Could Bedford ‘Bark Park’ Become Housing? Residents Say Keep it Green

As an affordable housing crisis continues to affect large metro areas and bedroom communities alike, municipalities of all sizes are evaluating their options for undeveloped land. 

Some leaders in Tarrant County’s Bedford say they envision commercial and residential use on 57 acres currently owned by a local school district — but they’ll have to get past some vocally opposed park lovers first. 

Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District owns the land off Harwood Road that currently houses the popular Bedford Bark Park and Meadow Park Athletic Complex. The district is considering selling the land, according to a June 3 article in the Fort Worth Report. 

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Why Sell Now? 

HEB ISD has owned the land since 1969 and its latest appraisal value was around $4.6 million. 

The sale of the parkland was discussed last fall as HEB ISD was eyeing a $1 billion bond package. 

The Fort Worth Report article says the school district purchased the land more than 50 years ago with the intent of building a third high school there. Such a campus may not be necessary now. 

School districts across Texas, including Plano and Richardson ISDs, have been making staffing cuts and closing campuses due to declining enrollment and a lack of state funding.  

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For decades, HEB ISD has leased the land for free to the City of Bedford. While there hasn’t been a recent public hearing on the matter, residents have weighed in on a City of Bedford social media post, with the majority asking that the park remain a park.

“Keep it a park!” Caitlin Holloway wrote. “Make it a bigger park, a boys ranch extension. Whatever it becomes, make it a community space and keep it green!” 

Bedford’s Public Statement 

The City of Bedford’s official statement on the park site was posted March 27 on social media. 

The City has recently had several inquiries about plans for the large tract of undeveloped land off Harwood Road, just west of Kroger. The property, which includes the Meadow Park Athletic Complex and the City’s Bark Park, is owned by the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District.

City staff has confirmed the school district does plan to begin the process of proposing the sale of the 57-acre property, which the district purchased in 1969. However, there is no set time as to when that property may be put up for sale due to other district priority projects and initiatives.

Knowing the school district’s intention to sell this property, the City has already started exploring new locations for a future dog park. The City plans to continue leasing the Bark Park land from the district until the land is sold. Future dog park locations or plans have not been finalized at this time.

The Meadow Park Athletic Complex property is maintained (mowed) by the City through an interlocal agreement with HEB ISD. However, the Meadow Park athletic fields are operated and managed by third parties.

When the land is sold, any future developer will need to go through the City of Bedford development process. This will include approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council of any proposed zoning changes, site plans, etc.

For inquiries about the Meadow Park property, please send an email to the HEB ISD Deputy Superintendent of Business Operations at [email protected].

CITY OF BEDFORD

Bedford Mayor Dan Cogan told the Fort Worth Report he envisions the land to have “a residential and commercial component while still preserving mature trees and green space. 

“The current zoning is for residential, which must be adhered to. … What I would like to see is low-density development with single-family homes,” Cogan said. “I believe it would be fiscally irresponsible to use a significant amount of city funds to purchase the land from the district to designate it as a city park when we have a recently renovated park in Generations Park at the Boys Ranch down the street from this location.”