Dallas Symphony Orchestra Free Family Concert

Tuesday, May 29th 5 - 9 pm

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Presented By: lakewood.advocatemag.com

Ten days in May

Our neighborhood’s stand against parking at Winfrey Point lakewood.advocatemag.com/ winfreypoint

When neighbors heard of the Dallas Arboretum’s plan to use grassy areas at Winfrey Point for temporary overflow parking, they banded together to keep cars off the grass. Environmentalists worried that the blackland prairie remnant, an ecosystem for critters including birds rarely seen in the city, would be lost. Homeowners worried that parking lots could affect their quality of life and property values.

On lakewood.advocatemag.com, we reported on each phase of the Winfrey Point parking crisis. Ten stories, 125 comments and 223 Facebook “likes” later, it was over. (At least for now.)

April 30

The Advocate reports that the Park Board has approved allowing the arboretum to park cars on Winfrey Point during the Chihuly exhibit, May 5-Nov. 5. The city also puts the arboretum in charge of directing traffic and parking at Winfrey Point, which often is choked with cars on weekends.

“Isn’t there commercial-zoned property available along Garland Road, that wouldn’t require taking parkland and turning it into a parking lot?” WILSON!

“I love the Arboretum, but enough is enough. Meticulously planned and cultivated gardens have their place, but so does natural grassland and city park structures.” —

Milly

May 1

Local media pick up the Winfrey Point story, which appears on WFAA and other newscasts.

“The City of Dallas has had some really bad ideas. This one takes the cake. White Rock Lake is an oasis in the city. Let’s keep it that way.”

—MDB

“It’s all for the greater good, according to the arboretum. We should be thankful that they’re

—NETCONTRIBUTOR stepping forward to (profitably) manage the growing demand for parking (largely driven by the arboretum) at Winfrey Point.”

May 2

Attorney Robert Cohen wins a temporary injunction against the city on behalf of neighbor Christopher Fears, in an attempt to prevent the city from mowing at Winfrey. The filing claims temporary parking lots will damage the ecosystem and that no public hearing was held on the matter.

“What did Joni Mitchell say? ‘They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.’ I do believe it’s time to start protesting.”

PATSY

May 3

“Good Morning America” runs a segment on the exhibit, with Sam Champion reporting from Winfrey Point.

May 4

The city reaches an agreement with neighbors, and a judge dissolves the temporary injunction. Neighborhood squeaky wheel Hal Barker shows us documents wherein the city and the arboretum propose a parking structure at Winfrey Point. “I think it’s very possible that in 20 years the arboretum, at the rate it is growing, will need this,” Barker says. Brothers Ted and Hal Barker and savewinfreypoint.com collect 7,000 signatures in a petition to prevent arboretum parking at Winfrey Point.

“The city and arboretumcommissioneda study that explored all options. Options do not equal plans. The arboretum has been a very good neigh- bor; they add a lot to Dallas and especially my corner of it. I’m willing to assume they will be above board until I see evidence otherwise. JD

“I applaud your open-mindedness. But I have to question why this would ever be considered an option by anyone, particularly anyone with the word ‘arboretum’ or ‘parks’ on their business card. Seeing the outlines of a parking grid splashed all over a map of Winfrey Point gave me the willies.” —MILLY

“We don’t want the city and the arboretum meddling with our lake area neighborhoods. This is East Dallas, folks. We’re really good at getting organized. We vote. We know 2013 is an election year, and you know what we want. Now amscray.” —CHRISTINE CAREY

May 4 (later in the day)

The arboretum announces it has hired an expert, Robert O’Kennon, to study the grasses at Winfrey Point. He says, “Almost all of the grasses at Winfrey Point are non-native invasive species … some of which are very aggressive.” Arboretum board Chairman Brian Shivers says, “Those unfamiliar with the situation are being misled by those with an agenda.”

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❏ Approved as is

❏ Approved with corrections

❏ Additional proof needed Signed

Thank you for your business!

“Oh, get off the whole ‘blackland prairie’ high horse, will ya? It’s a field! A field full of weeds that has, in all likelihood, been mowed and dug and parched and scorched and overgrown and trampled on and peed on and so on countless times in our lifetimes, and still it perseveres. Somehow. … Those weeds will all grow back. In no time at all. And all the little creatures will come back. And the land of Aquarius will be restored to peace and order and harmony.” —ONTHEWHIP and the pressro reasonable variation in color between job shall constitute an acceptable delivery. attention to spelling, grammar, difference in equipment and conditions pressroom operations, a color proofs and the completed delivery.

“Whether native grasses predominate on the disputed parkland or not, it is currently free, open public parkland. Imagining that its most valuable use is as a location for a parking garage, as some open-records documents suggest, is wrong. Dallas Arboretum may build on its own land for its own profit. White Rock Lake Park is more valuable than that.”

JENNI MANSFIELD PEAL

May 5

The Chihuly exhibit opens.

“The world’s other great parks are figuring out ways to remove cars, and here we are trying to be more accommodating. Let’s stop being 30 years behind the times.” —L OS POLITICO

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