Bond Sale, Refinancing Saves City Additional $51 Million Over Time
Combined with the November 2021 refinance of $60 Million, the City of Irving saved over $110 million this fiscal year by refinancing existing liabilities at a lower interest rate.
On April 21, the City of Irving sold $80 million in Fire Pension Obligation bonds, which City Council approved at its Aug. 19, 2021, meeting. By refinancing the majority of the pension fund’s outstanding liability, the city will save $48 million over the next 25 years. Additionally, the city refinanced $19 million in 2012 Solid Waste Revenue bonds, which will save the city $2.8 million over 10 years by locking in a fixed interest rate.
City leaders anticipate interest rates will continue rising through the end of 2022, which necessitates the sale of bonds as early as possible. n
May 2021 Bond Election Projects
Council also approved the sale of $156 million in Capital Improvement Program (CIP) bonds that were approved by voters in the May 2021 Bond election. Projects include:
● Road to the Future street improvements
● Renovations of Southwest and Oak Meadows Parks
● Mustang Park Recreation Center expansion
● A new roof for Irving Arts Center
● Critical technology upgrades for city facilities
In addition to the projects approved by voters, the bond sale also includes the West Irving Creek Drainage Project, and water and wastewater infrastructure improvements.
and distemper vaccinations and microchip
Best Places for Picnics in Irving
Warm weather and sunny skies are the perfect combination for a picnic! Round up the family, friends or a special someone, and pack up a bite to eat. Or better yet, pick up a takeout order from one of Irving’s world-class restaurants. Irving has plenty of picturesque places to throw down a blanket and enjoy a meal outdoors. Here are the top five places for a picnic in Irving.
Levy Event Plaza along Lake Carolyn – 501 E. Las Colinas Blvd. Levy Event Plaza is one of Irving’s newest event locations. The large open area overlooks Lake Carolyn and features plenty of lawn space and built-in seating. Pro tip: Plan a sunset picnic here.
Cottonwood Creek Park – 4051 N. Story Road
The park has 25 picnic tables, grills, a pond and a playground for the kids and kids-at-heart. Pro tip: Bring a soccer ball. There is a field to play nearby!
TxDOT
Victoria Park – 3051 W. Northgate Imaginations will run wild at Victoria Park’s Castle Kingdom Playground. The space features picnic tables, walking/running trails and a pond. Pro tip: Bring the kids, they will love it!
Centennial Park – 444 W. Second St.
This park is all about the views. Whether it's the pond or the wildlife that call the park home, Centennial Park is an Instagrammer’s dream! Also, there are picnic tables and plenty of grass. Pro tip: Place a takeout order at one of the restaurants in Irving’s Heritage District and enjoy a meal in the park.
Heritage Park – 217 S. Main St.
The city recently renovated the space and added a playground, picnic tables, lighting and a performance stage. Pro tip: Plan a picnic during an On Stage at Heritage event. Enjoy a meal and then stay for the fun! n
Loop 12 Public, Virtual Meetings
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is proposing to improve Loop 12 from Spur 408 to south of State Highway 183 in Dallas County. TxDOT is hosting public meetings to provide input on the proposed improvements. An online virtual public meeting will be held along with two in-person public meetings. The information presented at the virtual and in-person meetings will be identical.
Virtual Meeting
The virtual meeting material will be posted on May 3 at 5:30 p.m. and remain online through May 20 at 11:59 p.m. This is not a live event and the materials can be viewed
anytime. To view the public meeting materials, visit the project website at KeepItMovingDallas.com/Loop12
In-Person Meetings
● May 3 | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m
Jack D. Huffman Community Building 801 W. Irving Blvd., Irving, TX 75060
● May 5 | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m
The Lighthouse Church 5525 W. Illinois Ave., Dallas, TX 75211
For more information, email Jordan.Mrayyan@txdot.gov or visit KeepItMovingDallas.com/Loop12 n
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
May 1 | The Queen’s Cartoonists
Presented by Irving Arts Center | 2:30 p.m. | $22.50$32.50
The performances are synchronized to video projections of the original films with music from classic cartoons and contemporary animation, and the band leads the audience through a world of virtuosic musicianship, multi-instrumental mayhem and comedy.
May 6-21 | Enchanted April
Presented by MainStage | 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. | $22-$29
Based on the novel “The Enchanted April,” this story overflows with charm, exploring the rejuvenating effects of an Italian sojourn on two beleaguered London housewives, and the two upper-class women they recruit to split the rent on a vacation villa. Wisteria, romance and comedy!
May 8 | Music that Dances!
Presented by New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving | 3:30 p.m. | $5-$20
New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving concludes their 2021-22 season with a performance that will get you moving.
May 12 | Peak Music Festival
To learn more about this nonprofit music festival for youth band and orchestra performances, visit PeakMusicFestivals.org
May 13 | Shabnam Surayo and Qais Ulfat
Presented by Tuti Media | 8 p.m. | $49-$245
Tuti Media presents Shabnam Surayo and Qais Ulfat on their first Kulab to Kabul: USA Tour 2022.
May 14 | Eldred Marshall, Pianist
Presented by Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra | 7:30 p.m. | $17.50-$47.50
Pianist Eldred Marshall performs selections composed by Mozart.
May 15 | May Flowers
Presented by Irving Symphonic Band | 3 p.m. | $12.50
Enjoy the sounds of spring through music.
May 18 | Fire
Presented by Lone Star Youth Orchestra | 7 p.m. | $7.50$14.50
The Lone Star Youth Orchestra presents its final concert of the 2021-22 season.
May 20-22 | Hall of Fame Dance Challenge
To learn more about this regional dance competition, visit HallofFameDance.com
YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMS
May 5 | JumpstART Stories and Art: Moms are Amazing!
10 a.m. | Free
With Mother’s Day approaching, moms are the focus for this month’s stories and art.
May 8 | Second Sunday Funday: Masterpieces with Mom 1 to 4 p.m. | Free
Bring a mom, aunt, grandma or other significant person and make some art together to celebrate Mother’s Day.
For more information about all activities planned, visit IrvingArtsCenter.com
Honor Irving veterans at a Memorial Day Ceremony hosted by the Veterans Memorial Park Committee. The guest speaker will be Irving Councilman Allan E. Meagher, and the moment of reflection will be presented by Annette French, a retired U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class Sunday, May 29 | 2:30 p.m. Jack D. Huffman Community Building Auditorium, 801 W.
IRVING ARTS CENTER IN THE GALLERIES
Free to view. Open Tuesday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. No advance reservation needed.
CONTINUING EXHIBITIONS
Partituren/Time Stands Still: Photographs by Michael Matthews and Michael Kruscha Through June 25 | Dupree Lobby Gallery Berlin-based artists Michael Matthews and Michael Kruscha come from different backgrounds, work in different media, and have very different artistic experiences and perspectives. Primarily an abstract painter, Kruscha is also an avid photographer and world traveler. The Canadian composer Matthews creates fully abstract, microcosmic images based on found textures and colors.
Selections from Irving Arts Center’s permanent collection are featured in the galleries below. The Art of Engaging: Creations by Irving Arts Center Teen Volunteers Through June 25 | Courtyard Gallery
Selections from the Irving Arts Center Permanent Collection Through June 25 | Carpenter Lobby Gallery
NEW EXHIBITIONS
37th Annual Texas and Neighbors Regional Art Exhibition May 14-June 11 | Main Gallery This is an annual collaboration between the Irving Art Association and Irving Arts Center. 2022 is the 37th year that artists from Texas and neighboring states are invited to compete. The Juror for 2022 will be Billy Hassell, a Texas artist. A total of $9,000 in awards will be given across eight media categories. May 15 | 2 to 5 p.m. | Reception and Awards Ceremony
Billy Hassell: Continuum (Paintings and Prints 1990-2020) May 14-June
Great Egret with Four Blue Eggs by Billy Hassell
Heritage Park
Victoria Park
Parks and Recreation Spring Activities
Summer Camp Starts June 1
7 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Grades K-5 | $100 per child per week Campers will participate in gym games, arts and crafts and swimming in a supervised environment. Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided daily. Residents must have a valid IPAR ID card at the time of registration, along with payment or a nonrefundable $10 deposit to secure a space. Registration is available in person at any recreation center or online at CityofIrving.org/IrvingRec Spaces are limited.
Cimarron Park Recreation Center
201 Red River Trail, (972) 910-0702
● May 17 | Frisco RoughRiders
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Ages 50 and older | $10 per person
Enjoy a day at the ballpark. Cost includes transportation, all-you-can-eat buffet and beverages.
● Mondays and Wednesday | Breakfast Club
9:30 to 11:30 a.m. | Ages 50 and older | Free Enjoy a free breakfast along with a variety of fun activities such as painting, yoga, pickleball and more.
Heritage Senior Center
200 S. Jefferson St., (972) 721-2496
● May 6 | Mother’s Day Recognition
9 a.m. to noon | Ages 50 and older | Free Stop by for a special Mother’s Day gift and refreshments. This is a come and go event.
● May 13 | Older American’s Month Celebration
8 to 11:30 a.m. | All Ages | Free Celebrate Older American’s Month with refreshments and an auto show in the parking lot.
● Second and Fourth Friday | Texas Hold’em Poker
6 to 8:30 p.m. | Ages 50 and older | $3
Join a friendly game of poker. Play starts at 6:20 p.m., and last hand is dealt no later than 8:20 p.m. New
players welcome but must be a member.
● May 24 | Karaoke Night
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. | Ages 6 and older | Free
Join the last Tuesday of the month for some fun Karaoke. Pick a song and be the star of the show.
● May 26 | Choctaw Casino Trip
7 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Ages 50 and older | $20 for Members/$25 for Nonmembers
Cost covers transportation and participants are responsible for all spending money while at the casino. Space is limited; register by May 23.
Lee Park Recreation Center
3000 Pamela Drive, (972) 721-2508
● May 20 | Preschool Prom
5 to 8 p.m. | Ages 3-5 | $5 per person
Dance the night away, play games and enjoy refreshments. Children must be accompanied by a parent. Registration deadline is May 11.
Lively Pointe Youth Center
909 N. O’Connor Road, (972) 721-8090
● May 26 | End of School Bash
1 to 4 p.m. | Ages 12-17 | Free
Celebrate the end of the school year and the beginning of summer with outdoor activities, water games and refreshments.
Mustang Park Recreation Center
2223 Kinwest Parkway, (972) 556-1334
● Saturdays | Robotik4Kids
10 a.m. to noon | Ages 5-12 | $20 per session
A robotics workshop featuring a series of building and coding challenges. Kids of all abilities are welcome from beginners to kids with experience building and coding for robots.
Northwest Park Recreation Center
2800 Cheyenne St., (972) 721-2529
● May 26 | Summer Luau
1 to 5 p.m. | Ages 6 to 17 | $2 per person
Celebrate the start of summer with field events, games and refreshments. Must register by May 17.
Visit CityofIrving.org/IrvingRec to register in person or online. Call the recreation center for more information.
Pools, Aquatic Centers, Spray Parks
Outdoor aquatics facilities, including seasonal pools and spray parks, will open late May through early September. Due to staffing availability, days and hours of operation may vary.
Due to extensive winter storm damage and facility maintenance needs, Lively and Lee pools will not open this summer. For the most up-to-date information, visit CityofIrving.org/Aquatics n
Library Activities, Hotspots, AWE Computers
Each library location offers programs and activities for all ages and interests. Check out CityofIrving.org/ Calendar for more details, and contact the library at (972) 721-2440 for information about MiY Zone program registration requirements.
● May 7, 14, 21 | Self-Care Saturdays | Kids
All day | South Irving Library
On selected Saturdays in May and in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, kids may receive special treats, participate in self-care activities and follow along with updates on social media. Giveaways are while supplies last. Each Saturday features a different theme: May 7 is Soothing Sweets, May 14 is Yoga: Simple Savasana with a yoga session at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and May 21 is Calm and Scents.
● May 7 | InSPAration | Adults
3 p.m. | South Irving Library
In honor of Mother’s Day, ladies are invited to enjoy an afternoon of pampering with DIY scrubs, henna painting, back massages, games and more.
● May 11, 18, 25 | Renewable Energy Series for Teens | Grades 6-12
6:30 p.m. | Valley Ranch Library
This series focuses on renewable energy sources, with a new topic each Saturday: May 11 highlights solar power, May 18 covers wind turbines and May 25 features water turbines.
● May 14 | Spring Fling for Families | All ages 2:30 p.m. | Valley Ranch Library
Celebrate spring with a story, crafts, games and a scavenger hunt. Also take soil and seeds to plant a flower at home.
● May 21 | Mystery Club for Teens | Ages 14 and older
2 p.m. | West Irving Library
This new monthly meetup for teens includes thrills, chills and snacks galore. Investigate mysteries and discuss favorite unsolved cases with other aspiring detectives.
All library locations will be closed on May 17 for staff in-service. The online library is always open by visiting the website at CityofIrving.org/library and social media.
AWE Computers for Kids
Two library locations have introduced AWE (Advanced Workstations in Education) Early Literacy Station computers just for kids ages 2-8. Valley Ranch Library has two stations, and South Library has four in English and Spanish. These computers offer avatars, animated interfaces and more than 75 award-winning STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) educational software titles and games. No internet connection is required, creating a secure cyber environment for youth.
Hotspots at the Library
Irving residents with current library cards that allow checkout of physical materials may borrow hotspots to access free Wi-Fi at home. The hotspots are able to connect up to 10 devices, so the entire family may use the internet to read emails, play games and stream standard definition videos. The checkout period is three weeks, and although no renewals are available, patrons may place an additional device on hold. Hotspots may be checked out only at the first floor information desk at South Irving Library, 601 Schulze Drive.
For more information, visit CityofIrving.org/4015/ Hotspots which includes device instructions and tips.
STAY CONNECTED AND READY TO PLAY
The Irving Parks and Recreation Department’s Summer Session Brochure is full of information residents need to schedule, sign up and register for the upcoming camps, classes, programs and activities through August.
The brochure will feature schedules by age groups and information for all Irving recreation centers. The Summer 2022 Brochure is available at all recreation centers and online at CityofIrving.org/983/Class-Schedules
Search Facebook for @IrvingParksandRec and “Like” the page to stay up-to-date with what is going on in Irving Parks and Recreation — events, programs, information and more. Visit CityofIrving.org/Parks for more information. n
ANIMAL CONNECTION EXPERIENCE IS OPEN
The animal experience features petting zoo animals, pony rides, exotic animal displays, gifts and snack shop, a duck pond and children's activity area.
May 19-July 30 | Open Wednesdays – Sundays Fritz Park | 312 E. Vilbig St.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday –Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $5 or $4 for Irving residents with ID.
Dive into the 2022 Summer Reading Challenge by attending one of the kickoff events May 28 at 2:30 p.m. at all library locations. This year’s theme is “Oceans of Possibilities,” and the launch parties feature activities for kids, as well as everything needed for all ages to sign up for this year’s reading program, which ends July 31.
Each of these celebrations will feature balloon artists and crafts. The events at Valley Ranch and West Irving Libraries also will include a trackless train, and South Irving Library will have an on-site ice cream truck.
Printed reading logs will be available at the events as well as all season long at each location. Online registration will open May 28 at IrvingLibrary.READsquared.com. All participants have the chance to earn prizes during the summer, and once an individual challenge is completed, the reader will be entered into the grand prize drawing. n
CITY SNAPSHOTS
Summer Overlay Project Kicks Off
Irving Traffic and Transportation Department’s Streets Division will begin Year Five of the Road to the Future Summer Overlay Project, with improvements scheduled on 21 roadways across the city. The targeted roadways range from major corridors such as Belt Line Road to residential streets. Typically, this work begins in May, close to when the school year ends, running throughout the summer.
The milling and overlay process involves multiple crews. First, a milling crew removes existing asphalt down to a street’s base. Then an asphalt crew follows behind, laying and paving new asphalt. The process can be completed in a few weeks, weather permitting.
The following streets are included in this year’s
Summer Overlay Project:
● O’Connor Road from Rock Island Road to Sixth Street
● Sixth Street from MacArthur Boulevard to Senter Street
● Country Club Drive from Cheyenne Street to Belt Line Road
● Kinwest Parkway from Royal Lane to Regent Boulevard
● Kinwest Parkway from Regent Boulevard to Mustang Pass Parkway
● Market Place Boulevard from MacArthur Boulevard to Olympus Boulevard
● Santa Fe Trail to the end of the road
● Walnut Hill Lane from Belt Line Road to State Highway (SH) 161
● Winslow Street from Harvard Street to Witton Street
● Witton Street from Finley Road to Posey Drive
● Dewitt Street from McCarthy Street to Cartwright Street
● Posey Drive from Dewitt Street to Harvard Street
● Belt Line Road from Valley View Lane to Gateway Drive
● Premier Drive from Belt Line Road to Shorthorn Drive
● Belt Line Road from SH 183 to Walnut Hill Lane
● Irving Heights Drive from Carl Road to Grauwyler Road
● Country Club Court from Country Club West to end of road
● East Seventh Street from Senter
● Compton Avenue from Pioneer Drive to Conflans Road
● Esters Road from Royal Lane to end of road Drivers are reminded to drive slowly, stay alert and look out for workers, pedestrians and other drivers. Do not text and drive, and be patient when driving in work zones.
Additional streets may be added to this list throughout the summer. For a full list of street projects, visit CityofIrving.org/Road2Future n
Be a Good Neighbor: Abide by the Noise Ordinance
The City of Irving Noise Ordinance prohibits noise that unreasonably disturbs the peace, quiet and comfort of neighbors in residential areas, including multifamily or single-family dwellings. Enforced by the Irving Police Department, factors for enforcement include noise level, duration and/or recurrence of sound, time of day and the location of noise. The Noise Ordinance also covers emergency and non-emergency signaling devices, radios, televisions, radios/loudspeakers, amplifiers, animals, construction, yelling, vehicle noise and more. Convicted violators of the city’s Noise Ordinance are subject to fines between $370 and $559.
To view the Noise Ordinance in its entirety, visit CityofIrving.org/Ordinances and choose "Civil and Criminal". The complete Noise Ordinance is in Chapter 22. Report violations of this ordinance to the Irving Police Department at (972) 273-1010. n
Free Landfill Disposal Days May 13 and 14
Cleaning up around the house and wondering how to dispose of the materials? Each year Solid Waste Services provides two free disposal days at the landfill. This year’s days are listed below: May 13 and 14 | 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Hunter Ferrell Landfill | 110 E. Hunter Ferrell Road
Proof of residency – a current City of Irving utility bill or current driver's license – is required.
Residents can dispose of waste, including construction materials, free of charge. The landfill disposal fee will apply for contractors disposing of waste that results from work performed for Irving residents.
