 As you may have heard, the City of Bedford received reports early Saturday, July 26 that there were numerous dead fish around the edges of Boys Ranch Lake, within Generations Park at Boys Ranch. Parks and Recreation staff immediately responded to the lake and contacted Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to conduct water testing to determine what was affecting the health of the fish.
In the subsequent days, Parks and Rec staff continued to collect dead fish and hired a private fishery to also conduct water testing. On Wednesday, July 30, the City provided the following update:
Official test results from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and a private fishery confirmed the sudden fish loss at Boys Ranch Lake was caused by a spike in chlorine levels from an unknown source on Friday afternoon or evening. Staff believe that most, if not all, fish did not survive the higher chlorine levels.
Since receiving these results, City staff have been working to find out where the chlorine came from and why it entered the lake. While the outdoor pools at The Bedford Center YMCA may seem like a likely source, there is currently no evidence to support that theory. Boys Ranch Lake is a natural watershed, meaning the runoff from surrounding properties flow into the lake.
A TPWD fisheries biologist was at the lake on Friday morning and reported not seeing any water discoloration, dead fish, or fish showing signs of distress while walking along the canals closest to the lake. Because of this timing, the City believes the chlorine likely entered the lake sometime Friday afternoon or evening.
City staff have already checked the irrigation system in the park and investigated the outdoor pool area at The Bedford Center YMCA for leaks or other issues that may have led to chlorine reaching the lake. This includes reviewing security camera footage and pool maintenance logs from the outdoor water park.
TPWD plans to return to Boys Ranch Lake this week to test chlorine levels, temperature, and dissolved oxygen again to see how the water has changed since the incident.
Until the City concludes its investigation, staff will not restock the lake. Protecting the long-term health of the lake’s ecosystem is a top priority. However, City staff does plan to work with TPWD to restock the lake in the future. Generations Park at Boys Ranch remains open to the public.
The City will continue to share more updates regarding the investigation in the future to keep the community informed.
During the July 8 City Council meeting, Midway Development Group provided its latest update on its progress toward making the Bedford Commons development a reality.
The Bedford Commons property spans approximately 30 acres and is generally located between E.M. Bilger Boulevard and Parkwood Drive, south of Bedford Road and north of L. Don Dodson Drive. The City purchased the land to help guide its development, aiming to create a lively town center with local businesses, public spaces, and housing options.
Although still in the early stages of this overall project, Midway has made significant progress on demographic research as well as critical documents and reports that will lay the groundwork for future steps. In addition, Midway has been in early discussions with architects and engineers who are interested in working on the project, along with experienced business owners who are interested in becoming tenants.
Midway’s vision for the Bedford Commons Property remains:
- Make Bedford Commons a destination for residents and visitors, representing the culture and spirit of Bedford
- Create space within the development for smaller scale events and programming such as musical performances and a farmer’s market
- Nurture and develop small local businesses
- Serve as a catalyst for additional development surrounding the site
During the meeting, the Council approved a six-month extension of the partnership agreement between the City and Midway Development Group. The extension will allow both parties to finalize the documents and reports still in progress and plan funding sources and timelines. Midway is also planning to engage the Bedford community for feedback on its refined site plan, and continue discussions with home builders, more potential future tenants, and other necessary project partners such as architectural firms.
The Concept Plan
The first phase will still include a residential and a commercial section. The residential portion will be comprised of single-family homes (apartments are not planned). The type of homes, their price range, and number will be finalized once a home builder is chosen. The residential portion will be located on the eastern side of the property.
A commercial portion is planned for the western side of the property with the goal of creating a unique retail destination that would spur future development in the area.
As proposed, it will include 30,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space along with 11,000 square feet of patio space. Midway is planning to include more than 300 parking spaces planned, with another 100 spaces available across the street.
In addition, Midway plans to work with the City to:
- Preserve as many large legacy trees on the property as possible
- Build a walking path that connects the north and south parts of the area.
- Ensure shops have high visibility and convenient parking to support the businesses.
- Make rent achievable for small local businesses.
- Include outdoor spaces for gatherings, such as musical performances, a farmer’s market, and/or play spaces for children.
Midway will provide its next update at a Council meeting in January. The City acknowledges this project has been in the works for over 10 years, but please know more serious conversations have only been set in motion within the past year. City staff and Midway are working through a lot complexities with the development of this property due to its location, existing topography, and limited size.
For additional background on the Bedford Commons Project, to watch the recent council meeting, or to view Midway’s most recent presentation, please visit www.bedfordtx.gov/bedfordcommons.
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 We’re honored to share that in July, the Bedford Animal Shelter was officially designated a 2024 No-Kill Shelter by the Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization committed to making the entire country no-kill.
This recognition celebrates Bedford’s live release rate exceeding 95 percent in 2024, and reflects the dedication of our incredible shelter staff, who work tirelessly to treat every animal as an individual and find loving homes for those in our care. In 2024 alone, 661 animals were saved through the Bedford Animal Shelter – and we’ve continued that lifesaving momentum into 2025.
According to the Best Friends Animal Society, nearly 2 out of every 3 shelters in the U.S. reach the milestone of no-kill. This accomplishment isn’t just a milestone for our shelter, but also a reflection of Bedford working together for animals. From adopters and fosters to volunteers and supporters, the entire community helped make this possible. We couldn’t do this without you!
At the direction of City Council, City staff took a deep dive into the ordinance governing multi-family property registration and inspections, with a focus on helping tenants better understand their rights and making it easier to report potential code violations.
During the review, staff also found ways to improve the ordinance’s wording and make the program more effective. With City Council’s approval on Tuesday, the updated ordinance now includes these changes:
Inspection Process: Clarifies how property maintenance inspections are handled. Properties can no longer request a second inspection to improve their yearly score. This encourages property owners to meet standards the first time, knowing the initial inspection determines their score for the year.
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Property Registration: Confirms that property registrations follow the calendar year and sets clear registration deadlines.
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Housing Standards: Makes it clear that minimum housing standards apply to all residential properties, including short-term and long-term rentals - not just multi-family housing.
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Maintenance Categories and Timeline: Creates different categories of maintenance issues based on how serious they are. Life and safety issues—like exposed live wires, no running water, or broken A/C in hot weather must be fixed (or addressed) within 24 hours. Other problems must be addressed within either 72 hours or 30 days, depending on how severe they are. The ordinance outlines each category.
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Tenant Information Posting: Requires property owners to post important information where tenants can easily see it. This includes how to report violations, the annual property maintenance score, tenant rights under state law (such as protections against retaliation), and what to expect if given a notice to vacate for non-payment.
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Crime Prevention Addendum: Adds a new requirement that helps improve safety. All leaseholders must sign an agreement saying they won’t commit crimes on the property. If they do, and depending on the severity, this document gives the property the ability to evict them. The ordinance also sets standards for lighting, access gates, and the upkeep of vacant units.
For more information, and to see each multi-family property’s current inspection score, please go to www.bedfordtx.gov/rentersrights.
Are you interested in serving your community? The City of Bedford is accepting applications for seats on boards and commissions, which includes the:
- Planning and Zoning Commission
- Street Improvement Economic Development Corporation (4B) Board
- Zoning Board of Adjustment / Building and Standards Commission
- Beautification Advisory Board
- Ethics Commission
- Library Advisory Board
- Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
- Senior Advisory Board
Members must live in Bedford and be able to commit to two-year terms. To learn more about each of these Boards and Commissions and submit an application, visit the City’s website at www.bedfordtx.gov/commissions. The deadline to apply for the upcoming term is Friday, September 5.
For questions, please contact the City Secretary’s Office at 817-952-2101 or email citysecretary@bedfordtx.gov.
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Art at the Park has moved to October! Get ready to enjoy cooler weather, changing leaves, and Bedford’s Art at the Park festival on Saturday, October 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Generations Park at Boys Ranch. This year’s festival will feature more than 70 art vendors, food trucks, a live artist painting, chalk art contest, and more.
ARTISTS! We want YOU to be part of this year’s event! We’re now accepting vendor applications from artists in all mediums, including painting, pottery, woodworking, metals, photography, and more. All artwork must be original and handmade by the artist.
To exhibit your artwork during the festival, please fill out an online vendor application at www.bedfordtx.gov/artfestival. Booth rentals start at just $30. Take advantage of our Early Bird discount and save 15% by using code EARLYBIRD15 if you register by Friday, August 15. All vendor applications are due by 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 7.
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 Exciting news, y’all! While the World Cup will be happening just down the road next year, we’re thrilled to share Bedford will play a part in the spotlight as the City will be the official host for the Global Flag Football League TM championship games.
In 2026, the men and women’s flag football semi-final games will be played at Pennington Field (1501 Central Dr.) on Sunday, July 12. Then, the remaining teams will vie for the title in the men’s and women’s championship games on Sunday, July 13 (also at Pennington Field). As soon as additional details are available, we will share them across our channels.
Did you know flag football is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S.? The Global Pro Flag Football League is for both men and women committed to advancing the sport and creating professional opportunities for athletes training for the 2028 Olympics and beyond. The 2026 season will begin in February and conclude in Bedford. The timing of the flag football games was determined to take place between World Cup games, to take advantage of the World Cup audience, who will be looking for something to do between games.
You’re probably thinking – “This is so cool! How was Bedford chosen for this?” The upcoming Global Pro Flag Football Championship games are made possible thanks to Councilwoman Joy Donovan Brandon’s connection to the league’s commissioner Marjorie Herrera Lewis and the outstanding collaboration and support of Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District for providing the venue. The games present a great opportunity to bring increased foot traffic to local hotels and restaurants, and, in turn, boosting sales tax revenue for the City.
Fun fact! There are two professional flag football teams in the DFW Metroplex – the Dallas Desperados and Fort Worth Bulls.
WE HAVE SHADE! Crews have finished installing shade coverings at Harris Ryals Park over the playground for 2-5 year olds, as well as two nearby park benches at the 5-13 year old playground. Harris Ryals Park is located at 2700 Cummings Drive.
What’s next? Crews are removing the old swing set at Stormie Jones Park, and will replace it with a new one and a shade structure. We’ll let you know when work at this playground is complete!
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 Our community mural is complete! What started in March as 350 blank tiles and a vision, has turned into a beautiful 8 x 8-foot mural at the Bedford Public Library!
Each tile in red, orange, blue, or green was painted by a member of the Bedford community during painting events we held this spring or from art students at various HEB ISD schools.
The mural’s first home will be at the Bedford Library, where everyone is invited to stop by and see it during regular Library business hours at 2424 Forest Ridge Dr.
To learn more about the mural and see the project timeline, visit www.bedfordtx.gov/mosaicmural.
The City is partnering with the Tarrant Regional Water District for two FREE gardening and landscaping programs at the Bedford Public Library in August:
- “DIY Wicking Buckets” at 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 14: Join this workshop to learn the advantages of container gardening with a wicking system and build your own wicking bucket! One wicking bucket, per household.
- “Tough Texas Plants” at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20: In this class, participants will learn about the benefits of using native plants, the basic principles of landscape design, different native plants, and how to choose the right ones for your yard. This class is free to attend, but registration is required.
Both classes will be held at the Bedford Library, 2424 Forest Ridge Dr. To register and find more information on each class, view each registration link.
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