New dog park officially opens

By Vikki Martin

Lakeland Hills Park stands as a testament to the power of grassroots advocacy and community resilience. With support from FRI, a dedicated group of older women from the Lakeland Hills and Hillridge neighborhoods led a campaign to revitalize the park. 

Through persistent advocacy, they secured bond program funding to replace playground equipment, install a walking path, and — most importantly—create a space for teenagers. Their solution: build a skateboard park in 2007. That facility now serves hundreds of youth and remains the only skateboard park in the Dallas park system, with plans to double its size by 2027.

Since then, community members have continued working with District 7 leadership to enhance the park. With support from Councilmember Adam Bazaldua and Park Board appointee Daniel Wood, improvements have included a new pavilion, a port-o-let and additional tree plantings in 2022 to increase shade. Exercise stations have also been added to promote wellness.

On October 18, the Lakeland Hills Dog Park officially opened with great fanfare. Dog parks play a vital role in fostering community — they offer a social space where neighbors can meet, bond over their pets and build lasting connections.

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