JoAnn Johnson Trail Dedication

JoAnn Johnson Trail Dedication

JoAnn Johnson and her husband James chose North Richland Hills to make their home and raise their family in 1995. JoAnn was first elected to the City Council in 1991 and became the first female Mayor Pro-Tem in North Richland Hills in 1995. In May 2006, after 15 years of service, she retired from the City council with the distinction as the longest-serving Council member in North Richland Hill's History.

During her tenure, the city's population doubled. In 1992, with only four parks and few resources to address the needs of the park system, Joann Johnson, along with other council members, advocated and supported a voter-approved half-cent sales tax to improve parks. When JoAnn retired in 2006, North Richland Hills was home to over twenty parks and eleven miles of trails, all made possible by the half-cent sales tax.

In 2000 the National Recreation and Park Association awarded the "National Gold Medal" to the city, recognizing North Richland Hills as one of the best park systems in the Nation. Along with her work with Parks and Recreation, JoAnn was instrumental in the development of the city's first "History book." JoAnn recognized the importance of honoring our history while looking forward to our future.

2007