Dallas City Hall

On Wednesday, June 24, the Dallas City Council met to discuss a range of agenda items, including neighborhood improvements, infrastructure projects, public safety investments and funding initiatives. Here are six decisions from the meeting that impact the Lake Highlands area, along with other major citywide actions residents should know about. 

Former Dobie pre-K campus to become a new public recreation space (Item 17):
The Council authorized an amendment to an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the Richardson Independent School District (RISD) for the former Dobie Pre-Kindergarten School campus at 14040 Rolling Hills Lane. The amendment adds Dallas County as a partner and allows the future recreation area to be open to the public through a public access easement. The outdoor space will be available to residents daily during park hours from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Dallas County will develop the recreation area with amenities that may include a soccer field, pavilion, trail access improvements and furnishings. The City will provide up to $400,000 for playground and recreational equipment, while Dallas County will install the equipment and assume responsibility for maintaining the site after the City’s one-year maintenance period.

“I supported this,” District 10 Council Member Kathy Stewart said. “It brings resources to the Esperanza neighborhood, which is much like the D10 Forest and Audelia neighborhood — both need resources for the residents.”

Fair Oaks Park grant application approved (Item 19):
The Council authorized the City to apply for up to $3 million through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Local Parks Urban Indoor Recreation Grant Program for improvements at Fair Oaks Park, located at 7621 Fair Oaks Ave.

If awarded, the grant would be matched with up to $1.5 million from the City’s 2024 Bond Program. The project also includes plans to permanently preserve a designated portion of Fair Oaks Park as a natural area for conservation and passive recreation purposes.

“I was glad to see investment in Fair Oaks Park since it is a neighboring park in District 10,” Stewart said.

Additional funding approved for Dallas Water Utilities Service Center (Item 39):
The Council approved $413,779.34 for construction of the DWU Service Center at 12000 Greenville Ave. The funding will support additional work needed to keep the project on schedule.

The change order increases the construction contract with Talley-Riggins Construction Group, LLC from approximately $23.5 million to $23.9 million.

“I am looking forward to the completion of the DWU work and the future project that adds six pickleball courts to the campus,” Stewart said.

Anonymous donation accepted for Dallas Public Library (Item 5):
The Council accepted an anonymous donation of $2.825 million to support programming and services at the Dallas Public Library. The gift includes approximately $2.8 million in cash and securities, as well as an estimated $25,000 from the future sale of mineral rights.

As part of the agreement, the City will immediately sell the donated securities and transfer the proceeds into the Library Family Donation Fund to support long-term library needs.

“The private donation to the libraries is absolutely the best news for libraries all over the city,” Stewart said. “I am so grateful that someone saw our need and provided the funding.”

Morgan Stanley incentive package approved (Item 88):
The Council approved an economic development incentive package valued at up to $18.5 million to support Morgan Stanley’s expansion in Dallas. The Chapter 380 agreement includes up to $10 million for job creation and relocation, up to $7.5 million in lieu of a real property tax abatement, and up to $1 million to reimburse permitting, inspection and development fees associated with the company’s new temporary regional office at 1445 Ross Ave. and future permanent regional office in Uptown.

As part of the agreement, the Council also designated two Neighborhood Empowerment Zones to encourage economic development and nominated both projects for designation under the Texas Enterprise Zone program. The project is expected to support job creation and private investment in the city.

“The item that provides an incentive package to Morgan Stanley will strengthen the core of Dallas, which encourages other new development and helps increase city revenue through property tax growth,” Stewart said.

Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center height proposal not approved (Item 90):
The Council did not approve a recommendation to restore the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center to its original height to accommodate travel along the Jefferson and Houston viaducts. The proposal would have added an estimated $597 million in construction costs and resulted in approximately $271.3 million in foregone convention revenue over five years.

“We voted down the recommendation from the Transportation Committee,” Stewart said. “From my perspective, if Item 90 had been approved, there would have been significant delays and increased costs for the convention center.”