Tyler Transforming: Annual Report 2022-2023

Mayor

DON WARREN

I am proud of our City and excited about how we are building and investing in enhancements to services and infrastructure that will improve our quality of life for decades to come. Together, we are transforming Tyler into a nationally known community with a robust business environment, quality medical care, excellent educational institutions, and beautiful public spaces and neighborhoods.

The City’s progress and transformation are part of a larger plan: “Tyler 1st.” We focus on the outcomes for our future generations as we prioritize capital programs and activities.

Importantly, transforming Tyler requires us to focus on our facilities. After decades of hard work by many mayors, councilmembers and staff, W.T. Brookshire Conference Center opened in April 2023.

Dear Friends & Neighbors:

Improving our public spaces is important for residents and visitors alike. We renovated the fields at Lindsey Park and Golden Road Park. Transforming the parks is now possible with dedicated funds for maintenance and improvements collected from landfill fees. With collaboration between departments, we will also completely renovate neighborhood parks Noble E. Young and P.T. Cole.

Our community is enjoying tremendous growth, and with growth comes challenges with traffic. In 2021, we installed the Advanced Traffic Management System: a more reliable and safer traffic signal system for the residents of Tyler. This year, we replaced 14 of the 149 existing traffic signal cabinets, including battery backups. The upgrades replaced equipment that was past its life span. We will also retime 19 traffic signals remotely for the first time, allowing for quicker implementation and less staff time in the field.

Finally, Tyler has a bright future and a rich history that is vital to preserve as we transform our City for the future. I understand that our historic brick streets tie to our character and sense of history. We developed a more extensive brick street repair program last fiscal year and continued this year to maintain them for future generations.

Transformation is taking place in our community. The Tyler of tomorrow will enhance what we see today. These changes are intentional, true to us and the Tyler spirit. What will never change is the feeling you have when you live here: the feeling that you are home.

I am proud to be your neighbor. I am proud to be your Mayor.

Don Warren Mayor | City of Tyler, Texas

COUNCIL City

DISTRICT 2 WEST

District 2 is located on the west side of Old Jacksonville Highway between Districts 1 and 3, and includes the annexed Tyler Pounds Regional Airport. It is home to Tyler’s burgeoning tech sector and our vibrant downtown entertainment district.

DISTRICT 3 NORTHWEST

District 3 is located on the northwestern bounds of the city limits. Rich in history, it is home to the Texas College campus: the oldest institution of higher education in Tyler.

DISTRICT 4 NORTHEAST

District 4 is located on the northeastern side of Tyler between McDonald Road and East Gentry Parkway. It is home to Tyler’s historic Azalea District, Bergfeld Park and Amphitheater, Brick Street Village, and the newly renovated Hillside Park.

DISTRICT 5 EAST

DISTRICT 1 CENTRAL

District 1 is located between Old Jacksonville Highway and South Broadway Avenue in the southern part of the city. It is home to several miles of hiking and biking trails, including those at Faulkner Park and the newly developed Legacy Trails trailhead.

District 5 is located south of McDonald Road and east of Paluxy Drive. It houses both The University of Texas at Tyler and Tyler Junior College, which bring more than 10,000 students to Tyler annually.

DISTRICT 6 SOUTH

District 6 is located between Paluxy Drive and South Broadway Avenue. It is home to the Village at Cumberland Park: Tyler’s newest restaurant and retail destination. It houses the popular Southside Park and Rose Rudman Recreational Trail: one of the most utilized trails in Tyler.

Left to Right: Brad Curtis, District 6; Shirley McKellar, District 3; James Wynne, District 4; Don Warren, Mayor; Stuart Hene, District 1; Bob Westbrook, District 5; and Broderick McGee, District 2

Dear Honorable Mayor, City Council Members and Residents of Tyler:

We continue to build a strong community focused on the quality of life for our residents, businesses, and visitors.

Transforming Tyler for the future requires us to keep investing in our employees, services, programs,

and partnerships that fulfill the needs of our vibrant community.

It is no secret that appraisal values in Texas and across the nation have soared. The change in taxable values Tyler experienced is the largest increase in more than a decade. This has allowed the City of Tyler to both decrease the property tax rate while raising the revenue necessary to continue the high standard of service delivery. Every dollar collected from property tax levies is used for operations for the public. Every penny paid by our residents is used toward maintenance and operations of vital public services, particularly public safety such as police and fire.

This year, we also adjusted the water rate structure to provide greater fairness and equity while more accurately capturing the cost to provide water services to

our City. Tyler was one of the last cities in the state to have a water rate structure not based on water conservation, which this new rate now promotes.

Transforming Tyler requires us to invest in our employees, improve efficiency, implement new initiatives, and provide our public servants the resources they need to build the future we want. This report is a testament to their dedication and commitment to enhance the quality of life for all residents of Tyler.

As always, we remain “Called to SERVE” our community.

ROBINETTE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION

DIETZ DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES

HEATHER NICK ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER

JIMMY

TOLER POLICE CHIEF

COBLE FIRE CHIEF

Executive

our City

Dollars & SENSE

HOW DO WE PAY FOR OUR SERVICES?

Capital IMPROVEMENTS

The Cambridge Road reconstruction project will improve mobility, safety, and drainage in the Cambridge Road to Jeff Davis area of District 6. The road will accommodate two lanes of traffic with a center turning lane. The $8.5 million project will also include a new underground stormwater collection system and new water main, and construct a new five-foot wide ADA-compliant sidewalk.

Separately out of our General Fund, this year we invested $2 million on public alley repairs, 25 lane miles of street improvements, and 193 brick street repairs.

As part of the Intelligent Transportation System Master Plan, we have retimed 37 intersections in the past two years. Retiming these intersections saved drivers approximately 317,000 vehicle hours per year and more than $9.8 million annually.

Revolutionizing LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The Texas Municipal League (TML) Municipal Excellence Awards recognize and encourage the achievements of Texas cities in meeting the challenges of municipal governance. The Municipal Excellence Award program honors the best innovative problemsolving programs that demonstrate excellence in management,

increasing resident participation and reaching higher service levels. The City of Tyler earned two Municipal Excellence Awards in 2022, recognizing the City’s management innovation and public safety programs for cities with populations of more than 25,000. The awards honored the City for its “Infants at Work” pilot program and the addition of a Homeless Coordinator position

for the Tyler Police Department.

The “Infants at Work” program started in 2021 as an initiative to improve the work-life integration for employees by acknowledging a parent’s and caregiver’s responsibility to their job and family. The program provides essential support to City staff during their transition to parenthood by allowing them to bring

their babies to work until they are six months old. Smith County Champions for Children granted the 2022 Champions for Children Corporate Champion Award to the “Infants at Work” program later that year. After the program’s great success, four Texas cities have contacted the City of Tyler’s Organizational Development Department for help to recreate it in their towns.

In the fall of 2021, the Tyler Police Department (TPD) added a vital position: a Homeless Coordinator role assigned to Officer Johnny Green. The position addresses the issues of homelessness in the community and improves access to social services. Officer Green works with the homeless population to identify individual needs and access local resources.

and even mORE AWARDS

GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

- 36th Consecutive Certificate of Achievement Award for Excellence

- 16th Consecutive Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

BEST IN TOWN

- The historic Liberty Hall theater won an award for being one of the best performing arts centers in Tyler.

- Gallery Main Street was voted as one of the best art galleries in Tyler.

MAIN STREET

- Downtown Tyler Historic District placed in National Register of Historic Places

PARKS

- Tyler Municipal Rose Garden received the 2023 Texas Recreation and Park Society Lone Star Legacy Park Award

PLANNING

- 8th consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Planning Excellence

COMMUNICATIONS

Since the TPD created the position, more individuals are seeking social services. This year, Officer Green connected five people with family and friends to receive housing and help. He also found living accommodations or jobs for another three people.

“The awards recognize that these projects, our City Council’s direction and our employees are among the best

in the state,” said City Manager Ed Broussard. “It is a great honor to our organization and our community.”

The awards demonstrate the City of Tyler’s dedication to innovative and compassionate governance. They certify Tyler’s commitment to meeting the challenges of municipal government and serving the community with excellence.

- TAMIO Award of Excellence, Print Report: 2020-2021 Annual Report

- 3CMA Award of Excellence, Most Innovative Communication: “Roses and Weeds” Podcast

These awards demonstrate the City of Tyler’s dedication to innovative and compassionate governance.

Response & Recovery:

In February 2023, the City of Tyler transformed overnight as rain quickly froze, encapsulating the trees and power lines in ice for several days. Thousands of residents across the City were without power due to the ice weighing down trees and limbs, causing them to fall onto power lines.

A historic storm like Winter Storm Mara can typically take out all of the mitigations put in place to avoid a catastrophe. Thanks to the experience gained after multiple severe weather crises, our teams have transformed the way we respond.

The City of Tyler team provided 24/7 coverage of essential and emergency services for the community. No casualties were reported. Critical and emergency services operated at full strength throughout the storm.

After the storm passed, recovery efforts were set in motion. Internal and external communication methods were vital to the response and recovery efforts. Executive Team members stayed in close contact with Oncor ® and State agencies for updates and assistance. At the same time, City Staff provided constant updates on conditions. They also connected residents to services and solutions.

Various departments logged thousands of work hours clearing downed trees and limbs, as well as fixing damage to streets and traffic signals. Their hard work quickly and efficiently got the City back to normal operations and ready to serve the next time our neighbors needed us.

STORM STATS

- The Streets Department laid 7.5 tons of deicer on bridges and overpasses. They responded to 489 calls for cutting and removing debris, trees, and limbs blocking roadways and rights-of-way.

- Winter Storm Mara was the first time the Streets Department used Torch™ Xtreme Deicer directly on the icy pavement without mixing it with sand. There was an 83.6% decrease in traffic accidents during Winter Storm Mara compared to Winter Storm Uri.

- Tyler Firefighters responded to 115 calls about downed power lines and 17 calls about arcing power lines caused by ice accumulations making trees up to three times heavier and falling onto the power lines.

- The Traffic Signal Team repaired 15 damaged or misaligned signals after the storm. Power outages throughout the City caused 42 of the 149 signalized intersections to lose power at least once. The team deployed 14 generators to power traffic signals at the busiest intersections during the height of the storm. Portable stop signs were placed at the other intersections without power to alert drivers to make a four-way stop.

- Solid Waste received and completed almost 3,000 work orders placed for limbs and brush pickup after the winter weather event.

- The Tyler Police Department responded to 314 calls for service during the storm.

- The Permits office issued 154 emergency electrical repair permits.

- Since Winter Storm Uri in 2021 and the straight-line winds in Spring 2022, we have lost more than 300 trees in City Parks and another 100+ that fell on streets blocking traffic.

- We have planted more than 900 trees throughout City parks since the beginning of 2023 to recover our loss from severe storms.

- All 28 parks sustained some damage, including severe damage at Bergfeld and Crescent Parks; and Oakwood, Westview, and Rose Hill Cemeteries.

- Power was out for about 24 hours at the Golden Road Water Treatment Plant. All water production was shifted to the Lake Palestine Water Treatment Plant. The swift response by personnel prevented residents from experiencing water loss or pressure issues.

Reshaping PUBLIC SAFETY

As our community grows, so does the need for more fire-protection services. This year has been one of transformation as we moved our Tyler Fire Department (TFD) headquarters to a larger, more functional building near Downtown on Front Street. The rehabbed, multipurpose building can also serve as a temporary vaccine clinic or emergency operations center during crisis situations.

Fire Station 3, located at the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport, received a new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle funded by the Federal Aviation Administration. The new ARFF truck replaces a 22-year-old vehicle. It will provide superior fire protection to the Tyler Airport, as it is able to hold 1,500 gallons of water, 500 pounds of dry chemical, and about 200 gallons of foam. The ARFF vehicle is equipped with a high-reach extendable turret, equipment to break the “skin” of airplanes, and the ability to test foam through an internal computer.

The TFD also took action to ensure that our community growth would not compromise our fire response times. We added two new positions and two new

SISTER CITIES

Tyler, Texas, has had a special friendship with Jelenia Góra, Poland, for 30 years. Amid the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, the Tyler community raised more than $30,000 to assist the Polish city in providing essential needs and housing for 3,000 refugees who fled their home country.

In September 2022, Fire Chief David Coble led a delegation of City Officials on a visit to Jelenia Góra to deepen the partnership between the cities. The Sister Cities delegation witnessed the generosity of Tylerites at work when they toured the refugee center.

OUR FAMILY AT the TFD stands ready to serve yours then, now, and tomorrow.

fire engines this year. These investments allow us to maintain our Class 1 rating and the benefit that it brings to our community through lower insurance premiums for property owners.

“Through these efforts, we will be prepared for the future, and have the resources in place to staff a new station when needed,” said Fire Chief David Coble.

Our family at the Tyler Fire Department stands ready to serve yours then, now, and tomorrow.

Advancements in technology help Tyler Police Department (TPD) Officers respond effectively to situations and provide the best service to the community. This year, the Tyler City Council approved funding $2.6 million over five years to provide TPD Officers with the latest public safety technology. Every police officer will receive new body cameras and tasers, handgun replacements, video technology systems in all vehicles with cloud-based storage software, and more.

In past years, Tyler Police Officers utilized tasers with a single non-lethal shot. The new tasers have two shots with different ranges and lasers to increase accuracy. These will provide more options for dealing with potentially dangerous or combative suspects without resorting to lethal force.

The video-technology additions let police officers capture and protect accident and crime-scene evidence, as well as store it on a cloud-based system for longer. This investment ensures that all Tyler Police Officers have the most up-to-date technology to document interactions with the community.

The department also invested grant funds into a 3D laser scanner, which allows officers to spend less time measuring and photographing a crime scene. The scanner takes millions of measurements per second while capturing fine details that allow a scene to be reconstructed three-dimensionally.

“This allows us to share exactly what officers saw at a crime scene with a court and jury,” said Chief of Police Jimmy Toler. “It’s not just something that would be used for crime scenes. It could be utilized for recreating an accident scene to show where things were when an incident occurred.”

During the weeklong visit, the delegation was also able to tour Jelenia Góra’s newest fire station. After trading traditional patches, Chief Coble and Commander Andrzej Ciosk discussed the idea of establishing an exchange program for firefighters in the two cities.

“We’re all here to help people,” said Fire Chief David Coble. “Commander Andrzej Ciosk is building the best fire department he can for the people of Jelenia Góra, and I’m doing the same for the residents of Tyler. We have the common goal to serve others.”

The TPD also transformed a building next door to the Downtown station into a dedicated crime lab for processing evidence, such as fingerprints, photos, and vehicles. The building has a garage that now allows investigators to gather evidence in a climate-controlled and blacked-out area, which preserves evidence and allows for accurate analysis. The new crime scene investigation (CSI) lab also created space that allows the TPD to train the next generation of East Texas law enforcement.

“At the beginning of 2023, we started the Tyler PD Police Academy,” said Police Chief Jimmy Toler. “It’s essential that our officers receive comprehensive training to best assist our community, and to know how to use new equipment and advancing technology. We’re not only training our own recruits but other East Texas agencies’ future officers. It’s a showcase of what the Tyler Police Department can do.”

Modernizing OUR TREATMENT PLANTS

Water

It takes a dedicated team with up-to-date equipment and infrastructure to produce and distribute the 40 million gallons of treated water that our community uses every day. Upgrading and rehabilitating the water treatment plants is a top priority in a transforming community like Tyler.

Tyler Water Utilities (TWU) has extensively modernized the Golden Road Water Treatment Plant since it first came online in the 1940s. The plant uses 16 dual-media, rapid-sand filters as an essential part of the water treatment process. The Department rehabilitated filters 1 through 8 in the last several years. Over the next few years, TWU will reconstruct four more of the 16, including replacing the underdrain, media, and surface wash system.

UPCOMING PROJECTS

- 2” Water Line Replacement: $1M

- Emergency Water Main Repairs: $725K

- Water System Improvements: $730K

Moreover, the upgrades will extend the life span of the filters, minimize the need for repairs, and improve the plant’s reliability. Up-to-date equipment and infrastructure reduce the risk of breakdowns, ensuring that the plant can operate continuously to provide consistent quality and safe drinking water to the City’s customers.

- John Soules Foods Waterline Extension: $3.8M

- Shiloh Road Elevated Storage Tank and Pressure Plane: $2.6M

WASTEWATER

Tyler is an ever-growing City, and we are increasing our capacity to serve the community. The wastewater treatment plants are receiving major equipment upgrades. A safer and more efficient administration building for the Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant is nearing its final design stage. These improvements allow the plants to keep pace with the demands of a growing population dependent on their 24/7 operation.

The Southside and Westside Wastewater Treatment Plants will receive $3.66 million in upgrades to chlorination and dechlorination equipment essential to the function of the wastewater treatment process. The improvements will also ensure compliance with environmental regulations and protect the health of local waterways and wildlife.

TWU is also constructing a new administration building at the Westside plant as part of these improvements to replace the current facility that was built in 1966 and rehabbed in 1990. A well-equipped administration building housing a cutting-edge lab is a necessity for the safety and well-being of TWU employees.

Construction will begin this summer, and will finalize in mid-2024. These investments demonstrate Tyler Water Utilities’ commitment to providing safe and efficient wastewater treatment services for the City of Tyler.

UPCOMING PROJECTS

- Emergency Sewer Repairs: $134K

- Southside and Westside WWTP Chlorination and Dechlorination System Improvements: $3.6M

- Westside WWTP Lab and Administration Building: $2.4M

- Consent Decree Rehabilitation and Capacity Upgrades: $38M

CONSENT DECREE

7 10 of the Year -year process

91.4 miles of lines assessed CCTV

231 number of manholes assessed

956 number of manholes repaired

4.78 miles of sewer lines repaired

479 grease trap inspections

The improvements protect the health of local waterways and wildlife.

Water is pumped from Lake Palestine to our Water Treatment Plant.

Parks and Recreation

The Glow-Up

Our parks and green spaces are the threads that connect the rich fabric of our City. We are a community that treasures these places. With 28 City parks, there is one within walking distance of every resident. For this reason, the City of Tyler Parks and Recreation Department has made it a goal to rehabilitate and improve every City park. This might mean adding benches or planting trees for some, but it means a complete overhaul and redesign for others.

Constructed in 1998, Noble E. Young Park (located off Frankston Highway and Loop 323) is one of the newest parks in the City of Tyler. Residing behind a quiet neighborhood, the Noble E. Young Park quickly became a staple for the community. Because of its popularity and constant use, some areas began to deteriorate, and its

remote nature lent itself to loitering and vandalism. Through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and with input from neighbors, the Parks Department replaced the deteriorating pavilion and restrooms, and added a walking trail and sidewalks. An outdoor exercise area with ADA-accessible equipment was also added. Our Parks staff created a bicycle course perfectly designed for new riders through a partnership with the Tyler Bike Club.

After a complete reconstruction, leadership decided that the Park merited a dedicated entrance. The entrance to the Noble was once on Seaton Street, cutting through a neighborhood with the parking lot partially hidden behind a row of houses. The new

GOOD THINGS

Keep Tyler Beautiful (KTyB) has made it a mission to create art in overlooked areas and bring beauty to blight. In 2019, KTyB started a program to transform park bathrooms and storage areas into elaborate works of art. From primary colors to muted and delicate azaleas, each one is themed to match its location. They aim to install at least one beautiful piece of art in each of our 28 City parks.

Public art discourages graffiti, creates positive and creative environments, and allows local artists to display their work. Before these improvements, we had a full-time contractor removing graffiti from these spaces across the City. Through these programs, we have seen the amount of graffiti cut in half, and it can now be managed in-house by a part-time City employee.

These murals have created a great sense of pride within our community. In turn, the areas are cleaner and more inviting. Residents celebrate every new installation and ask for their favorite place to be next. KTyB doesn’t stop at park bathrooms and storage areas. They also organize community cleanup events, as well as promote recycling and waste reduction. Their efforts have led to a

entrance and parking lot are now off a major arterial road (Towne Park Drive) on the Park’s west side, granting visitors and Emergency Services easy access.

As part of the renovation project, Keep Tyler Beautiful (KTyB) unveiled a vibrant mural at Noble E. Young Park painted by local artist Jamie Robinson, featuring the phrase “Good things happen here.”

P.T. Cole Park, a prominent and highly utilized park centrally located off Vine Street, was in much need of attention. In April 2023, the Tyler Parks Department completed a total renovation to revitalize its well-loved but aging features. The Department reinvigorated the Park through an array of upgrades, including playground equipment, a quarter-mile walking trail, a spray ground, a pavilion, two half-courts for basketball, and general restroom and grounds upgrades. The CDBG grant funded this dramatic and comprehensive renovation.

“We are grateful to be able to work with the Neighborhood Services Department to make these projects happen,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Leanne Robinette. “These grants helped us improve community parks to make them a better place the neighbors and their families will enjoy.”

To finalize the project, KTyB invited the community to help paint the restroom mural before the grand opening. Families and neighbors of all ages participated in transforming the facility into an eclectic patchwork of shapes and colors representing our community and following the Park’s theme of exciting geometric shapes.

“We know how much P.T. Cole Park means to the community,” said Keep Tyler Beautiful Community Coordinator Erin Garner. “We wanted to include them in the process, and for them to feel ownership and pride in their neighborhood park.”

Community involvement and input played a significant role in the redesign process of these parks. The improvements aim to provide safe and enjoyable open spaces for neighbors to gather and play.

HAPPEN HERE

significant decrease in litter and illegal dumping.

KTyB’s impact goes beyond the physical transformation. They have brought people together, forging friendships and connections across diverse backgrounds. Their outreach efforts have engaged youth groups and developed environmental awareness

programs. Through Keep Tyler Beautiful’s initiatives, Tyler has become a more beautiful, sustainable, and friendly place to live.

ROSE CITY Blooming

Roses bloom at the new W.T. Brookshire Conference Center in the Tyler Rose Complex. The new state-of-the-art facility, constructed where Harvey Hall once stood, opened its doors with a bang on April 13, 2023. Visitors were led into the joyous opening ceremony with Tyler ISD Caldwell Arts Academy Drumline and the Tyler Junior College Apache Belles lining the way. Texas College’s Choir performed a livelyrendition of “Oh Happy Day” before the current and previous mayors took the stage to celebrate a monumental accomplishment that was 30 years in the making. Once the ceremonial ribbon was cut, hundreds of visitors, neighbors, and residents entered the facility to experience its grandeur. The musical stylings of The University of Texas at Tyler’s Swoop Jazz Band created the perfect ritzy atmosphere as enraptured Tylerites and visitors toured the facility, stopping to take photos and witnessing the future of the City of Tyler, Texas. The awaited night was capped by the Tyler Junior College Drumline leading the way to a spectacular fireworks show.

Centrally located in Northeast Texas, Tyler is a hub for the region. It is easily accessible to several major cities like Dallas, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana. This makes Tyler the perfect location to host groups for conferences and tours. The Tyler Rose Complex includes the newly built Conference Center, the historic Rose Garden and Mayfair Building, the Tyler Civic Theatre, Tyler ISD Regional Sports Stadium, and the surrounding areas. Altogether, it will boast more than 60,000 square feet of meeting space. The new Complex will position Tyler as a destination experience for visitors and locals alike. The City’s goal is to cultivate a distinct, all-inclusive atmosphere nestled among the natural beauty of Tyler with the best lodging, dining, shopping, and entertainment scene in East Texas.

The Conference Center, built as the centerpiece of the Rose Complex, is sure to offer attendees a conference experience like no other. A three-acre park stands before the building to create an impressive and inviting entrance. The Center’s unique design (inspired by midcentury modern architecture) brings the outdoor beauty of the Tyler Rose Garden indoors, even influencing the names of each room. From small breakout rooms to one big space seating almost 1,800 people or 1,300 banquet-style, the space can literally transform to fit all conference needs. Attractive and efficient meeting spaces will aid Tyler in recruiting larger conventions to the region.

The new facility is named after W.T. Brookshire who established Brookshire Grocery Company nearly a century ago in Downtown Tyler. About 19,000 employees comprise the company’s nearly 200 stores across Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas today. This same contagious Texas spirit of progress, exemplary customer service, and community development is at the heart of the Rose Complex project. This makes the partnership between the City of Tyler and the Brookshire family the perfect pairing. However, it doesn’t end there.

What’s next? The Mayfair Reconstruction

Next on the agenda is the revitalization of the historic Mayfair building: a performing arts venue built in 1927 that hosted the likes of Johnny Cash in its heyday. The renovation will preserve all of the historic elements of the landmark (including the original floors, windows, stage, and green room that was once visited by Elvis Presley) while adding structural integrity, new storage space, and ADA-accessible restrooms. The project will add rollup doors on one side of the building that will open to a deck area with additional outdoor sitting, a food truck park, and access to a future hotel.

The multipurpose building will serve as a dance hall, event space,and conference extension with the same state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment as the main conference center. The 5,000-square-foot building will be finished in the last quarter of 2023. A trail and trolley system will be created to connect the entire Complex to our thriving and developing Downtown Tyler. We invite you to join our excitement for all the new Rose Complex brings to Tyler. Imagine spending a Saturday morning strolling through the Rose Garden, followed by a picnic on the Complex lawn, catching an afternoon lecture in the Conference Center, and then walking to your cozy hotel room, all in one place! All of those experiences and more await us in this new season for the beautiful

ROSE CITY.

Up Next: Transforming the heart of our City