Kennedale — Kennedale city council members and staff spent a full day refining the city’s 10‑year vision and selected parks and trails, a civic center that could house library and senior services, and a formal partnership with the YMCA as the highest near‑term priorities.

Council and staff said the priorities will guide budgeting and grant pursuit over the next decade, with the council asking city staff and the economic development director to start detailed proposals and cost estimates.

Councilmembers and the city manager grouped dozens of suggestions into four categories — public safety, public infrastructure, economic development and community development — then used dot voting to identify top projects. Parks, trails and a civic‑center concept received the most support; council discussion explicitly linked a civic center to library expansion, senior services and shared recreation space with external partners such as the YMCA.

City Manager Daryl Hall told the council the civic center concept could be expensive but would consolidate services: "If we build a single resource location for library, senior services and recreation, the combined project could be more affordable than separate new buildings," he said. Hall estimated a full civic center could be a multimillion‑dollar project and noted that partnership with organizations such as the YMCA could reduce the city’s direct cost. Council members also noted existing library demand and senior‑service needs and asked staff to develop staged options.

The workshop produced several clarifying items the council expects in follow‑up reports: an estimated capital cost and funding plan for a civic center (staff noted a planning‑level figure in discussion of about $30 million for a full buildout), a phased timeline for ball‑field and sports complex work (council referenced a $3,000,000 bond previously allocated for ball fields), and grant and partnership strategies for parks and trail implementation. Staff told the council that some park maintenance and smaller trail work can proceed in 2025 using existing parks funds, while larger projects would need grant applications or intergovernmental agreements.

Councilmembers asked that the next steps include a short list of tangible near‑term actions (design, grant applications, partnership agreements) that can be funded through the FY‑2026 budget, and a separate schedule showing projects that would be programmed for years 3–10.

The council said it will use the list developed at the workshop as the basis for the formal strategic plan and annual budget priorities.