City of DeSoto’s Post

Join us for the DeSoto Young Professionals Forum: Fueling Innovation. Dive into career development, housing opportunities, and quality of life developments. Happening July 30, 2024. Stay tuned for updates! #DeSotoYP #Innovation #DeSoto

The City of DeSoto broke ground this morning for a 74,000 square foot Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC) which will become the central hub for DeSoto’s Curtistene S. McCowan Park and a citywide venue for fitness and multigenerational recreation. This $53 million project represents a major milestone in the life of DeSoto and is welcome addition that has been the subject of active community engagement and discussion for more than a decade.    DeSoto’s new “ARC” is one of the key components for the City of DeSoto’s Parks Master Plan and will anchor the broader park complex. It will include a full-scale indoor competition pool accompanied by observation decks on the second level to allow for competitive swimming events. A 400-foot fitness track for cardio workouts will be suspended above the facility’s first level. There will be a fully equipped fitness area including a leisure pool, gyms, strength training equipment, meeting rooms, and a social gathering space allowing for group activities such as basketball, volleyball, & pickleball. And with the grounds of McCowan Park surrounding it, the entire area will be transformed into a multi-sport layout experience that will stand out in a region already known for athleticism. McCowan Park is named for DeSoto’s 21st Mayor, Curtistene S. McCowan, who died in office in late 2020. McCowan was DeSoto’s first female Mayor and served from 2016 until her death. She served on the DeSoto City Council from 2012 to 2016 and was Mayor Pro Tem from 2014 to 2016. In 1990 McCowan was elected to a DeSoto ISD Board of Trustees seat, making her the first African American in DeSoto to be elected to a public office.   The project is being designed by the Smith Group of Dallas and competition is anticipated in January 2026.

The City of DeSoto is preparing to break ground on our new state-of-the-art ARC at McCowan Park! 🏊♂️🏋️♀️ This project represents more than just construction; it's a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for everyone in our community. I'm grateful to everyone who has contributed to making this vision a reality, from our dedicated staff to our supportive community members. Together, we're creating a space where health, wellness, and fun will thrive for generations to come. Stay tuned for more updates as we progress towards the grand opening of our new Aquatic and Recreation Center! 🌟

The City of DeSoto is excited to announce that Majed Al-Ghafry, Assistant City Manager for the City of Dallas, has been chosen by the DeSoto City Council to serve as DeSoto's next City Manager! Majed Al-Ghafry is an Executive Engineer and educator who has spent more than 35 years as a leader in both the public and private sectors. He has worn many hats with the City of Dallas including overseeing all of Dallas’ infrastructure departments, Economic Development, Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization, Planning and Urban Design, Development Services, the Office of Historic Preservation and the Tourism, Conventions and Events Departments.   Before joining the City of Dallas, Al-Ghafry served as the Assistant City Manager of the City of El Cajon, California, and as the Public Works Director for the City of San Antonio. Majed is a Credentialed City Manager who earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Texas, Denton, a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, professional engineering registrations in Civil and Traffic from the State of California and a professional engineering registration from the State of Texas. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas. Please join us in congratulating Majed and wishing him well in his new role!

EXCITING NEWS! We are thrilled to announce that the Nance Farm project passed City Council with a unanimous vote on May 21, 2024. This significant milestone allows us to move forward with the Nance Farm Masterplan. Stay tuned for updates as we embark on this exciting journey! #NanceFarm #DeSotoTexas #SoMuchToLove #NewstoLove

The City of DeSoto is so proud that our very own Antoine Long was selected as one of the Top 50 Economic Developers in the Nation for 2024! #somuchtolove #economicdevelopment #cityofdesoto #ouremployeesareawesome