TO PRESTON HOLLOW

Every neighborhood has its personality and sense of place, but like all great loves, this one is unique, special, unforgettable.

We can point to specific highlights — Northaven Trail, our schools, restaurants, shops — as these letters do. As we face the coronavirus together, it’s a comfort to hear from our community. To live in Preston Hollow is to love Preston Hollow.

Compiled by LISA KRESL

Dear Preston Hollow, Your streets and byways are beautiful, your homes more so. But even more beautiful than that are your souls — your strength and resilience. Again and again in adversity, you seek to offer help before receiving help, to serve first before being served. Under the beautiful surface of things, there’s something even more beautiful — your hearts. When I think of you, I think of hope — no matter what comes our way.

Very much love,

Father Joshua J. Whitfield Pastoral Administrator St. Rita Catholic Community and School

Dear Preston Hollow,

When I think of my neighborhood, I think of “room to breathe.” From the large lots, 100-year-old sweeping oaks and diversity of architecture, there is so much to appreciate about this haven in the city of Dallas.

I am a fourth generation Preston Hollowite. My great-grandfather lived on Kelsey, my grandmother and grandfather on Gaywood, my father currently lives on Lakehurst, and we’re on Heatherbrook. We spend a lot of time walking the Northaven Trail or the streets behind Jesuit, and my husband and I always look around and smile that this is where we chose to live and to raise our three young girls.

We appreciate the diversity of people who’ve moved into the neighborhoods from all parts of the region and the world. They bring a diversity of interest and perspective that we believe is needed and enhances our community.

Nothing speaks to the display of that community than the recovery after the October tornado, whether offering shelter to displaced neighbors, cooking and bringing meals, providing office space and supporting local businesses like North Haven Gardens after it reopened.

My dear Preston Hollow, I love you. You are my home. From the golden corridor of Preston Road, To the bucolic pathway of Strait Lane.

You inspire me with your combination of courage, tenacity and style. Whatever the challenge, You rise to the occasion. Your strength of character encourages me to be better.

I adopted you 37 years ago, And I love you more each year. My dear Preston Hollow, You are my home. I love you.

Calvert Collins-Bratton Vice president, Strategic Events and Relationships

Methodist Health System Foundation District 13 Park and Recreation Board Member

Robert Emery Entrepreneur and Preston Tower resident

Dear Preston Hollow,

I know the last few months have been challenging. After all, no one expects to be hit by a tornado and then deal with a worldwide pandemic while still trying to recover. But I love how resilient you are. I love seeing neighbors and businesses coming together to help each other. I love how connected we became as we stopped to chat while biking or walking the Northaven Trail, met for breakfast at Cindi’s or lunch at Eatzi’s, visited homes on the Northaven Home Tour or played tennis at Dealey. While I miss many of our friends who are temporarily displaced — Central Market, Gazeebo Burger, Hollywood Feed, White Rock Coffee, just to name a few — I know that the community can withstand these challenges, and we’ll be back to normal soon.

Jeff Kitner Chief Operating Officer North Dallas Chamber of Commerce

P. S. Once restaurants are open for dine-in again, anyone want to meet me for a bubble tea at Fat Straws?

Dear Preston Hollow, People. Places. Placid.

These are just a few of the reasons I’m grateful to live in Preston Hollow. From the people to the places, I’ve enjoyed the placid nature of the neighborhood we call home.

When I think about the neighborhood, the first thing that comes to mind is the people. From my neighbors to my friends at the EquinoxPreston Hollow, the people are the lyrics that make my heart sing. Especially during this unprecedented public health crisis, seeing my neighbors near and far is now a daily humanity highlight.

Then there are the places, from Preston Hollow Park to Pakpao Thai restaurant. Our neighborhood has an abundance of places that bring us together and appeal to our diverse interests.

We’re fortunate to live in Preston Hollow, where you can spend all day dining and shopping at Preston-Royal, Preston Center, or NorthPark Center and still only visit 10% of the shops and restaurants. These blessings do not exist all over Dallas.

Oh, how I love the easy access from Preston Hollow to the entire city. From the Dallas North Tollway, Northwest Highway and Preston Road to North Central Expressway, the veins of our neighborhood connect us to the metroplex.

Our bustling DFW region is one of the most vibrant economic engines in our state, yet at home in Preston Hollow, there is a peace that permeates throughout the community.

During this trying time, I’m reminded of this quote by Henry Ford: “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

To overcome this unprecedented global pandemic, we must act as one community in the same spirit that led our recovery after the devastating tornadoes last year.

Preston Hollow is our home, and I am grateful for the people, places, and placidity.

Sarah Jackson Vice President, Strategy and Public Affairs Dallas Citizens Council

Dear Preston Hollow, I’m finding that one of the finest and toughest virtues to find right now is patience.

I can’t imagine surviving a devastating tornado followed by 15 rounds of “social distancing” — or worse, contracting this horrible sickness. It takes a strong community to deal with all of this. We live in one of the best neighborhoods in the best city in the best state in the U.S. One way or another, we’ll get through this with a little suffering, a lot of prayer and a boatload of patience.

In the immortal words of Rob Schneider’s character in “Waterboy:” “You can do it!”

Proud of my neighborhood, Bill

DeOre Cartoonist, illustrator

A love letter to Preston Hollow from Nasher Hall, a lab mix rescue dog:

It was a quiet Sunday evening and all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Dad was lying on the couch like a big brown bear,

Watching Dak Prescott throw touchdown passes through the air.

This little doggie was nestled all snug in my bed, While visions of chewy sticks danced in my head.

And upstairs our mom, enjoying a spritzer,

Was suddenly interrupted while watching Wolf Blitzer.

Unbeknownst to me and Pop, A tornado was on the ground and headed our way!

Sharon came running down the stairs

Screaming things were not OK!

There is no tornado, Pop confidently proclaimed.

The Cowboys are still on so it must have waned.

No, no, no, it is really near!

This is not a drill, we better cover our rears!

Mom and Pop grabbed me by the tail.

We crammed into the little bathroom, Mom’s face had turned pale.

Then all of a sudden,

The lights cut out and the room went dark.

The calm outside was replaced by a menacing bark.

The wind roared and the house began to shake.

Debris was flying, you could hear glass break!

The three of us huddled, full of fear,

But before we could say, “yikes,” the storm had cleared.

As fast as it arrived, it was gone in a flash.

Sweeping through the neighborhood in such a mad dash!

And now here we are, just a few months past,

Just as we started to see our neighborhood rebuilt to last.

Along comes a virus named after a beer,

Like nothing we have ever experienced, creating global fear.

Stay at home orders and social distancing are the new norm,

A real shock to our systems far worse than that October storm.

In these moments of crisis, we must look for the light.

Walking the a friendly wink knowing the 6-foot separation rule I must follow.

I can’t wait for that day soon when the coast is all clear, When once again we can be with family and friends and hold them near.

Hang in there my friends, we will prevail over this nasty bug.

I will be the first in the neighborhood to give you a big hug!

Nasher “The Dasher” Hall, who lives on Tulip Lane with owner Kevin Hall, President of Grant Halliburton Foundation

Dear Preston Hollow, All of us at Ursuline Academy truly love the Preston Hollow campus which has been our beautiful home in Dallas for more than seven decades. We are filled with gratitude for our supportive, caring community of students, parents, faculty and staff, many of whom also call Preston Hollow home (or their home away from home!). And for all, including those in our school family who come from other neighborhoods, Walnut Hill and Inwood has been a treasured gathering site for generations of young women to experience the cherished traditions of Ursuline education. It’s been a rich history, and we remain optimists for continued growth and more great days ahead.

We have been truly blessed with the partnership of our wonderful Preston Hollow neighbors who have reached out in so many ways to support the Ursuline mission. Following the devastation of the tornado last fall, our teachers and students were eager to do what they could do to help our neighbors in need. Now, as we all maintain social distancing and shelter in place to fight the spread of the viral pandemic, each of us has the ability to impact the well-being of all others. Educating young women for leadership and service has never been more important, with the challenges and changes that we all face today. We look forward to a time soon when we can return to the campus, gather again with family and friends at our school and in our homes. Love,

Gretchen Z. Kane Ursuline Academy of Dallas President