Council to Canvass Election Results on May 17

The North Richland Hills City Council will meet on Wednesday, May 17 to officially canvass the results of the May 6 election and administer the oaths of office to the newly elected officials. A brief reception will follow. The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. The public is welcome to attend.

Tito Rodriguez (Place 1), Suzy Compton (Place 3), Blake Vaughn (Place 5) and Kelvin Deupree (Place 7) were elected to serve two-year terms on the Council, according to the unofficial election results. Additionally, all but one of the propositions to amend the City Charter were approved by voters. Proposition G to remove the requirement that Planning & Zoning Commissioners own property within the City failed by a small margin. The election results are unofficial until the votes are canvassed.

We appreciate everyone who took the time to vote in the May 6 City election.

City Point Commercial Groundbreaking

Last Friday, City officials joined Centurion American Development Group to break ground for the first phase of the City Point commercial district, which will bring new businesses to the community. City Point is the 52-acre development under construction on Boulevard 26, south of Loop 820, surrounding City Hall. Aside from being home to 2,500 new residents, plans include 60,000 square feet of commercial space as a centerpiece of the development between City Hall and Boulevard 26 along City Point Drive.

While specific businesses have not yet been announced, we look forward to welcoming new businesses in the future! For more information and to keep track of business announcements as they become available, visit www.nrhed.com/citypoint. To view a video of the groundbreaking ceremony, visit https://youtu.be/fFqmlQ0U4kE.

Word on the Streets

In addition to the 2020 Street Bond Program to reconstruct 27 NRH streets, regular street maintenance occurs across our city throughout the year. Word on the Streets is a new weekly update we will be posting on the City's website and social media to let residents know about street work taking place in the coming week.

Watch for Word on the Streets posts each Thursday on Facebook, Twitter or Nextdoor. Subscribe to "City News" on our website if you would like to be notified of this information by email.

Judge Appointed for New Compliance Court

At this week’s City Council Meeting, Alan C. Wayland was appointed as the judge and Harris R. Hughey as the associate judge for North Richland Hills Municipal Court of Record Division No. 2, which is our new Code Compliance Court. The Compliance Court was created to help in resolving chronic code violations in a more timely manner. 

A majority of city code violations, such as overgrown yards, junk vehicles, and structures in disrepair are resolved voluntarily by the property owner or addressed with help from volunteer programs such as the Neighborhood Initiative. However, additional processes are needed to help achieve the City’s goal of resolving chronic code violations in a more timely manner. Under the city’s new code compliance process, individuals with persistent code violations will be assigned a case manager who will ensure they understand the city’s ordinances, required compliance expectations and time frame for resolving violations on their property. The case manager may also provide information about assistance programs if needed.

If a violation is not resolved in the specified time, a Compliance Court hearing will be scheduled. The judge will have the ability to issue orders to clean or abate the violations, not just issue fines. This new process will help ensure properties in violation gain compliance expeditiously so our neighborhoods are alleviated of unsightly, hazardous and sometimes dangerous conditions. Code Compliance Officers are distributing information about the new Compliance Court to those property owners with ongoing violations. Questions can be directed to the Compliance Court Case Manager at 817-427-6711.

Volunteer for City Boards & Commissions

Interested in giving back to your community? Each summer, the City Council appoints residents to serve on various boards and commissions. Interested residents can find more information and an application form on the city's website. June 2 is the deadline to submit your application. 

Summer Fun Starts Now! NRH₂O Opens Saturday

NRH₂O Family Water Park opens for the 2023 summer season starting this Saturday, May 13. The park will be open weekends only through May 21 and daily starting on May 27.

Did you know, NRH₂O was the first municipal water park in Texas and one of the first in the nation? The park opened in 1995 with three body slides, a lazy river, and a wading pool. Today, the 17-acre park has 23 attractions and is considered one of the best water parks in the country! The park has been recognized numerous times by Trip Advisor for service excellence and has received numerous awards from national and international aquatic organizations. “We take pride in knowing that NRH₂O continues to exceed guests’ expectations every year,” said Frank Perez, NRH₂O General Manager. 

Since its inception, the park has welcomed over 5.8 million visitors and provided jobs to more than 9,000 seasonal team members. NRH₂O's success led the way for more water parks throughout the DFW area. Even with the competition, NRH₂O takes pride in keeping some things the same since the beginning – FREE parking, FREE coolers, and most importantly a safe and clean atmosphere for families. 

North Richland Hills residents will be happy to know that NRH₂O’s expenses are paid by the park's revenue and therefore property taxes are not used to fund the park. Even better, NRH residents receive a discount on admission! Visit www.nrh2o.com/nrhresidents to plan your visit. 

Poetry Trail Added to Linda Spurlock Park

Poems celebrating the beauty of nature are now featured on plaques along the central walking trail at Linda Spurlock Park, 6400 Glenview Dr. The poems were written by four local poets - Lana Aarnos Jackson, Lisa Martinez, Jessica Copeland Bell and Lori Newbold – who each have deep connections to North Richland Hills. Each poem was inspired by the NRH Parks & Trail System.

In addition to the poetry, each plaque features a photo and short biography of the author. The NRH Poetry Trail is a low-cost installation provided through the Cultural Arts Division of the Parks & Recreation Department. It is intended to encourage and promote the art of prose, poetry and self-expression by talented NRH community members.

Upcoming Events

Sounds of Spring Concert Series

Join us for the final Sounds of Spring Concert this Friday, May 12 on the outdoor plaza at City Hall. Seating starts at 6 p.m. and the concert begins at 7. In conjunction with the concert, the Police and Fire Departments will be on site with safety tips and police cars and fire trucks for the kids to see. They will also have registration information for the October National Night Out.

Blood Drive

Help others in our community with a lifesaving blood donation. The NRH Library is hosting a blood drive with Carter BloodCare this Friday, May 12 from noon to 4 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can register for a time slot in advance.

Gardening for Drought Class

Keep NRH Beautiful and the Tarrant Regional Water District can help you choose the right plants for drought-prone areas. They are hosting a free online class about gardening for droughts at 6 p.m. on Thursday May 18. Register online.

Drip Irrigation Workshop

Learn how to design and install a drip irrigation system at a free workshop hosted by Keep NRH Beautiful and the NRH Library on Wednesday, May 24. This workshop will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the Library Community Room. Registration is requested.