and academic progress.

That changed in the early 20th century as printing technology improved. By the mid-1900s, photography became a standard part of yearbooks, adding a whole new visual element. Today, yearbooks are collaborative digital productions, with students designing pages together and saving their work in the cloud—quite a leap from handwritten logs.

THE HISTORY OF THE LIBERTY HILL HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK The first Liberty Hill yearbook, “The Panther,” was printed in 1928. A 1929 copy, recently shared by the family of Lewis Kauffman, offers a glimpse into school life nearly a century ago. The senior class had just 11 students—a big contrast to the more than 550 students graduated in the Class of 2026.

That 1929 edition included everything from

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poems and prophecies to a humorous roast of the freshman class. Student life looked a little different then, too, with just 13 football players and 11 baseball players. The back pages featured black-and-white advertisements from local businesses, including a hardware store, bank, and a men’s shop offering a $25 suit (with two pairs of pants included).

By 1949, the yearbook had grown significantly. Shared by the family of Lois “Donk” Duncan, that edition included photos from first through 12th grade and more detailed page designs. The football team had expanded to 19 players—still wearing leather helmets—and the schedule noted an “unsuccessful year,” with a highlight game played “under the new lights.”

In 1986, Liberty Hill Elementary published its own yearbook, featuring traditional portraits alongside classroom collages with handwritten titles. By 1992, Liberty Hill Middle School’s yearbook, “The Start of Something Big,” showed how hands-on the process was—photos and graphics were cut out, arranged, and taped onto pages by hand.

That 1992 book also included familiar names still connected to Liberty Hill today, including Joyce Mogford (now Milam), now the principal at Bill Burden Elementary. She recalls the town in the ’90s as close-knit and full of character. “If you messed up,” she said, “your mama heard about it before you even made it home.”

TODAY’S LHHS YEARBOOK Today, Liberty Hill High School students are producing the 96th edition of “The Panther Den.” The 220-plus-page book is created by a team of 18 students, led by junior editors Abigayle Jenkins and Saidd Cuevas and adviser Andrea Acosta.

In her 24th year of teaching, Acosta says the class is almost entirely student-run. “I love watching them run the room,” she said.

“I’m always in awe of what I see on the page.”

Both Jenkins and Cuevas joined the yearbook for the creative opportunities— designing layouts and working with photography. For Jenkins, the best part is seeing others discover that same passion. “I love that we get to help our classmates be seen and heard,” she said.

Cuevas agrees, though he admits the deadlines can be intense. Distribution day is exciting, but also a little nerve-wracking. “It’s our baby,” the editors shared. “It can be scary

to share it with everyone after working on it all year.”

Their hard work has paid off. The 2023 edition of “The Panther Den” was one of just 14 yearbooks nationwide to receive a Gold Crown from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, an award recognizing excellence in student publications. Former editor Kennedy Bye said the recognition was especially meaningful. “I loved our book from the beginning,” she said, “and it was exciting to see others recognize our hard work.”

THE DEBUT OF LEGACY RANCH HIGH SCHOOL’S YEARBOOK Legacy Ranch High School opened in 2024 with its first class of freshmen, and with them came the debut of a brand-new yearbook, “The Blueprint.” Created by 20 students during flex time, the inaugural edition marked the beginning of a new tradition.

Now in its second year, the book is led by sophomores Tori Matterson and Allyson Donahue. For Donahue, the interest started early. After receiving her first yearbook in sixth grade, she knew she wanted to be part of creating one. As this year’s design editor, she embraced the chance to shape a book still in its early stages. “I was so proud to see it in my hands,” she said, “without the grids or guidelines and with the shiny cover.”

Matterson says distribution day is her favorite moment. “I loved seeing people’s reactions when they found themselves in the book,” she said. “It felt like we were bringing the whole school together.” She also emphasized the team’s goal of inclusivity. “We make it our mission to make sure everybody is noticed, and everybody feels special.”

LIFE AS A YEARBOOK STAFFER Yearbook may look fun—and it is, but it also takes serious dedication. Students juggle multiple deadlines, attend events, and often spend extra hours after school working on layouts and photos.

Acosta says the experience teaches valuable skills like time management, teamwork, and organization. Just as important, she sees her students grow in confidence. “They start shy,” she said, “and flourish as the year goes on.”

Those skills carry beyond high school. Former editor Kennedy Bye credits the yearbook with strengthening her writing, interviewing, and leadership abilities. She applied those skills in UIL journalism and in a summer role with the Liberty Hill Independent, and she continues to use them as she prepares for a career in nursing.

MORE THAN JUST A BOOK Yearbooks have come a long way from simple text-based records. Today, they are vibrant, student-driven projects that capture the spirit of a school year in a way few things can.

So when you get your hands on a yearbook, take a moment to really flip through it. Read the stories, revisit the memories, and appreciate the work behind the pages. You might just find that it’s more than a book—it’s a time capsule you’ll be glad you kept.

Guess Who!

Can you guess who these local favorites are by their own yearbook photos?

FLIP FOR ANSWERS: Travis Motal, superintendent, Liberty Hill ISD Katie Amsler, director of communications and community engagement, City of Liberty Hill Megan Parsons, school board member, Liberty Hill ISD Crystal Mancilla, mayor, City of Liberty Hill Steve Schiff, president, Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce / teacher, Liberty Hill High School Rachel Madison, owner/publisher, Liberty Hill Independent 13

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SHAPED BY

Community

A city that listens

Katie Amsler, Director of Community Engagement & Communications

Liberty Hill has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, but one thing has remained constant: a commitment to listening to the people who call it home. As the city continues to evolve, so has the way it gathers input—becoming more intentional, more accessible, and more central to how decisions are made.

Listening in a Time of Growth

In a time of rapid growth, understanding what matters most to residents has never been more important. Over the past few years, the City has made a deliberate effort to expand community engagement, ensuring that planning efforts reflect the voices of those who live, work, and invest in Liberty Hill.

That commitment is already visible in projects across the city.

At City Park, community input helped shape the direction of future improvements, with residents sharing ideas about safety, amenities, and how the space should serve the community.

That feedback is now guiding a phased approach to enhancements over time.

A similar approach guided the Downtown Master Plan. Through stakeholder meetings, public events, surveys, and community-wide outreach,

residents, business owners, and local historians helped shape a shared vision for downtown.

The result is a plan that balances growth with preservation— protecting Liberty Hill’s character while creating a more vibrant, walkable destination. Early progress is already visible through streetscape improvements, public art, and ongoing revitalization efforts.

This level of engagement also played a critical role in shaping the City’s longterm direction. The 2040 Comprehensive Plan was developed through extensive outreach—resulting in a roadmap built directly from community priorities.

Every survey, every comment, and every conversation helps shape the future of Liberty Hill.

From Vision to Action

Now, Liberty Hill is building on that foundation.

The City is currently in a major planning phase, engaging residents on key initiatives that will guide the future of the community. Among these are the Unified Development Code (UDC) rewrite, Strategic Plan, Mobility Master Plan, and Parks & Recreation Master Plan—each playing a distinct role in shaping how Liberty Hill grows.

The Comprehensive Plan establishes the long-term vision. The UDC rewrite translates that vision into development standards, helping ensure future growth reflects what residents have said they want to see. The Strategic Plan serves as a more immediate roadmap, identifying priorities, www.libertyhilltx.gov/Share-Your-Input goals, and key projects for the next three to five years.

The Mobility Master Plan focuses on how people move throughout the city— addressing roadways, connectivity, safety, and accessibility

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as Liberty Hill continues to grow. The Parks & Recreation Master Plan helps guide future investments in parks, amenities, and recreational spaces, ensuring they align with community needs as the city expands.

Together, these efforts connect long-term vision with near-term action, creating a clear and coordinated path forward.

To support this work, the City launched a centralized “Share Your Input” webpage, giving residents a single place to learn about active projects, find engagement opportunities, and provide feedback.

Your Voice Matters

The plans being developed today are not created in isolation—they are shaped directly by the people who live here.

Every survey response, every comment shared at a meeting, and every conversation at a community event plays a role in guiding decisions. These plans will influence how Liberty Hill grows, how spaces are designed, and how resources are prioritized for years to come.

Programs like Liberty Hill University offer residents a behind-the-scenes look at how the City operates, while public meetings, events, and online tools provide multiple ways to get involved.

“We’re not just asking for input—we’re using it,” said City Manager Thomas Hunter. “As Liberty Hill grows, it’s important that our residents continue to have a voice in shaping the future of this community. That’s how we ensure we’re building something that reflects who we are.”

“We’re not just asking for input— we’re using it.”

Balancing Every Voice

As Liberty Hill continues to grow, so does the number of perspectives, ideas, and priorities within the community.

With that comes an important responsibility: to listen to every voice CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

DANCING THROUGH THE DECADES: A Tradition That Keeps Liberty Hill Moving Rachel Acosta, LHISD Communications & Community Engagement Director

On a February afternoon in Liberty Hill ISD, the gym comes alive with music, movement, and a sense of shared memory. Students fill the floor in everything from poodle skirts to neon windbreakers, while parents line the walls, many smiling as they recognize the same dances they once learned themselves. What unfolds is more than a school event. Dancing Through the Decades is a tradition that has grown with the community, connecting generations through music, movement, and time.

Long before it became the multi-era celebration it is today, the event began simply as a sock hop with a purpose.

Created by elementary PE teacher and high school coach Donna Holman, the original vision extended far beyond dancing. It was about teaching students how to interact with confidence, kindness, and respect.

“The goal was to help kids learn how to live the good life,” Holman shared. “If

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someone asks you to dance, you learn how to accept, how to decline, and how not to take it personally. Those are life skills.”

For Holman, the sock hop was a way to intentionally teach social awareness, how to treat others kindly, how to carry yourself with confidence, and how to respond with compassion in everyday interactions. Her philosophy was captured in a single word: CHAMPIONS. Each letter stood for a value she hoped to instill in her students: Compassion, Honesty, Assertiveness, Morals, Patriotism, Intensity, Observant, Neatness, and Sacrifice. Those principles shaped the tone of the event from the very beginning, embedding character education into an experience that felt joyful and memorable.

As the tradition continued, educators like PE teacher Caryl Simpson helped bring it to life in creative and lasting ways. Students didn’t just learn dances, they stepped into the era. Clips from Grease introduced them to 1950s style, while activities like bubble gum-blowing contests and Elvis impersonations added an extra layer of fun. Decorations were carefully saved and reused year after year, and at times, a community

member brought vintage cars for students to sit in and photograph, turning the school into a living snapshot of another time.

What started as a lesson in social skills quickly became a beloved experience, rooted in both learning and joy.

When Liberty Hill began to grow, the tradition grew with it. Originally centered at the intermediate level for fifth- and sixth-grade students, the sock hop followed staff as new campuses opened. When Burden Elementary opened in 2006, the event came with it, carried forward by educators committed to preserving its spirit.

By the time Lariat Trails Elementary School Principal Christina Gamez arrived at Burden in 2012 as a PE teacher, the sock hop was still a 1950s-themed staple.

“It was still very much the sock hop,” she said. “Students were learning dances like the hand jive, and it was part of what we did in PE.” The next major shift came in 2017, when the district expanded again and elementary campuses transitioned to a K–5 model. With younger students now included, Gamez and fellow PE teachers across campuses saw an opportunity to reimagine the event in a way that would engage every grade level.

“We started by assigning each grade a decade,” Gamez explained. “Students would dress up, learn dances from that time period, and then share it with their families.”

The idea transformed the event from a single-era experience into a broader celebration of music and culture. Over time, that structure evolved even

further, giving students the freedom to choose their own decade. Today, the gym becomes a vibrant mix of eras, where 1950s classics, 1980s favorites, 1990s hits, and current trends all share the same floor.

“There are always lots of ’80s and ’90s,” Gamez said. “And the staff dresses up too, which makes it even more fun for the kids.”

The music reflects that same balance of past and present. While each campus may vary slightly, the goal remains consistent: introduce students to dances across generations while keeping the experience engaging. Some songs have become traditions in their own right.

“Cotton Eye Joe is always a favorite because parents know it too,” Gamez said. “The Chicken Dance is another one that never goes away, and kids love learning things like the Twist or the Hand Jive because it’s so different from what they hear now.”

At the same time, newer dances are woven in, ensuring each year feels fresh.

The result is an event that continues to evolve while still honoring its roots.

Held in conjunction with Valentine’s Day celebrations, Dancing Through the Decades has become more than just a PE activity. Classroom parties transition into a shared experience in the gym, where families are invited to participate,

not just watch. That sense of involvement has helped the tradition deepen over time, especially as former students return as parents.

“That’s probably my favorite part,” Bill Burden Elementary School Principal Joyce Milam said. “Now we have parents who did the sock hop when they were kids, and they’re coming back and dancing with their own children. You’ll hear them say, ‘This was my favorite day when I was in school.’”

For Milam, the tradition reflects something deeper about Liberty Hill itself. Having grown up in the community, she remembers when the district was small enough that everyone knew one another, and school events felt like true community gatherings.

“My graduating class was around 60 students,” she said. “You knew everybody across all grade levels, and you showed up to support each other. That sense of connection is still here, even as we’ve grown.”

As Liberty Hill ISD prepares to open a new elementary campus in 2026, the tradition continues to evolve alongside the district. What began as a simple sock hop designed to teach kindness and

confidence has become a shared experience that bridges generations.

From Donna Holman’s original vision of building compassionate, socially confident students to today’s high-energy, multi-decade celebration, the heart of the event remains unchanged.

It is still about connection between students, families, and a community that continues to grow while holding tightly to the traditions that define it.

“It’s something everyone can be part of,” Gamez said. “And that’s what makes it last.”

PHASE II

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Growing City Park Together

From W xt here We've Been to What's Ne Katie Amsler, Director of Community Engagement & Communications City Park has long been one of Liberty Hill’s most active gathering spaces, and today, it’s becoming even more. It’s where families spend Saturdays on the sidelines, kids run from field to playground, and neighbors connect. But for years, residents have said the same thing: this park has incredible potential So, the City asked a simple question--What should City Park become?

Listening First

The survey showed strong usage, especially for sports and family activities, with many households visiting regularly. It also revealed consistent challenges: • Parking described as dusty, congested, and difficult to navigate • A need for more shade and gathering spaces • Requests for upgraded restrooms and amenities Time and again, residents pointed to the same priorities, starting with one simple fix, better parking. That feedback became the foundation for what came next, and now, the City is beginning to turn those ideas into real improvements.

2026 - Phase 1: Parking Improvements and Access

The first phase begins this year and focuses on the most immediate need, parking. The City is moving forward with a new paved parking area--improving access, safety, drainage, and connectivity throughout the park.

As part of this work, landscaping will also be enhanced with the addition of trees and shaded areas, creating a more comfortable and welcoming arrival experience. It’s a practical upgrade, but one that will make a meaningful difference for families, athletes, and visitors alike.

“We heard loud and clear from our community that parking and shade were top priorities,” said Parks and Recreation Director Richard Fibish. “This first phase is about improving the everyday experience, making it easier, safer, and more comfortable for families who are out here week after week.”

2027 - Phase 2: Creating a Place to Gather

Expected in 2027, Phase 2, known as Heart of the Park, will introduce a new kind of space to City Park, a performance stage and great lawn.

Supported in part by a $750,000 grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, this phase creates a flexible space designed for both everyday use and special events. Plans include shaded seating, open green space, walking paths, and natural landscaping, all designed to create a place where the community can gather and connect.

The area will also support activation, with space for food trucks and vendors, allowing the park to host events, small markets, and community gatherings throughout the year. On any given day, it may feel like a quiet park space. On another, it could become a hub of activity, bringing new energy to City Park.

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Looking Ahead: A Park That Grows with Its Community Beyond these first phases, the City Park Mini Master Plan outlines a series of future improvements that will be implemented over time as funding becomes available. Future phases include: • Permanent field lighting to support evening play • Expanded trails and improved connectivity • New recreational amenities like playground upgrades and sports courts • Increased shade through trees and structures • Additional lighting, signage, and park furnishings City Park will continue to serve as a home for the Liberty Hill Youth Soccer Association, with soccer fields remaining a key part of the park. At the same time, the goal is to expand opportunities so more residents, of all ages and interests, can enjoy and use the space in different ways.

These phases are not tied to a fixed schedule, allowing the City to move forward strategically as funding and opportunities align.

“This plan allows us to be intentional with how we invest in City Park,” said Deputy City Manager Brandon Pritchett. “We’re preserving what people already love about this space, while building toward a more complete park that serves a wider range of residents over time.”

City Park isn’t changing overnight, and that’s by design. It’s being built phase by phase, guided by the people who use it most. Every improvement, from parking to shaded gathering spaces and future amenities, reflects the voices of the community. As Liberty Hill continues to grow, City Park, and the entire parks system, will grow alongside it.

Planning for What's Next

While improvements to City Park are underway, the City is also taking a broader approach to parks and recreation. Liberty Hill is kicking off a Parks and Recreation Master Plan, a community-driven effort that will guide the next 10 years of parks, trails, facilities, and open spaces across the entire city.

As one of the fastest-growing communities in Central Texas, Liberty Hill is experiencing rapid change. This plan will evaluate current parks, identify gaps, and plan for future needs, ensuring access, connectivity, and quality of life for residents.

“This plan is about listening to our community and making sure their voices shape what comes next for Liberty Hill’s parks,” said Katie Amsler, Director of Community Engagement and Communications.

In 2023, more than 300 residents shared their experiences and priorities through a community survey. The message was clear: City Park is well-loved, heavily used, and ready for thoughtful improvements.

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REIMAGINING

Gifted Education in Liberty Hill ISD Rachel Acosta, LHISD Communications & Community Engagement Director In a fast-growing district like Liberty Hill ISD (LHISD), meeting the needs of every learner requires both flexibility and forward thinking.

During the 2025–26 school year, the district took a bold step in reimagining its Gifted and Talented (GT) program; introducing a new model designed to expand instructional capacity while deepening teacher understanding of gifted learners.

Traditionally, each campus had a dedicated GT teacher responsible for providing pull-out services, supporting staff, and coordinating enrichment opportunities. This year, that structure shifted. One general education teacher per grade level at each elementary campus was selected to deliver GT instruction, supported by two district GT specialists and a GT paraprofessional. In total, 42 teachers stepped into these roles, bringing gifted education into more classrooms across the district.

To guide the work, the specialists developed a comprehensive, handson curriculum built around real-world applications. Each grade level completed four units over the course of the year, with lessons designed to foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. Teachers received training prior to each unit and ongoing support through campus visits and coaching cycles. Materials for every lesson were prepackaged, allowing teachers to focus on instruction rather than preparation.

At its core, the district’s approach reflects a broader understanding of gifted education. High-quality instruction goes beyond accelerated content; it creates space for students to explore ideas deeply, think independently, and apply their learning in meaningful ways. Because gifted learners have diverse strengths and needs, flexibility

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and differentiation remain central to the program’s design.

The transition has been both rewarding and challenging for teachers. Many embraced the opportunity to learn more about gifted education, gaining new insights into how advanced learners think and process information. Some even discovered a passion for working with this group of students. At the same time, the shift required teachers to stretch beyond their traditional roles, serving students from across the grade level and dedicating additional time to professional learning.

“This shift pushed us out of our comfort zones, but it also opened our eyes to what gifted learners really need, and what they’re capable of when given the right opportunities,” said LHISD GT Specialist Lindsey Jameyson.

To ensure students continue receiving meaningful challenges, the district implemented several supports. Monthly resource updates provide teachers with strategies for enrichment and extension, while a growing library of instructional materials allows for more targeted differentiation.

A new digital platform also helps teachers personalize learning, making it easier to meet individual student needs.

Even with strong progress, district leaders recognize the importance of balance. In the 2026–27 school year, LHISD will return to a dedicated GT teacher model, with four teachers serving eight elementary campuses.

This approach aims to restore consistency and strengthen relationships while building on the instructional awareness developed this year.

The evolution of the GT program reflects a larger commitment: ensuring that advanced learners are not only challenged,

but inspired. By blending innovation with reflection, Liberty Hill ISD continues to refine its approach, creating learning environments where curiosity is nurtured, creativity is encouraged, and every student has the opportunity to thrive.

Hope is rising here, thanks to Operation Liberty Hill Every week, families in our community face impossible choices – rent or groceries, gas or prescriptions, electric or water bill. As a Christ centered organization, Operation Liberty Hill meets them in those difficult moments with a listening ear, essential assistance, and help finding a path forward with: • Food and clothing support • Financial assistance & crisis care • Job readiness, to include training and resumes • Ongoing relational support - not just one time help How You Can Come Alongside: • Get Involved – Donate and/or Volunteer today • Scan the QR code to learn more today.

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Katie Amsler, Director of Community Engagement & Communications It’s no secret that our city is growing. New storefronts, businesses and residential developments are ushering in a period of rapid growth that few towns across the country have experienced. It’s a very exciting time to live in Liberty Hill! But that growth is also increasing the demand for one of our most precious resources: water.

In Liberty Hill, our water comes from two sources: purchased water from Lake Travis that is transported and treated by the City of Leander and delivered to Liberty Hill, and our local groundwater wells in the Trinity Aquifer. Relying on purchased surface water and our groundwater wells isn’t always predictable. During dry years, which our region has experienced time and time again, the availability of these water sources can become strained given the growth in Central Texas and the increased reliance on the Trinity Aquifer.

Today, the maximum amount of water the City expects to use is about 1.2 million gallons per day (MGD). By 2030, we anticipate daily water demand is expected to increase to 1.9 MGD, while supply is expected to decrease to mainly due to the decreasing levels of available water in our groundwater wells in the Trinity Aquifer.

Forecasting further into the future, the gap between demand and supply is expected to increase absent of any new water supplies.

Recognizing the challenges that lie ahead, Mayor Mancilla and the City Council initiated the development of a Water Master Plan, which was adopted in 2025. Our City leaders asked qualified water experts a straightforward question: How can Liberty Hill secure a reliable and

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robust water supply and how can the City put itself in a position to control its water future The Water Master Plan considered multiple options, weighing cost, reliability, permitting complexity, and how quickly each solution could be put in place. The goal was not just to add supply, but to choose strategies that made long-term sense for our fast-growing community. Through the Master Plan effort, we identified that direct potable reuse offered the best solution to address our longterm water needs, and that is how Pure Water LHTX was initiated.

PURE WATER LHTX & LIBERTY HILL

Currently, once water leaves our homes and businesses, it is sent to the South Fork Wastewater Treatment Plant in Liberty Hill, where the water is treated using mechanical and biological processes to produce reclaimed water. Reclaimed, or recycled, water is safe to use for industrial, irrigation and agricultural applications and is sometimes referred to as “Purple Pipe.” Pure Water LHTX will use proven technology to further purify that reclaimed water to create a safe, sustainable, and independently controlled water supply for Liberty Hill. This technology is in use, or is currently being planned and constructed, in several communities across the country and in droughtstricken areas across the globe. However, this bold vision of being able to supply our City with water at the cleanest level using state of the art technology positions Libert Hill to be recognized for its commitment to pursue a more sustainable and future proof future.

One of the first steps in bringing Pure Water LHTX to life is constructing a pilot facility. At this facility, operators will test the advanced water purification technology on a small scale to prove to state and federal regulators that the processes produce clean, highquality water that meets State and Federal drinking water standards.

Two purification methods will be tested at the pilot facility. Both Advanced Water Purification processes will produce purified water by removing contaminants, organic and inorganic material, including PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and give Liberty Hill residents confidence that their tap water is among the most carefully monitored water produced anywhere. More information on the two processes are available at purewaterlhtx.org.

While none of the water produced at the pilot facility will be delivered to Liberty Hill residents, it will serve as a new community engagement and education space for our region. The building design includes tour and educational elements, allowing members of the public to come and learn more about the process firsthand. Crews broke ground on the pilot facility in early 2026 and expect it to be completed and operational before the end of year. After the testing

phase of the pilot facility has been completed, we expect to break ground on the full-scale Advanced Water Purification Facility.

OUR INDEPENDENT, SUSTAINABLE WATER FUTURE

At the outset of the Pure Water LHTX effort, we recognized one key priority: keeping our community informed and engaged on the purpose, safety and the progress of the program. Our staff has presented to local community groups and civic organizations, staffed booths at community events, and hosted our first Pure Water LHTX open house in August 2025.

As we progress with Pure Water LHTX, we are committed to keeping our residents engaged and informed. There are multiple options for residents to ask questions and learn more about Pure Water LHTX: engage with us on Facebook, speak with our staff at community events, visit purewaterlhtx.org, and come to our future Pure Water LHTX community events.

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Inside Cavalry at Liberty Hill’s vision for growth

Shaped by Community

Continued from page 5.

Continued from page 17.

The focus on educators and public servants is especially personal.

“Being around the public education system all of my life, I see how hard it is for teachers to live in the communities they serve,” Davis says. “We want to help support the people who make a place like Liberty Hill what it is.”

Still, the goal is not to limit who lives there.

“There’s no one ‘ideal’ resident,” he says. “It’s for anyone who wants to be part of a positive, connected community.”

That diversity already shows up.

During a recent resident meeting, Davis says he met several grandmothers who chose the community for one simple reason: proximity to family.

“They want to be close to their kids and grandkids,” he says. “That really stuck with me. It shows this isn’t just one type of resident—it’s people at different stages of life who all want the same thing: connection.”

Building for the long term

Cavalry at Liberty Hill opened just over a year ago and is now in what Davis calls its “key summer,” with units already leased around 70% and climbing.

Ever since the property approached

full completion, the focus has been shifted from construction to community-building.

Management plans to host regular meetings with residents, offering direct access to leadership and an opportunity to shape the experience moving forward.

“We want residents to know they have a voice,” Davis says. “We’re here, listening, answering questions and making adjustments.”

That approach, he says, ultimately determines success.

“We can build the product, but it’s the people and the relationships they build that make it work,” Davis says.

Looking ahead, the hope is to create a stable, long-term resident base—people who stay not just for a lease term, but for years.

“In some of our other communities, we have residents stay for a decade or more,” he says. “They build friendships, routines and a real sense of belonging.

That’s what we want here.”

In a city evolving as quickly as Liberty Hill, developments like Cavalry do more than add housing—they help define what community looks like in the next phase of growth.

And if Davis is right, the future of Liberty Hill is not just about where people live—but how they live together.

while making decisions that serve the community as a whole.

Not every idea will look the same from one resident to the next. What works for one part of the community may not work for another. The City’s role is to take all of that input, consider the bigger picture, and make thoughtful, balanced decisions that move Liberty Hill forward in a way that reflects shared values.

Building for What’s Next

As these efforts move forward, the City recognizes that meaningful progress takes time. Many of the ideas shared today are shaping plans that will guide decisions for years to come. While some changes may be visible in the near term, others will take longer to implement as projects are designed, funded, and phased over time.

But that work is already underway.

Liberty Hill’s growth is not happening by chance—it is being shaped with intention, guided by community input, and built on a shared vision for the future.

As the city continues to grow, that commitment remains the same: to listen, to plan, and to move forward—together.

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