Kennedale Parks Board members and city staff on May 13 discussed maintenance and upgrades at Sonora Park, including mowing and restrooms, proposals for fixed outdoor exercise equipment, and plans to add lighting — options the board said would depend on competing bids and available budget.

The discussion began after a resident complaint about Sonora Park conditions around Juneteenth. Christian, a city staff member who addressed the board, said maintenance crews mow city parks "on an average once a week" and that crews can provide additional mowing for special events. He also said restroom issues reported during the holiday were addressed. "Currently currently, both all the parks are mode on an average once a week," Christian said.

Why it matters: board members said improved lighting and fitness amenities would increase park utility and safety, but the costs and the current fiscal-year budget cap mean some projects cannot proceed immediately.

City staff told the board that an outdoor fitness installation would likely require new budget funding and would not be feasible in the fiscal year 2026 budget. "Our budget is kinda sealed for this coming fiscal year '26," Christian said; he said any new fitness equipment would most likely be considered for fiscal 2027. Board members described one-time, fixed, mounted fitness stations (pull-up bars, fixed leg-press machines) as preferable to adjustable weights to reduce theft and liability concerns.

Lighting was the costliest item discussed. Christian said the city is soliciting bids for lights at Sonora Park and other sites and is considering both hardwired and solar options. He told the board, "Just for your reference, 1 light is gonna cost us, like, $9,000," for the solar option under review, and that some recent solar-light installations around the city averaged about $47,000 total. He added that the solar units the city has purchased carry roughly an eight-year guarantee; after that time maintenance would be the city's responsibility.

Timeline and procurement: Christian said staff prefer to complete lighting work before the fiscal year ends, "before October," if funding and competitive bids align. He said the current budget does not include funding for the solar lights and that staff are pursuing hardwired options (naming Encore, Bean Electric and Standard Electric as example contractors) that might fit the existing budget. The board discussed the prospect of soliciting multiple bids and noted that several area cities use the same major supplier, which can lower prices when multiple agencies purchase together.

On outreach and community use, the board discussed partnering with an existing community event in the town center in September — organized by a resident identified in the meeting as Sarah, with Laura Sanders and local churches mentioned as collaborators — and using that event to survey residents about park amenities. Christian said he would circulate a survey to residents to gauge support for fitness equipment and other park improvements; board members said resident responses would strengthen any request to the city manager for budget changes.

Formal actions during the meeting were procedural: the board approved minutes from the May 13 meeting and later voted to adjourn. No formal funding approvals or contracts were adopted at this session.

Discussion versus decision: the board held discussion and gave staff direction to solicit competitive bids, to prepare resident outreach (a survey), and to explore partnering with an existing September event for community input; no decisions were made to purchase equipment or to award contracts.

What remains unresolved: exact costs and contract awards for lighting and fitness equipment; whether the city manager will approve budget changes for either solar lighting or exercise equipment; and the details of any partnership for a community picnic or vendor participation. Board members repeatedly noted that financing — and in one earlier attempt a matching requirement the city could not meet — had previously scuttled a wellness equipment project.

The Parks Board approved its meeting minutes and adjourned at 7:03 p.m.