Another spring festival bites the dust: Austin Transportation’s Smart Mobility Showcase, which was scheduled for March 13-17, has been called off due to increasing concerns about the transmission of COVID-19. The city has declared a local state of disaster ahead of the spring festival season and released an announcement explaining its decision. Regional leaders have banned public events of 2,500 or more people, which includes “concerts, festivals, conferences, worship services, and sporting events,” unless, the city says, “organizers are able to assure Austin Public Health that mitigation plans for infectious diseases are in place.” Events will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Special events of fewer than 2,500 people are not subject to the new guidelines at this time.

Imagine Austin and the Watershed Protection Department are sponsoring a tour of the Waller Creek Tunnel Inlet Facility, which is part of the flood-control tunnel system that stretches from Waterloo Park to Lady Bird Lake. This unique example of civic infrastructure has spearheaded the revitalization of the eastern section of downtown Austin. Organizers recommend taking public transit (bus No. 10) or using one of the parking garages in the area, as there is no public parking at the facility. Dress for the outdoors and wear non-slip footwear – no heels, sandals, slippers or flip-flops. Personal protective gear will be provided. There are only 25 spots available, so RSVP to confirm by calling (512) 974-7877. Will be canceled/rescheduled in case of rain. Wednesday, March 25, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 500 E. 12th St.

With the cancellation of South by Southwest, local officials have stepped up efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus as well as educate the public on how to stay healthy. Leaders in the city and the county have declared a local state of disaster, in order “to more proactively increase preventative measures and require mitigation plans for events in the region.” One excellent resource everyone should know about is AustinTexas.gov/COVID19, a collection of succinct answers to the most urgent questions, like, “Am I at risk for COVID-19 in Austin?” and “What is Austin Public Health doing about COVID-19?” There’s also a “recent news” section and information for those organizing events or dealing with the public. We recommend reading through the entire page and checking back regularly.

For Novel Night this week at Malvern Books – which bills itself as an “intimate and virus-safe bookstore” – two authors take a deep dive into an emerging literary genre in Texas: real estates sagas. Judi Taylor Cantor reads from her novel, Rich White Trash, while Marc Hess reads from Gillespie County Fair: The Gentrification of Rural Texas. Thursday, March 12, 7 p.m., 613 W. 29th St.

Early Wednesday morning we learned that Republican House District 47 candidate Jennifer Fleck would advance to a runoff with more than 32 percent of the vote. The winner of that runoff will face Democratic state Rep. Vikki Goodwin in November. What remained a mystery was whether former Council Member Don Zimmerman or former Austin Police Officer Justin Berry would face Fleck in that May election. Zimmerman had 4,099 votes and Berry had 4,098 votes, with provisional ballots still to be counted. Berry told the Austin Monitor Thursday he had learned Travis County officials now have nine additional mail ballots and 34 provisional ballots that might affect the final outcome of the race. Berry said via text that the county’s ballot board would meet Thursday, Friday and Monday, but “probably will not release final results until Tuesday of next week.” On election night, Berry expressed confidence that after the provisional ballots were counted, he would be in the runoff. That seems reasonably likely because Berry had a few more votes on election day than Zimmerman did, while the early vote favored Zimmerman. Zimmerman has declined to comment.

Austin Municipal Court at 700 East Seventh St. will permanently close on Wednesday, March 18, with court services closed at all locations on March 19 and 20 “to accommodate the move,” according to a March 4 memo. On Monday, March 23, court will resume at 6800 Burleson Road, Building 310, Suite 175. The Municipal Court will also maintain a downtown presence at City Hall, where people can contest civil parking violations. That office will also open on Monday, March 23, and will operate from 9:00 a.m. until noon and 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. The memo goes on to explain that the court will be flexible with people who are confused by the new location, and will work to reset court appearances for anyone missing a court date because they went to the wrong location. Find more information about the court and the move online.

If you’re curious to see what a state-of-the-art park looks like, get on down to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Colony Park District Park at 10 a.m. this Saturday. According to a parks department news release, the improvements include “a 10,000-square-foot play area with elements of nature-based play, two picnic pavilions with large BBQ grills, a multi-purpose athletic field with LED lighting, a youth baseball field with covered dugouts and bleachers, a walking trail with three fitness stations, 3,500 feet of pedestrian walkways, and a 130-foot pedestrian bridge linking the Colony Park community to the park facilities and Overton Elementary School. Park visitors can also enjoy a 2,400-square-foot mural, ‘Peace and Harmony,’ painted by Tyson Davis, artwork commissioned by the Art in Public Places Program from the Economic Development Department.” Whew! We can’t add much more to that, except to say that luminaries from local and state organizations will be present to say a few words at the ribbon-cutting. Before the event, from 8:30-10 a.m., there will be opportunities for volunteers to pitch in for It’s My Park Day, supporting the community by “picking up trash, mulching trees, and beautifying the community trail.” Saturday, March 7, Colony Park District Park, 7201 Colony Loop Drive.

The city’s Development Services Department will be holding its first quarterly stakeholder meeting on Tuesday, March 24, from 2-3:30 p.m. at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road. The meeting “will combine updates from Site & Subdivision Inspections, Land Use Review, the Development Assistance Center, Environmental Inspections, Chapter 245/Vested Rights, Community Tree Preservation, and partnering departments. Topics will include updates on key organizational changes, process improvements, performance updates, current initiatives and time for questions and answers.” Seating is limited so register early.

Spring is right around the corner and gardeners are itching to get their hands dirty, if they haven’t already. Those who need gardening advice or inspiration may want to check out the 14th annual East Austin Garden Fair. Experts from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Travis County Master Gardeners and the city of Austin will all be on hand to offer advice and information. Free plants, seeds and gardening magazines will also be on offer while supplies last. You’ll also find tool sharpening, soil testing and booths offering information about veggie gardening, rainwater harvesting, backyard chicken and rabbit keeping, and much more. Find more details here. Admission is free. Saturday, April 4, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Parque Zaragoza Recreation Center, 2608 Gonzales St.

The inaugural event of the new Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation is fittingly named Writing on the Walls because it celebrates art in public spaces. The series of art installations and events held downtown from March 4-11 includes artist demos, workshops, pop-up shops, community happy hours, artist meet-and-greets, a film screening, a craft market, and the making of two murals, including one on the side of the LINE hotel “that will be the largest in Austin,” according to the news release. The series is inspired by the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and is “designed to celebrate women and commemorate history.” Find the full schedule of events and activities here.

The nine-gate terminal expansion at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has been open for a year, but just received its LEED Gold certification this February for its sustainable construction and design. The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – more commonly known as LEED – is a coveted designation in the construction industry that “provides a framework for building operators to identify and implement practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations, and maintenance solutions,” according to a news release from the airport. The terminal expansion was a collaborative effort between the city’s Public Works and Aviation departments, Hensel Phelps Construction Co. and Gensler architects. Assistant City Manager Gina Fiandaca said, “Building safe, sustainable and reliable infrastructure are some of our core values, and we are proud of those who worked to achieve this level of certification with LEED.”

Murchison Pool Park has a new all-ages playground and the community is invited to come and celebrate. The Loewy Family Playground (named for the Phil and Adam Loewy family) is part of the parks department’s Community Activated Park Projects program, which “provides an opportunity for neighbors, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and partners to raise funds and in-kind contributions to implement park improvement projects that align with PARD goals and meet community priorities,” according to a PARD press release. The playground was initiated by the Parks Committee of the Northwest Austin Civic Association and funded by “more than 140 community members and families, a major donation from the Loewy family, Public Works Department’s Neighborhood Partnering Program, Austin Parks Foundation ACL Music Festival Grant, NWACA’s Special Reserve Fund, and Parkland Dedication Fees.” District 10 City Council Member Alison Alter, PARD Director Kimberly McNeeley, PWD Director Richard Mendoza, Adam Loewy, Stephannie Behrens of the NWACA Parks Committee, and Austin Parks Foundation CEO Colin Wallis will all be on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Thursday, March 12, 12:30 p.m., Murchison Pool Park, 7022 Hart Lane.