BRIEF: Burnet’s saga of revitalization through council priorities
From top left: The newly painted Burnet Cleaners building featuring a new sign paid for through the Business Grant Program, Hamilton Creek Park playscape that recently reopened, the Burnet historic square sign, and the old buildings of downtown Burnet circa 2021. Staff photos
The city of Burnet has spent a significant amount of time, effort, and money on key revitalization and reconstruction projects over the past several months, reflecting a broader trend towards modernization and beautification kicked off by the city’s adoption of its seven City Council Priorities in May 2025.
Five of those priorities – beautification, the historic downtown square, parks and recreation, street improvement, and smart growth – were directly aimed at improving various buildings, facilities, and infrastructure of the city, some of which were already aging and in need of repair, and most which were left in worse condition after the Fourth of July floods.
Several initiatives have taken off to promote these priorities, including recent projects like the Economic Development Corporation’s Business Grant Program, creation of a designated downtown district, purchase of downtown property for parking, and street repaving efforts.
Beautification
In July of 2025, the city created the Business Grant Program, aimed at renovating the facades, parking lots, and exteriors of businesses, especially those located on the square, through a 90/10 grant program that offers funds of up to $10,000 or more at the EDC’s discretion.
Several businesses have applied for the grant since, with many projects already underway or completed. Key examples are Burnet Cleaners and Title Euphoria on the downtown square, with revamped signage, paint jobs, and awnings.
Historic downtown square
The downtown area gained further improvement in February through the purchase of two properties between W. Washington and W. Jackson streets off U.S. 281 to demolish and create additional downtown parking to ease congestion during high traffic hours.
The city also formally designated a downtown district that would allow grant applications for revitalization projects such as repavement of downtown streets. Assistant City Manager Keith McBurnett told DailyTrib that the designation would allow similar opportunities in the future.
Parks and recreation
Several parks have received facelifts since being impacted by the floods, accomplishing another one of the city’s priorities, and efforts on such projects are still underway.
The Hamilton Creek Park playscape was recently reopened, and significant progress has been made to the Galloway-Hammond ballfields at the YMCA, though both parks face continued recovery efforts.
Potential repaving of the sidewalks at Haley Nelson Park is also in the works.
Smart growth
The EDC has focused significant funding into several performance agreements for businesses and housing projects interested in settling within city limits.
Two recent performance agreements for Sunset Ridge Apartments and an HTeaO storefront, totalling $320,000, highlight the EDC’s efforts to spark a controlled growth.
Street improvements
Street improvements have been plentiful, with repaving projects on Houston Clinton Drive and Wood Street as key examples as of recent.
The city has also been developing a Transportation Master Plan aimed at relieving congestion near highly-traveled highways such as Texas 29 and U.S. 281, and surrounding streets such as Pecan, Hill, Coke, and Boundary.
Would consideration be given to improve the appearance of the entrance to Delaware Springs? We have a lot of guest coming to our golf course and making it an attractive entrance would be appealing for all.