This week the NRH City Council approved a professional services agreement for engineering design services with Pacheco Koch Consulting Engineers, LLC, for design of the Iron Horse Boulevard West Reconstruction Project. This project will reconstruct Iron Horse from Rufe Snow Drive to Browning Drive. The existing roadway will be replaced with reinforced concrete pavement and sidewalks will be added. Following the engineering design work, the city will seek construction bids in 2023.

Plans are also underway for improving Iron Horse Boulevard east of Rufe Snow Drive. Halff Associates was hired in September for engineering design services for the eastern segment of Iron Horse. The City anticipates going out for construction bids on this segment later this year. The project includes replacing the existing roadway with reinforced concrete pavement from Rufe Snow Drive to York Street and adding sidewalks where they are currently missing. Based on the Vision 2030 Transportation Plan recommendation, the bulk of the roadway will be reduced to a two-lane configuration with a raised median. The Iron Horse Boulevard improvements are being funded by the 2020 Street Bond Program, along with a $4.2 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

NRH dog owners, please make sure your four-legged family members are current on their shots, including distemper. North Texas cities, including NRH, have recently seen an increase in reports of sick raccoons with symptoms that are consistent with distemper. Though it cannot be spread to humans, distemper is easily spread from raccoons to dogs through the environment and via airborne exposure. Canines that are unvaccinated are most at risk for catching the distemper virus, which is often fatal.

Avoid attracting raccoons into your yard by ensuring that trash bags and cans are closed and by removing pet food and water bowls from outside areas. When on walks with dogs, keep an eye out for wildlife and prevent your dog from using community bowls that could be contaminated. While it isn’t abnormal to see wildlife active during the day, if the animal appears ill or disoriented, please report it. North Richland Hills Animal Services can be reached at 817-427-6570.

Beginning Monday, April 4, 2022, items checked out from the NRH Library and returned past their due date will no longer accrue overdue fines. Instead, patrons with overdue items will not be able to check out additional items or use library services until any overdue items are returned. If items are 30 days past their due date, they will be considered "lost” and a fee will be charged for those items. Overdue fines for Interlibrary Loans will still apply.

The Library is using this policy change to kick off a year-long Kindness Campaign. There will be opportunities large and small for patrons to receive and express acts of kindness throughout the year when using the Library. For more information about the policy change, please visit the Library's website or give them a call at 817-427-6800.

Join Mayor Oscar Trevino on his monthly bicycle ride through North Richland Hills! The first ride in 2022 will be on Tuesday, April 5 at 6 p.m. starting and ending at the NRH Centre, 6000 Hawk Ave. This is a family-friendly ride and is open to all ages. It is a great opportunity to get outdoors and be active in NRH. Helmets are required. Riders should bring their own water bottles. ‘Round the Town with Oscar is sponsored by the City of NRH and Bonzai Cycle Werx. Rides will be held once per month through October. See the full schedule and more details at www.nrthx.com/roundthetown.

A big thank you from the City of North Richland Hills to Arcis Golf for their management of Iron Horse Golf Course over the last 33 years. The City Council and city staff recognized Arcis at this week’s Council Meeting for helping to make Iron Horse one of DFW’s finest municipal courses. Arcis has decided to step away from managing municipal courses, shifting its focus to courses the company owns. With Arcis’ contract ending this month, the City has hired KemperSports to replace them. We appreciate Arcis' many years of dedicated service to our community.

Enjoy a dynamic and interactive presentation of African music and dance at the NRH Library on Thursday, April 14. Bandan Koro African Drum and Dance Ensemble will perform at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. Tony Browne founded the ensemble in 2009 as an outlet to study and share experiences associated with African culture and history with the community at large through the presentation of dance, music, and specialized presentations. The ensemble engages with diverse audiences year-round, fostering values of love, pride, cultural engagement, and excellence within the communities that they visit. Please visit the Library's website for more details.

This April, the Easter Bunny will be going on an egg-cellent adventure in multiple NRH parks! Pop Up Egg Hunts will be held:

Locations will be announced 2 hours before each event on the NRH Parks Department’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages and at www.nrhtx.com/egghunts. Kids, have your baskets ready and keep a watch on social media for the locations. As an egg-stra treat, each park on the Pop Up Egg Hunt tour will have one Bunny Prize Egg. So, be sure and check all your eggs for prizes! Contact NRH Parks & Recreation at 817-427-6620 with any questions.