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Resident urges Lewisville council to tighten facility‑use rules at Mary Alice Warren Community Center
Summary
A resident told the Town of Lewisville council the community center has seen an increase in requests from nonprofit groups with weak ties to the town and urged clearer eligibility and stewardship rules; the manager said staff and the grants committee will review the issue.
Susan Fry, a Will Austin Court resident, told the Town of Lewisville council on Sept. 11 that she is grateful for the Mary Alice Warren Community Center but has grown concerned about an increase in nonprofit groups requesting free use of the center without a visible or meaningful contribution to the town.
"Are we reserving the space for those who truly invest in the life of our town?" Fry asked, adding that she is not against nonprofits but wants the town to steward the publicly funded space for organizations that serve and contribute to local residents.
Fry said the Parks and Recreation Board discussed eligibility before the center opened and that long‑standing local nonprofits had expected priority access. She urged council members — including those who may not seek reelection — to set durable, fair rules because the decisions will outlast individual terms.
Town Manager Stacy Tolbert acknowledged the concern and told the council the grants committee and staff have already recognized the issue. "I think we're gonna spend a little time trying to take a look at that issue and maybe fine tune it a little more," Tolbert said during the meeting.
The council did not vote on a policy change at the meeting; Tolbert said staff will work with the grants committee on possible refinements to eligibility rules and report back to the council. The clerk also noted that members of the public may submit written comments via the town website to be made part of the record.
Ending: The matter will return to staff and the grants committee for further review; the council asked staff to develop clearer communications about eligibility and to consider prioritizing local nonprofits when revising rules.
