Garland Mayor Dylan Hedrick Leverages Engineering Expertise to Guide City Through Strategic Redevelopment

Garland Mayor Dylan Hedrick brings engineering expertise and a citizen-first approach to leading a city facing the challenge of being nearly built out with limited horizontal expansion opportunities. Elected in June after serving six years on the Garland City Council, Hedrick emphasizes that despite managing multi-million-dollar projects, local government's heart remains in addressing individual resident concerns. "You can spend the morning on a major capital project and the afternoon talking with a resident about one pothole — but to that resident, that pothole is city government," he said.

Garland voters recently approved a $360 million bond package following a previous $427 million package, investments Mayor Hedrick describes as catalytic for infrastructure, economic development, and quality-of-life projects. "Our voters said yes to growth," Hedrick explained. "Garland is a community of moderate means, so we've had to do more with less. These bond programs allow us to reposition Garland for the next generation of investment and opportunity." The city's manufacturing heritage remains central to its identity, with three cowboy-hat manufacturers producing over a million hats annually, earning Garland recognition as the Cowboy Hat Capital of Texas.

As a civil engineer specializing in land development, Hedrick's background directly informs the city's approach to infrastructure and planning. Garland is actively redeveloping major corridors such as I-635 and Shiloh, where state reconstruction projects offer new access opportunities. Strategic land purchases — more than 60 acres already secured — are creating shovel-ready sites that close financial gaps for developers. The city remains the largest in the U.S. without a private hospital, a challenge Hedrick aims to address through strategic land planning and economic incentives.

Mayor Hedrick maintains direct communication with citizens through "Meet the Mayor Mondays" listening sessions and his podcast, Fifth & State, which gives residents an inside look at city leadership discussions. As Garland updates its 25-year comprehensive plan, Hedrick's message emphasizes opportunity: "Garland is open for business. We want to work with innovators, employers, and developers who see the opportunity here. The magic we've created downtown can happen across the city."

The implications of Garland's strategic pivot are significant for the North Texas economy. By focusing on redevelopment rather than expansion, the city demonstrates how mature municipalities can attract investment without sprawling. The voter-approved bond packages signal community support for targeted improvements, which could make Garland more competitive for businesses seeking established infrastructure. The emphasis on shovel-ready sites addresses a common barrier for developers, potentially accelerating project timelines and economic activity.

For residents, this approach promises enhanced quality of life through improved infrastructure and potential new amenities, while maintaining the city's unique manufacturing character. The focus on addressing the hospital gap could have substantial health and economic impacts, making Garland more attractive to families and employers. Hedrick's engineering perspective brings technical rigor to urban planning decisions, potentially leading to more sustainable and cost-effective outcomes. As other Texas cities face similar build-out challenges, Garland's model of leveraging existing assets through strategic investment and resident engagement offers a replicable framework for managed growth.