FM-740 Median Trees & Irrigation Coming Spring 2021

The City of Heath has been at work to beautify the main corridor through the City within the FM-740 medians from CVS to the Tom Thumb retail center. A bid for 88 trees, including Cedar Elms, Red Oaks, Shumard Oaks and red and pink Crepe Myrtle trees, was awarded in March for planting this spring in those medians. Once the trees are planted, an irrigation system will be installed.

Additionally, improvements to the existing landscaping in the FM 740 medians north of CVS has been underway. The City has cleaned out the old landscaping, repaired and upgraded the irrigation system, and will be planting new landscape plants and grass sod. This will be completed by the end of June.

Background:
The widening of FM 740, from the CVS intersection to FM 1140/FM 740 by City Hall, was constructed by TxDOT. However, the TxDOT project did not include funding for median landscaping and irrigation.

Since that time, the City has budgeted for this important work soon to be completed. The funding has come from the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget directed by City Council, the City Tree Mitigation Program funds, and Park/Community (CIP) funding generated by local sales tax that is remitted to the Heath Economic Development Corporation/Heath Municipal Benefits Corporation (HEDC/HMBC).

During the past three years, the HEDC/HMBC has dedicated 25% of its sales tax revenue to be invested into the community through projects such as the median landscaping that are identified and prioritized by the Park Board.

“Beautifying the medians of FM 740 has been a top priority for City leadership and our citizens. We’re very excited to see the results of our cooperative planning and work coming to life this spring,” said Mayor Kelson Elam.