Lewisville town hall kicks off 2035 plan outreach; coach Mike Odle urges community, youth engagement

City of Lewisville officials held a public town hall to gather input for the city’s 2035 comprehensive-plan process. Claire, Lewisville city manager, said the city aims to double public engagement from the previous planning cycle and that public input will be forwarded to the City Council for any changes in direction.

Coach Mike Odle, Lewisville High School athletic coordinator and head football coach, spoke about the role of community institutions in shaping local identity and youth outcomes. "I love the city of Lewisville. I love Lewisville High School," Odle said, and described how local schools, churches and civic activities supported his family and helped him through personal loss. He said sports and other extracurricular activities teach discipline and relationships that ‘‘carry you way past when you hang your cleats up.’’

Claire described the outreach approach the city plans to use for the 2035 plan: going "out into the community in different sub sects of the community, churches, HOAs, multifamily complexes" and meeting residents where they are. She characterized the planning effort as "the most important project of my career" and said that committee and public input will inform council decisions.

In his remarks, Odle tied civic pride to local institutions and amenities. He referenced local landmarks and organizations — Max Goldsmith Stadium, Lewisville High School, Lake Lewisville, Wayne Ferguson Plaza and the Lewisville Independent School District — and encouraged residents to support schools, small businesses and neighborhood events that build relationships.

Odle identified several issues he said affect families and students as Lewisville grows: school and neighborhood safety, affordable housing, transportation and traffic congestion, and places for the community to gather. He singled out student involvement as a priority and recommended outreach to keep young people engaged in sports, fine arts and student leadership groups. "Involvement ... is the one thing I encourage every person that I come in contact with," he said, citing team dinners and partnerships with local churches as examples.

During a brief Q&A, residents asked practical questions about attending football games and ticket pricing. One new Old Town resident asked how to get tickets to upcoming games; Odle offered to provide complimentary tickets if given a phone number. Another audience member asked whether the district offers senior ticket discounts; Odle said that would be a district-level question and that he would look into it, noting that recent adult ticket costs he recalled were around $8.

The town hall focused on listening rather than making policy decisions: Claire repeatedly said public input will be collected and delivered to the City Council for consideration. No formal votes or policy actions were taken at the session.

The city manager asked residents to participate in further outreach meetings and emphasized that tonight's comments are part of a larger engagement campaign intended to shape the 2035 plan.