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Welcome to the Buzz
The "Bedford Buzz" e-newsletter is a publication of the Bedford Communications Division. If you have any questions about the Buzz, please email public.info@bedfordtx.gov.
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 In December, the Bedford City Council approved a professional services agreement with Lose Design to begin designing tennis and pickleball courts at Generations Park at Boys Ranch. The courts will be located in the northwest corner of the park, just north of The Bedford Center YMCA.
Over the next several months, Lose Design will handle everything from project management and geotechnical work to full design, construction documents, and bidding assistance needed to bring the courts to life.
The design phase is estimated to take about six months, followed by a two-month bid process and roughly six months of construction. This timeline places the expected opening in early 2027. When complete, the project will include six pickleball courts and four separate tennis courts.
The facilities will be City-run and maintained, though they will not operate as a full tennis center with on-site staff. The courts will be lighted, and staff is currently considering operating hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The City will share updates as the project moves forward.
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All City offices will also be closed on Thursday, January 1 in observance of New Year’s Day. Trash, recycling, and bulk material collections will be serviced as normal Monday through Wednesday, December 29-31. Thursday customers will be serviced on Friday, January 2, and Friday services will shift to Saturday, January 3. If your trash or recycling is missed, please send an email to Trash.Recycling@bedfordtx.gov.
Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services will remain in operation at all times.
 The City has finalized its preliminary exterior design of the future Central Fire Station. During the Dec. 9 Council meeting, Architect Jim Tharp presented the current renderings of the station, which will be located next to the Law Enforcement Center, off L. Don Dodson Drive.
The new station will have expanded living quarters, a training room, larger bays for the apparatuses (fire trucks, engines, etc.), kitchen and dining spaces, work out area, and offices for fire administration. Since it will be next to the Law Enforcement Center, the Law Enforcement Center will also get a facelift to be complimentary with the architecture of the fire station.
Construction should start late summer 2026 with an estimated completion date of late 2027.
Electric bikes and motor-assisted scooters are incredibly popular and there are some important rules here in Texas that help keep everyone safe.
Understanding the Difference
Bicycle: The classic, equipped with two wheels, handlebars, and functioning pedals. Powered only by pure human strength.
Class 1 Electric Bike:
- Pedal-assisted
- No assistance without pedaling
- Maxes out at 20 MPH
Class 2 Electric Bike:
- Throttle-assisted
- Can be ridden without pedaling
- Also has a top speed of 20 MPH
Class 3 Electric Bike:
- Pedal-assisted/optional throttle
- No assistance without pedaling
- MUST be 15 years of age to use
- Has a higher top speed of 28 MPH
IMPORTANT: If your bike does NOT have functional pedals that enable it to be powered by human strength, then it is NOT considered an electric bike. It is considered a mini motorbike or pocket bike, and require their owners to follow a different set of laws.
Motor-Assisted Scooter:
- Electric motor
- Can be propelled by rider alone
The Law:
All three classes of electric bikes (1,2, and 3) may be ridden in the same manner as a bicycle in Texas; however, you must be at least 15 years old to operate a Class 3 electric bike.
Motor-assisted scooters are allowed to be ridden on sidewalks and City trails. They are also allowed on streets with speed limits with a posted speed limit of 35 MPH or lower.
Electric bikes and motor-assisted scooters are authorized to be ridden in the City of Bedford.
When riding on sidewalks electric bikes and motor-assisted scooters must give pedestrians the right-of-way.
When riding on streets electric bikes and motor-assisted scooters are required to adhere to the rules of the roadway and ride as close to the right side of the roadway.
Electric bikes and motor-assisted scooters should not be ridden in a reckless manner or at a speed that endangers the life, limb, or property of the rider or any other person.
It is recommended for all riders to wear a helmet, but it is only required for helmets to be worn by children 17 years of age and under.
IMPORTANT: Mini-motor bikes and pocket bikes are not authorized to be ridden on sidewalks, city trails, or roadways.
To read the full ordinance, visit www.bedfordtx.gov/ordinances and search “bicycle.”
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We’re serving up some BIG news – ATP Pickleball is opening soon in Bedford! Located at 1313 Brown Trail (next to Turning Point Beer), ATP Pickleball is an indoor pickleball facility that features six premium pickleball courts designed for everyone from first-timers to competitive players looking to sharpen their skills.
The facility will offer open play and hourly court rentals, as well as a private event area. Open play will cost individual players $10 and will take place from 8 a.m. to noon and 6 p.m. to closing every day. Court rentals will be $10 per person, per hour. An optional monthly membership is also available, which includes unlimited open play, court rentals, and pro-shop discounts. More details about memberships and opening information will be available on ATP Pickleball’s website at https://playatp.com/
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A reminder for property owners: whether you are thinking about offering your property as a short-term rental or are currently doing so, City of Bedford regulations require the property to be registered.
A short-term rental property is identified as a residence/home that is rented out to patrons for a period of less than 29 days at a time, such as an Airbnb or Vrbo.
The City’s short-term rental program is intended to protect and preserve the integrity of our neighborhoods and overall community by regulating the terms under which a residence may be rented. These terms include a required annual property inspection and assuring property owners are registering for State-required Hotel Occupancy Tax payments.
The short-term rental program addresses the following:
- Terms to receive an approved permit (parking plan, local contact, liability insurance, etc.) for the short-term rental property
- Occupancy limits
- Ensures life safety matters are addressed at the residence
- Requires annual fire inspection, repeat inspection, and change in ownership inspection
- Establishes clear policies if a property does not comply with regulations
- Establishes permit and inspection/re-inspection fees, and applicable penalties
- Short-Term Rentals are only allowed in residential zoned areas but not multi-family districts. Short-Term rentals cannot be located within 1,000 feet of another registered short-term rental
Please Note: Previous court rulings have dictated how much the City can regulate short-term rentals. The City understands that residents have concerns about these rentals and is using every legal option available to reduce issues like noise, parking problems, and other code violations.
There are now about 40 short-term rentals in Bedford. This is a decrease of more than 10 properties, following the City Council’s new rule passed earlier this year that requires short-term rentals to be at least 1,000 feet apart.
To report a problem, visit www.bedfordtx.gov/code.
For more information on short-term rental rules, go to www.bedfordtx.gov/shortterm.
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Daddy Daughter Valentine’s Dance – Saturday, February 7
Create unforgettable memories together at the Daddy Daughter Valentine’s Dance from 4 to 7 p.m. on February 7 at The Bedford Center YMCA, 2801 Forest Ridge Dr. Tickets are $10 per person and will be available for purchase on the City’s website. Visit www.bedfordtx.gov/events for additional information.
Love, Laugh, & Illusions Magic Show – Saturday, February 14
Spend Valentine’s Day at Old Bedford School with magician Zak Mirz! Enjoy a delicious dinner catered by Café Sicilia, followed by an incredible magic show from Bedford’s own acclaimed performer. Zak has fooled Penn & Teller, wowed David Blaine, reached the “America’s Got Talent” semi-finals, and released the hit special, “Ticket for One.” Please note, there will be two shows on Saturday, February 14. Each seating is limited to 74 people and is for ages 16+ only.
All shows will be at Old Bedford School, 2400 School Lane. Tickets are $39 per person for each show and can be purchased online at www.bedfordtx.gov/events.
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Do you have a general question related to code enforcement, economic development, trash/recycling, parks, etc.? Ask us! Each month, we’ll feature at least one question from “Bedford Buzz” subscribers from the previous issue. Submit your questions at www.bedfordtx.gov/questions.
We didn't receive any reader questions this month, so here's a frequently asked question the City receives.
QUESTION: How do I attend or watch a City Council meeting?
ANSWER: The City Council typically meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month beginning at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 2000 Forest Ridge Dr. Agendas are available and posted prior to the meetings at www.bedfordtx.gov/AgendaCenter. All public meetings held in the Council Chambers are broadcast live on Charter Spectrum (Channel 16 for basic subscribers and 15.4 for all digital subscribers) and AT&T U-Verse (Channel 99). You can also watch them on-demand at www.bedfordtx.gov/tv.
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Photo of the Month
 CREDT: City of Bedford
Thank you to everyone who came out to Generations Park at Boys Ranch to celebrate Christmas in the Park with us on December 5. We hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season.
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Have a photo of you enjoying Bedford? Whether it’s enjoying Generations Park at Boys Ranch or in your own backyard, send your best shot to public.info@bedfordtx.gov and it could be featured in an upcoming issue of “Bedford Buzz.” Please make sure your photo is family-friendly, recently taken in Bedford, and everyone prominently featured in the photo is OK with becoming Buzz-worthy.
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