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Heath EDC and HMBC authorize up to $25,000 to create temporary dog recreation area at 305 Lawrence Drive
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Summary
The Heath Economic Development Corporation and Heath Municipal Benefit Corporation authorized up to $25,000 to fund a temporary dog recreation area on HEDC-owned land at 305 Lawrence Drive. Staff said the pilot—designed by a volunteer from TBG Partners—would include three fenced zones, ADA-compliant parking and a decomposed-granite walkway; the motion passed unanimously.
The board of directors for the Heath Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) and the Heath Municipal Benefit Corporation (HMBC) voted unanimously Feb. 17 to authorize up to $25,000 for a temporary dog recreation area on HEDC-owned land at 305 Lawrence Drive.
Staff member Suzanne Gordon presented a volunteer concept sketch from resident Seth Atwell (TBG Partners) outlining three enclosed zones for small, medium and large dogs, gated entries, benches, pet-waste stations and use of existing on-site water. Gordon told the board the core work—two paved ADA parking spaces, decomposed-granite walkways, fencing dividing the panels, and some benches and waste receptacles—could likely be completed within an initial month and within the $25,000 figure based on preliminary estimates. "I would say a month at most to kind of get this finalized," Gordon said, adding the early estimate was "about a $25,000 budget."
City staff and board members pressed on several details before approval, including where to locate entry gates to avoid intrusion on a neighboring residence, whether to reuse an existing front gate or add a gated entry farther from the house, and how the dog area would connect to nearby trails to boost usage. Mr. Alexander, speaking for the city, complimented the layout while flagging cost uncertainty: "I ... think this is a good layout from the perspective of keeping people from getting back closer to that house," he said, while recommending tighter cost estimates before permanent changes.
Board members also discussed operating hours (city parks are generally used from sunup to sundown), liability and insurance coverage—staff said the facility would likely fall under existing recreational coverage but offered to check specific premium impacts with the Texas Municipal League—and the process for accepting donations and naming rights. Board members asked that any donated funds routed through the city or parks that reduce project costs be returned to the EDC as appropriate.
A motion authorizing the city to proceed to obtain formal bids and to implement the concept with an initial HMBC/HEDC contribution of up to $25,000 passed unanimously. Board members said costs exceeding that amount would be borne by the city or would require a return to the EDC for further authorization. The board directed staff to refine bids and bring contract/lease language to a future meeting as needed.
The authorization is a pilot step; the board said it will reassess design and funding if community use supports making the area permanent.
