A Message from the Mayor
Dear Racine Residents,
Racine grows stronger when we take action – learning, connecting, and supporting one another in meaningful ways. From digital skills programs to public safety and mental health initiatives, every step we take helps make our community more equitable, safe, and welcoming.
Racine is a place full of opportunity, talent, and community spirit. Our neighborhoods, parks, businesses, and cultural resources create a city we can all be proud to call home. I encourage residents to explore available programs, participate in community activities, and lend a hand where needed.
Together, we can ensure Racine remains a city where everyone has the chance to thrive, contribute, and feel truly part of our community.
Sincerely,
Mayor Cory Mason
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In this issue:
- Fall Leaf Collection
- Trick or Treat in Racine
- City Hall West Entrance Closure
- Digital Inclusion Week
- Fire Prevention Week
- A Revitalized Samuel Myers Park
- Plus, a look at recent and upcoming community events!
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Fall Leaf Collection
Get ready for fall! The City of Racine Department of Public Works will begin Fall Leaf Collection on Monday, October 6, running through Thursday, December 4, 2025.
Residents can place loose leaves, yard waste, and bundled branches in the street gutter for collection. Please follow the guidelines for size and placement—bags, containers, or alley piles will not be collected.
Click here for full collection details and reminders.
Questions? Call the Department of Public Works at (262) 636-9171. Para información en español, llame al (262) 636-9458.
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Trick or Treat Date Set
Get ready for a spooktacular evening in the City of Racine! Trick-or-Treating will be held on Friday, October 31, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Families are encouraged to stay safe by sticking to sidewalks, avoiding homes they don’t know, and keeping an eye on traffic.
Drivers, beware—watch for excited kids crossing streets as you cruise through neighborhoods! Residents who want to join the fun should keep their porch lights on to welcome little ghouls and goblins.
Looking for a daytime option? Check out the Downtown Racine Candy Crawl on Saturday, October 25, from noon to 2 p.m.!
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City Hall West Entrance Temporarily Closed
Beginning Monday, October 6, the west entrance to City Hall will close for approximately four weeks to accommodate tuckpointing work on the building’s west façade. Parking along the west side will also be restricted, except for designated handicap spaces.
The north, south, and east entrances will remain open throughout the duration of the project.
Thank you for your patience as we complete this important maintenance.
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Carre Hogle Park Safety Measures
This summer’s tragic drowning at Carre Hogle Park underscored the risks of swimming in areas not designated or staffed for that purpose. To improve safety at the park, the City of Racine has posted bilingual “No Swimming” signs along the shoreline and installed a life ring buoy with cabinet for emergency use.
Lake Michigan is a tremendous resource, but its sudden conditions and powerful rip currents can be dangerous. Residents are urged to use caution anytime they are near the water. The City remains committed to keeping our lakefront safe and will continue strengthening water safety measures across the community.
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Digital Inclusion Week: October 6 - 10
The City of Racine is celebrating Digital Inclusion Week, October 6–10, 2025, a week dedicated to ensuring all residents have access to the tools and skills needed to fully participate in today’s digital world. The theme for 2025 is Community-Driven Digital Futures, which is meant to recognize that the most impactful solutions for bridging the digital divide emerge directly from communities.
As part of this national celebration, the City of Racine invites you to a Digital Inclusion Week Celebration on Wednesday, October 8, from 4:30–6:30 p.m. at the Racine Literacy Council, 734 Lake Ave, Racine, WI 53403.
The event will feature presentations on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, and Safe Banking, along with light refreshments, prize giveaways, bilingual trainers, and the chance to sign up for the City’s Digital Connectivity and Navigators Grant Program, which provides free digital skills training and access to affordable technology for qualifying residents. Representatives from local organizations will also share resources and highlight why digital inclusion is so important in our community.
See our website for more information!
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Fire Prevention Week
The Racine Fire Department is partnering with the National Fire Protection Association for Fire Prevention Week, October 5–11. This year’s theme is Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.
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Lithium-ion batteries power phones, laptops, e-bikes, power tools, and more—but if not used safely, they can become fire hazards.
- Always use the manufacturer’s charger, replace damaged cords, and look for safety certification marks before buying new devices.
- Charge batteries on hard surfaces (never on beds or couches.)
- Unplug them once fully charged.
- Keep large devices, such as e-bikes or scooters, charging outside in a safe, dry spot.
- Never throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash or recycling bins.
City of Racine residents can find local drop-off locations at cityofracine.org/hhw/battery, while others can visit call2recycle.org.
Learn more at fpw.org.
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Visit a Revitalized Samuel Myers Park
Over the past 15 years, Samuel Myers Park has been transformed from a shoreline plagued by pollution and invasive weeds into one of Racine’s most treasured natural spaces. Thanks to restoration efforts led by the City of Racine Public Health Department and its partners, the park now boasts healthier water quality, thriving wetlands, prairies filled with native plants, and habitat for frogs, turtles, and sensitive species like the Blanding’s turtle.
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More than 1,200 trees and shrubs, 50,000 native plants, and seven acres of prairie seed have been added, along with new rain gardens, wetlands, and pathways that make the park easier to explore without disturbing wildlife. Community partnerships, especially the City’s Youth Employment Program (YEP), have played a key role in keeping the park vibrant while giving local students hands-on experience in environmental stewardship.
Today, Samuel Myers Park is a destination for walking, birdwatching, swimming, and family gatherings, and its transformation has been recognized nationally with the Best Restored Shores Award from the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association.
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Go GREEN Monday
Kick off Mental Health Awareness Week by joining Go GREEN Monday at the John Bryant Community Center, 601 Caron Butler Drive, on Monday, October 6, from 4–7 p.m.
This community resource event, co-hosted by NAMI of Racine County, Friendship Clubhouse, and the City of Racine Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department, offers information, free raffle prizes, and an opportunity to connect with local partners. Stop by, learn more, and show your support for mental health awareness!
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World Mental Health Day
October 10 marks World Mental Health Day, highlighting the importance of mental health in our communities and workplaces.
This year’s theme, “It is time to prioritize mental health in the workplace,” encourages creating supportive, stigma-free environments that promote well-being and productivity.
The City of Racine invites residents and organizations to raise awareness, foster understanding, and advocate for equitable access to mental health care.
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Climate Week in NYC
Racine Mayor Cory Mason joined leaders from across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River region in New York City during Climate Week for the unveiling of the Economic Transformation Action Plan: A Blueprint for Economic Growth and Freshwater Stewardship.
As a co-chair of the Mayors Commission on Economic Transformation, Mayor Mason helped guide the plan, which charts a 10-year strategy to create the “Fresh Coast Economic Corridor” by promoting sustainable growth, innovation, and partnerships while protecting the world’s largest supply of surface freshwater.
The Action Plan sets ambitious goals, including attracting 500,000 new businesses and creating 18 million jobs by 2035 without increasing consumptive water loss from the Great Lakes. By leveraging the region’s ecological and economic power—which holds 84% of North America’s surface freshwater—the plan positions the Great Lakes as a global leader in both economic opportunity and water stewardship. Read the full plan here.
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Film & Community Conversation
The City of Racine Department of Community Safety, in partnership with SC Johnson, hosted a screening of the documentary, The Body Politic, which follows the City of Baltimore’s development of a collaborative, public health-oriented violence prevention strategy in hopes of breaking decades-long trends of violence within the city.
After the film, Racine’s local leaders took questions from attendees and shared with the community the collaborative strategies employed, and the progress made in reducing violence in Racine.
The Violent Crime Reduction Initiative, the Racine Police Department, and the Medical College of Wisconsin were also partners in this effort. The leadership panel included Department of Community Safety Executive Director John Tate II, Racine Police Deputy Chief Jessie Metoyer, and Maurice Horton, Racine County Violence Prevention Manager. The conversation was facilitated by Tristan Gross from the Medical College of Wisconsin.
| | Thank you for staying connected with us. We look forward to keeping you updated with the latest from City Hall and beyond. | | | | |
