Big plans move forward for Leander’s $100M sports complex

This is such a fun time of year for sports. Our weekends are definitely busy, but I love watching the kids try new things and figure out what they really enjoy.

Charlie just started his first season of basketball with i9 Sports, and it's been such a great introduction to the sport. The league is very beginner-friendly, and I love how much they teach as they go. The refs will briefly pause the game to explain rules or help the kids understand what happened, which keeps everything low-pressure and fun.

It’s also super convenient. They have a 30-minute practice followed immediately by the game, just once a week on Sundays, so there’s no separate practice to squeeze into the week.

And so far, Charlie loves it! I have a feeling we’ll be spending a lot more time on basketball courts as he gets older. If you have a kiddo who’s curious about basketball but hasn’t played before, I definitely recommend i9 as a great, low-pressure place to start.

⚽ Leander moves forward with a massive sports complex

The Gist: Leander is moving forward with plans for a huge new CenTex Sports complex on about 40 acres at 204 Heritage Grove Road. The broader project has been estimated at roughly $100 million, with Phase 1 expected to include a 150,000+ square-foot indoor sports facility, covered track, four beach volleyball courts and two soccer fields. Baseball/softball fields and another soccer field are planned for Phase 2. Phase 1 construction must begin by the end of 2027 and be completed by the end of 2028.

Why It Matters: This would give Leander a major new destination for practices, games and tournaments, while also bringing more families and visitors into the area. The broader plans include sports, entertainment and other family-focused amenities, making this much bigger than just another set of fields.

🍝 Dough It Up expands to Leander

The Gist: Cedar Park’s Dough It Up is preparing to open a second location at 15609 Ronald Reagan Blvd. in Leander later this fall. The scratch-made Italian menu includes house-made pasta, brick-oven pizza, Lasagna alla Bolognese, vegan pasta options and an all-Italian wine selection. The Cedar Park location also celebrates its first anniversary Oct. 25.

Why It Matters: Leander is getting another locally owned dining option on Ronald Reagan Boulevard, this time with fresh pasta, pizza and classic Italian dishes made largely in-house. The owners also plan to bring the same menu and pricing from Cedar Park to the new location, with additional offerings like gelato and catering being explored.

⛺ New indoor playground and gym at The Crossover

1717 Scottsdale Dr Suite 200 2nd Floor, Leander, TX

The Gist: David and Stephanie Fiori have opened Strong Sprouts, a Christian-focused indoor playground and youth gym located at 1717 Scottsdale Dr. in Leander. The facility features a custom three-story Noah’s Ark play structure, an interactive roleplay village, a dedicated toddler area, and the Son Rise Cafe serving drinks and clean snacks. Open play runs Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. We checked it out with our kiddos, and they had a blast exploring all the creative play spaces!

Why It Matters: Strong Sprouts gives Cedar Park and Leander families a welcome indoor space to play, recharge, and connect through faith-based community programs. The venue blends physical fitness with character building, teaching young kids everything from nutrition habits to sign language and public speaking.

What’s Next: Preview classes are underway for the Heartland Grove youth gym, leading up to a two-day grand opening celebration Oct. 16–17 featuring local vendors and special prizes.

🥟 Handmade baos folded from family recipes

1908 Main St, Liberty Hill, TX 78642

If you’re in the mood for something a little different, Red Dragon Bao is worth knowing about. Founded by Shu Wiley, the family-owned business grew from recipes passed down from her mother and now serves handmade bao and dumplings from its Liberty Hill food truck.

Everything is made from scratch and folded by hand, with options including savory pork, Sichuan pork, veggie and red bean bao, plus handmade dumplings. You can stop by the food truck, find them at area farmers markets, or order online for pickup.

🐾 Meet Bella

Have room in your home for a wonderful senior companion? Bella might just be your perfect match. This medium mixed-breed dog is ready to share her golden years with a loving family.

🐶 Name: Bella
♀️ Sex: Female
🎂 Age: 10 years
🐾 Adoption fee: $150

🎲 Tabletop fun coming to Leander

1561 Hero Way Ste 120, Leander, TX

Wren’s Landing, a new locally owned board game café, is set to open in Leander later this year, bringing tabletop games, beer, wine and community events to town. The concept comes from Charles and Mindy Carlson, who named it after Wren’s Cafe, where they had their first date in 1996.

The roughly 2,984-square-foot space will include a bar, seating and plenty of room for game nights. Expect beer and wine, nonalcoholic drinks and light packaged food rather than a full restaurant kitchen, plus community events and plenty of reasons to stay for more than one round.

Construction is currently scheduled to wrap up by mid-December, putting the opening in late 2026, although an exact grand-opening date has not been announced yet.