Page 16 - CityofKennedaleFY25AdoptedBudget

Park, TownCenter Plaza, Rodgers Farm Park and the future Kennedale Sports Complex.

In the past year, we were able to provide a variety of resources and programs to all ages through our Public
Library and Senior Center. This included programs focused on improving life skills, workforce training through

reading programs, and classes to learn basic computer skills. During this time, the library and Senior Center
experienced significantly higher visitor traffic than in previous years. The Senior Center continues to be popular

by hosting a variety of events specially designed for our Seniors such as health and exercise programs, game

days, and arts and crafts activities. The Senior Center continues to provide lunch and breakfast through the
Meals on Wheels program.

The library created and hosted a variety of additional programs and free events in FY 2023-2024 and
encouraged citizens to take advantage of the free resources available to everyone with a library card. We

partnered with Kennedale ISD to use their gyms due to the increased attendance at our summer reading
programs and our very popular live animal presentations. The library staff also created a 3-D Printer Innovation

Station including a 3D printer, laser engraver, and an embroidery machine, for the public to use for hands on

training and use. The innovation station was funded through a grant by the Hancher Foundation.

The library also received a much-needed facelift last year that consisted of new carpet, new window blinds,
new paint for the community room and the main collection area, and a new projector with speakers for the

community room. The community room continues to be used regularly and hosts events scheduled for the

public as well as in-house training courses held by the city.

The police department also launched a series of new and exciting programs in an effort to build partnerships

and increase communication within the community. The department’s Community Engagement Officer created
a Business Crime Prevention Coalition to help local businesses deter crime and improve crime prevention

efforts. The police department also participated in the very first national Faith and Blue event, hosted a Peace
Officer Angel Foundation fundraiser, represented the city and the department at First Responder events at

Globe Life Field and AT&T Stadium, started a new Police Chaplain program, launched the department’s new
drone program, and presented a number of crime prevention programs citywide to include Kennedale school

district presentations to students and staff. In only the third year of participation, the police department driven

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initiative National Night Out was very successful and the city placed 3 in Texas and 11 in the nation in
participation, resulting in an award from the National Association of Town Watch for our efforts. The police
department was also awarded Re-Accreditation by the Texas Police Chief’s Association during this period.

This is a significant accomplishment as there are only 211 agencies out of over 2,700 in the state that meet the
standards for accreditation. These are just a few examples of many more accomplishments in FY 2023-2024

CITYOFKENNEDALE.COM/BUDGET 16