Ann Margolin

Park Board Member, District 13

 Since joining the Park Board in October I have had the wonderful opportunity of learning about many groups and individuals supporting our Dallas parks.  One of the more well known groups is Friends of Katy Trail which to date has raised $15 million toward a $23 million goal to build the trail and preserve its natural environment.  The CVS/pharmacy Charitable Trust, Inc. has recently donated $225,000 toward the design and construction of a new playground for Kiest Park in Oak Cliff. The Belo Corporation, Belo Foundation and Dechard Family are donating $6.5 million toward a downtown  park to be named Belo Garden which is in construction on Griffith between Main and Commerce.  It is one of four downtown parks scheduled to come online in the next few years.

            Here in District 13 we have our own groups and individuals who have made and are making a huge difference in our local parks.  In the spring of 2005 a group of energetic young women who are members of the North Dallas Early Childhood PTA raised $22,000 for Peter Pan Park to enhance the playground equipment.  Under the leadership of Cathy Atkinson, Eunice Jenkins and Diana Hamilton and others the group made it possible to add quality equipment that was not in the park department budget.  More recently Elizabeth Garrison and Laurie Stevenson worked with the park department to buy several crepe myrtle trees and put in a flower bed around the Peter Pan Park sign with some money that was left over from the original funds.

            At Preston Hollow Park, several young women representing several organizations are involved with the park department developing plans for a makeover of playground equipment.  While most of the funding will come from the 2006 city bond package, they are looking at ways to  raise funds to enhance what the city can do.  Kim McBride, Melodie Mattox, Katie Machaj and Cecilia Perez-Verdia met with park staff in January and are visiting with potential funding sources so that additions can be made to the playground plans.

A gentleman who has supported Dallas parks for years is Ralph Pinkus, the retired owner of Northaven Gardens which is now run by his son John.  While he owned Northaven Gardens, Mr. Pinkus gave 200 five to six-foot pink crape myrtles to the Dallas Park Department for Bachman Park.  He has recently donated 50 more 18 foot trees for parks in North Dallas.  Thirty-five will find a home in Webb Chapel Park and others in Walnut Hill Park.  He also supplied many young trees for the median strips along a few roads in North Dallas in cooperation with the Dallas Garden Clubs as well as 100 fifteen to eighteen foot crape myrtles for Keist Park Memorial Garden, Kidd Springs Park, Oak Cliff Founders Park, and the new Elmwood Park.  

On another subject – not to be missed is the Stingray Bay exhibit at the Dallas Zoo which is here through Labor Day.  I went last week and was able to feed the stingrays (whose stingers have been removed) and feel their rubbery skin. Also at the Zoo beginning the weekend of April 19 and running through May 11 is the third annual Dallas Roars, a four-weekend event of children’s activities, a butterfly exhibit, arts and crafts and entertainment.  If you haven’t been to the zoo lately, it’s time to go back.