As we ring in 2026, let’s look back at the moments that shaped the past year in East Dallas.
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So long, Skillman Southwestern
Despite efforts to save it, Skillman Southwestern Branch Library closed in September because Dallas City Council chose not to fund it in the 2025-26 budget after Mayor Eric Johnson proposed closing the library in exchange for aquatics programs funding and lowering the tax rate.
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In October, Woodrow Wilson High School Principal Chandra Hooper-Barnett was removed from her role after allegedly holding a controversial meeting with Black students; Danielle Petters, the previous executive director of the Woodrow Wilson Vertical Team and former principal at J.L. Long Middle School, stepped in as the interim principal.
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Our City was planning to transition alley trash pickup to curbside for some neighbors, but that was put on pause in October so that staff can “fully evaluate additional options for continuing alley service where residents strongly prefer it, while addressing the City’s ongoing safety and efficiency concerns.”
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In February, Dallas City Council unanimously approved the expansion of the Lakewood Conservation District to bring in 146 more homes into the boundaries and to ensure that home remodels and new builds match and are compatible with other homes in the district.
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In May, Dallas City Council approved the creation of the Far East Dallas Public Improvement District, which will cover areas surrounding the White Rock Hills and White Rock East neighborhoods and raise funding to bolster public safety and for improvements to the area.
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Rodeo Dallas gets bucked
Rodeo Dallas was closed twice, once by its landlord and after neighboring property owner Asana Partners received a temporary restraining order against the bar, which is accused of “dangerous and unlawful conduct.” The lawsuit has since been dismissed.
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Garland Road Vision Plan, or Garland Road Next Generation Planning, will look into an integrated multimodal transportation system and the capacity for improvements to pedestrian and bicycle access from neighborhoods into commercial/nonresidential areas from the 3G intersection to I-635.
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The Junius Heights Historic District planted trees, ranging from 10 to 12-feet tall, across 15 locations last January via a multi-generational initiative called Trees for Tomorrow.
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Funding culture
The Deep Ellum Foundation received a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation in January for the Dallas Cultural Trail project, which will connect the Dallas Arts District in Downtown, Deep Ellum and Fair Park.
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In January, Dallas 24 Hour Club announced a new capital campaign to fund Trevor’s Place, which is named after someone who passed away from a drug overdose and is expected to include flexible community space, a technology lab, gym, library, meditation garden and curated art installations.
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Goodbye, grant
Publisher and bookstore Deep Vellum, Ballet North Texas and other organizations lost National Endowment for the Arts grant funding, and Deep Vellum was told that the change was made to “focus funding on projects that reflect the nation’s rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the President.”
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Former District 9 Park and Recreation Board member Maria Hasbany announced her resignation in August while criticizing District 9 City Council member Paula Blackmon on her leadership choices; Michael Jung succeeded her on the board.
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Leadership changes
District 2 Council member Jesse Moreno became the Dallas City Council’s new mayor pro tem in June; East Dallas native and Bishop Lynch High School alumna Megan Dennen was hired as the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce’s first CEO in August.
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New park features
The year 2025 brought us a new splash pad at the Old East Dallas Work Yard Park in July and a new dog park at Lakeland Hills Park in October.
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In memoriam
— Chris Penn, who headed up Good Records and was a major figure in local music
— Linda Marie Ford England of Lakewood, who hung up messages in her window at home, co-founded Echo Theatre and was a friendly face at Whole Foods
— Local drifter/documentary star Robert Crawford, aka “Keyboard Bob”
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Top crime
— Floyd Street in March: a bride-to-be and her future aunt-in-law were assaulted during a bachelorette celebration.
— Samuell Boulevard in September: a motel manager was murdered and decapitated.
— Eastwood Drive in October: a woman and her dog died in an RV fire that was deemed to be arson.
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Freak accidents
On Aug. 25, multiple people were injured after a DART bus collided with a tree at White Rock Station on Aug. 25, and in Lakewood, a tree fell onto Maisie Evans Marsau’s SUV on Wendover Road while she was still inside, rendering her paralyzed and prompting a lawsuit.
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Openings and rebirths
— Burger Schmurger’s first brick-and-mortar on April 30 on Buckner Boulevard
— Modera Trailhead apartments were built over the summer and began leasing
— Cocktail bar Sylvestro opens next to Urbano Cafe (meaning no more BYOB at Urbano)
— Lakewood Jack in the Box in November after being rebuilt
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Out with The Whip and Sfuzzi; In with Hendy’s and Boogies
The third iteration of pizza and pasta restaurant Sfuzzi became Hendy’s, a restaurant and bar with a lounge vibe, in July; another This & That Hospitality concept The Whippersnapper transformed into Boogies, which focuses on music and cocktails, in October.
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Notable closures
— Knife at The Highland Dallas
— Teter’s Faucet Parts (which moved to north Lake Highlands)
— The Porch
— The Blue Fish
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The All-American Rejects at Good Records
The 2000s-era alternative rock band behind hits like “Dirty Little Secret,” “Gives You Hell” and “Move Along” autographed copies of their record Sandbox for many fans at Good Records in August.
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Pop star Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism pop-up, which was part of her tour, came to Kettle Art Gallery Deep Ellum in September and offered an “immersive sound experience” and “exclusive content for fans.”
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Hello, Guy Fieri
The Peavy Road location of Hello Dumpling appeared on an episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives in February.
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The White Rock Lake eagles affectionately known as “Nick and Nora” hatched a new pair of eaglets last spring.
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Memorable milestones
— Texas A&M University College of Dentistry — 120 years
— Lakewood Branch Library — 55 years
— Dallas ISD’s Regional Day School Program for the Deaf — 50 years
— Texas Women’s Foundation — 40 years
— White Rock Coffee, Willie & Coote Salon and Kettle Art Gallery — 20 years of each
