Bellmead schedules family events and adds new park amenities for spring and summer

Bellmead officials outlined a series of spring and summer events and park improvements during the Parks and Recreation Board meeting on a Monday evening in April.

City staff and public‑safety officials emphasized that the fifth annual Family Dog Day will be held Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at Bridal Park, featuring low‑cost vaccinations, free microchipping and vendor booths. The city also previewed a May 23 splash‑pad opening celebration that will include food donations, the unveiling of new pump‑house murals and the splash pad’s season schedule. Staff described plans to install two permanent soccer goals at the north end of Bridal Park and to expand the Parks Memorial program with engraved bricks honoring veterans and new rose beds on the southwest lawn of the Civic Center.

The dog‑themed event, organized by the animal control office and local public‑safety staff, will include a vaccination clinic run by La Vega Vet Clinic and free microchipping provided by Scribe for K9s. “Microchipping is very, very important,” said Miranda Hollingsworth, identified in the meeting as the animal control officer; staff said microchipping helps reunite animals with owners and reduces shelter intake. City presenters said the vaccination clinic aims to reach about 300 pets and that the Humane Society will attend with animals available for adoption.

Corey, a city parks staff member who gave multiple project briefings, described the splash‑pad opening set for May 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. He said H‑E‑B in Bellmead will donate bottled water and Collins Street Bakery will provide cookies for the event. After the opening celebration, the splash pad will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through September.

On capital improvements, Corey said the city has ordered two pairs of permanent soccer goals sized for small‑field play (18½ feet wide by 6½ feet tall) to be installed on the park’s northern lawn. “Once those goals and their permanent ground anchors arrive, our park staff will handle the assembly and installation,” he said, and staff estimated installation within about two weeks.

Also covered were new public‑art and memorial projects. Staff said local artist Scupavelli Trevino completed colorful murals on all four sides of the splash‑pad pump house in March after power‑washing and removal of old fencing. Corey said the murals add a playful, aquatic theme and complement the splash‑pad area. Separately, the city plans to offer a veterans’ engraved‑brick program in Memorial Park: each brick will measure 4 by 8 inches, carry at minimum a name, branch and dates of service, and be offered at a baseline donation of $100 to cover direct costs and installation; additional funds will support memorial maintenance. The parks memorial program also added two new rose beds on the Civic Center southwest lawn; staff reported that 11 rose bushes were planted recently and markers will be installed for donated plantings.

Board members thanked staff and volunteered to help promote the events. Chief (identified at the meeting only as “Chief”) introduced Miranda Hollingsworth and said the animal control office and sergeant Rendon helped organize the dog‑day activities. Core details — event times, vendors, vaccination partner, microchipping provider, target vaccination count (about 300), the soccer‑goal dimensions, mural artist name and the $100 minimum for engraved bricks — were presented to the board and recorded in the meeting packet.

The board did not take formal action on these items during the meeting; they were presented for information and for the board to offer comments and help spread the word. Staff asked board members to distribute event flyers and noted that vendors and donors were still joining the events.

Photos and a short video of the mural work are posted to the Belle Meade Facebook page and to TikTok, staff said; the packet available to board members included additional visuals.

Looking ahead, staff said park volunteers and donors can support the memorial brick program and rose‑bed plantings and that the city will update its memorial‑program webpage with ordering procedures and installation timelines.