Open spaces or lakeside commerce?

Developers float the idea of a White Rock Lake restaurant, but to those who love the natural landscape, it is going to be a tough sell

Story by Emily Toman |

by Danny Fulgencio

In a decades-long series of proposals for commercial development at White Rock Lake, the latest idea involves building a restaurant on a 12-acre lot at Boy Scout Hill southwest of Mockingbird and Buckner.

“The idea of a destination restaurant at White Rock Lake is going to be a hard sell,” says Michael Jung, chairman of the White Rock Lake Task Force.

Local architect Lyle Burgin and attorney Richard Kopf presented their idea to the task force in December; they are only testing the waters at this point and gathering public input before pursuing an official proposal.

Few details are known about the exact size and scale, the menu, the price point, parking or street reconfiguration. There’s not even a rendering yet, but Burgin says the design of the restaurant would fit in with the surrounding atmosphere.

“My vision is something similar to the stone tables — a lodge type of feel,” he says, referring to the pavilion near the Bath House Cultural Center off East Lawther.

This early and open dialogue came at the suggestion of Willis Winters, the director of the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. When Burgin and Kopf approached the city with the idea, Winters recommended they gather community input before drawing up any presumptuous, detailed plan.

“It was important to me that we do it that way,” Winters says. “There has been some distrust in the community.”

He’s referring to the infamous Winfrey Point controversy from May 2012, when the Dallas Arboretum wanted to use White Rock Lake’s popular gathering place for overflow parking, prompting protests by neighborhood activists over the potential destruction of native prairie grasses and the overall disruption of the lake’s natural setting.

“A general plan was developed with every intention of taking it to the public,” Winters says, “but the perception was that it was a done deal.”

The idea for a restaurant at Boy Scout Hill, on the other hand, won’t move forward without enough community support.

“They’re doing it the right way,” Jung says about the process, but when it comes to commercial development at the lake, “I don’t think the feelings have changed.”

The general attitude of the task force leans toward conservation and away from development that may upset the natural setting of the lake.

In 2006, there was a proposal to create a freestanding restaurant in the Big Thicket building, and the task force swiftly voted it down due to the increased traffic it would

AN

36.5% support it

12.5% were unsure until more details of the plan are released bring to an already crowded area of the lake.

And in March 2012, casual conversations surfaced in which city officials entertained a few more ideas for development around the lake, including a permanent food and beverage setup.

Which brings us to today. The idea for a restaurant at Boy Scout Hill was met with “open-minded skepticism,” Jung says.

So, what’s different about this idea? The location, for one.

Gerry Worrall, the city’s park board representative for the White Rock Lake area, says it’s still too early for the city to get involved,

What Readers Are Saying

Follow this story online at lakewood.advocatemag.com.

“Why are we letting some committee of people who have a vested interest in not letting development happen at the lake (like people who live right there) ruin it for everyone? This isn’t a private lake it’s a public lake.” —Dan

Zater

“The lake is for the people, the people are not for the lake. Open up White Rock for at least limited development so those of us who don’t sail, bike, or jog can enjoy the lake as well.”

—Brian

“Food trucks would make more sense to me. You’d avoid any permanent changes to the lake. Near the Bath House could be a good location. You’ve got reasonably good access and parking lots. Perhaps the trucks could pay a small fee to support the Bath House.” —stuart

“Let’s leave White Rock as is and have [Klyde Warren] Park as the contrived commercial outdoor zone. Kidding aside, KWP is an example of making a better place out of busy, polluted area. Let’s not make a busy polluted area out of an already better place.” —slathouras

“STOP encroaching on what little nature is left at White Rock Lake! Boy Scout Hill serves park goers in numerous ways. It’s one of the only elevated hills to watch the sunset, have a picnic, and it is a fantastic spot for kite flying! PLEASE LEAVE THE PARK ALONE! The Dallas Arboretum has done enough damage chopping down trees and constructing eyesores!”

—Dallas Lake Lover

“I’d like to dine by the Lake, but not on park land. These guys should buy the gas station and/or storage units on Winsted and develop their destination restaurant. The views of the Spillway would be great.”

—Los_Politico

J Diane Colter, DDS

Dr. Colter specializes in comprehensive dental care for infants, children, teens and children with special needs.

“ We recognize every child is unique and we strive to make sure his or her dental visit feels like it’s tailored just for them.”

Dr. Colter and her staff want children and their parents to feel comfortable about their visit to the dentist in the warm, caring and inviting office of All About Kids Dentistry.

—Carol Bell-Walton

“Once again, I’ll raise the cause to please, please, please do not bring liquor into White Rock Lake Park for the promise of improved infrastructure. I’m not trying to keep the lake for myself. I am trying to keep it safe for the users and liquor just doesn’t fit into the equation. Get a water chaser if drinking and looking at water is that important to you.”

“Frankly, those of us who have been vocal about projects getting run through without public comment, appreciate the early conversation and the fact that Willis Winters directed the two men to the community. Both men have ideas about helping the park apart from the restaurant. I would like to expand their understanding to see if more private sector funds can be found to return the sheen to our “gem” of the City.”

—Ted Barker