Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find information that might help you understand how to find things or learn about information you might need to know about your city or town.
Main
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Main
Visit the Staff Directory to find all department and staff contact information.
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Main
The Highland Park Department of Public Safety will perform house checks for residents that will be away from home between three and thirty days. Absences of lesser or greater duration will be treated as a "watch in passing" and your house will only be physically checked occasionally during your absence. Please completely fill in the form below to request a house check or "watch in passing." Incomplete information will decrease the effectiveness of this service. Information submitted on this form will be verified by telephone by a HPDPS employee.
If an officer encounters anything that they feel you should be notified of, we will try to contact you through the emergency contact numbers that you provide, or we will try contact whatever emergency contact that you wish to leave.
Sewer Main Repair, & Clearing of Easement
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We are clearing the easements to open them up in order to accommodate the equipment used for repairs and upcoming planned construction.Sewer Main Repair, & Clearing of Easement
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All trees are being removed, so if you notice a tree that has been tagged, you may contact the Engineering Department to discuss. No trees on the resident’s side of the fence will be cut. Any trees along the easement line and within 12 inches of the existing fence may be saved, at the discretion of the Engineering Department. This will be determined based on the amount of clearance needed and location of underground utilities.Sewer Main Repair, & Clearing of Easement
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The contractor will begin clearing easements starting at the north side of town and working their way down. Once an easement is cleared, a tree cutting contractor will mobilize to take down the larger trees. The trees will be ground down to 6 inches below ground. After this is completed, the Town will begin a survey, and begin inspecting and evaluating the condition of the water and sewer lines for repairs and/or replacementSewer Main Repair, & Clearing of Easement
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The Town is only concerned with obtaining a 10-foot clearance in the easement. Overgrown trees and limbs in the power lines will not be trimmed by the Town’s contractor. Maintenance of the power, telephone, and cable lines is the responsibility of the utility companies.Sewer Main Repair, & Clearing of Easement
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Any item stored or constructed within the 10-foot easement will be removed. This includes pavers and bricks stacked, fences encroaching, firewood, and pool supplies.Sewer Main Repair, & Clearing of Easement
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Depending on the condition of the water and sewer mains, a priority list will be developed. The Town will notify all residents once the easement is selected for design and construction.Sewer Main Repair, & Clearing of Easement
Engineering
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Engineering
Please contact the Engineering Department at 214-521-4161, or by Email to have the location placed on a list for evaluation.
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Engineering
Contact the Engineering Department at 214-521-4161, or by Email so that your concerns can be evaluated.
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FEMA has downloadable FIRM maps of the floodplain, or you may visit the Engineering Department to view a copy.Engineering
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Engineering
Town benchmarks can viewed here.
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Engineering
Please refer to the latest NCTCOG Standards and Town Construction Details.
Stormwater Quality
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Soap, detergents, cleaners, medicine / drugs, motor oil, gasoline ,and other petroleum products; paint, chlorinated water, pesticides, fertilizers, and similar products containing ingredients that may be harmful to aquatic organisms. Other objects such as paper cups, bottles, plastic bags, soda cans, soil, grass clippings animal wastes, and other similar materials are also considered illegal discharges.Stormwater Quality
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All water that drains off of streets, parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks ends up in creeks, rivers, and lakes. The water collects the harmful pollutants and carries them to creeks and lakes. You've probably seen openings alongside streets; these are called inlets. It is important to remember that all rain waters ultimately enter the creeks and lakes.Stormwater Quality
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You can fertilize lightly as recommended by the manufacturer and use phosphorus-free lawn fertilizer. Pollution occurs when landscaping water carries runoff to storm drainage system. Typical pollutants include herbicides, pesticide, fertilizers, and mulch.Stormwater Quality
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When pet waste is disposed of improperly, not only water quality suffers, but your health may be at risk as well. When pet waste is washed into lakes or streams the waste decays, using up oxygen and releasing ammonia that can kill fish. Various disease or parasites that can also be transmitted are:Stormwater Quality
- Campylobacteriosis - Causes severe diarrhea in humans.
- Cryptosporidium - It causes diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and dehydration.
- Toxocariasis - Roundworms usually transmitted from dogs to human may cause vision loss, rash, fever, or cough
- Toxoplasmosis - A parasite carried by cats can cause muscle aches, headache, and lymph node enlargement.
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Chlorine, at low concentration, is typically not a problem. Please make sure the water has been dechlorinated (concentration of less than 0.1 parts per million (ppm) with a pH balance of 7 to 8) before discharging it into streets and alleys. The discharged water ultimately enters lakes and creeks and if chlorine concentration is high, it could kill the fish.Stormwater Quality
Protection of Older Homes
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Yes. By meeting in the early phases of planning, creative alternatives may be identified for construction and cost savings to the homeowner.Protection of Older Homes
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The Town does not have local ordinances, districts, etc. imposing restrictions or requirements on property owners.Protection of Older Homes
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The Park Cities Historic and Preservation Society maintains an inventory of designated properties.Protection of Older Homes
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The Park Cities Historic and Preservation Society has a Historical Architectural Award Program which you may make application for through them directly.Protection of Older Homes
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Tax incentives may be offered through state and federal programs. The Town does not offer tax credit programs.Protection of Older Homes
Public Safety
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The Highland Park Department of Public Safety will perform house checks for residents that will be away from home between three and thirty days. Absences of lesser or greater duration will be treated as a "watch in passing" and your house will only be physically checked occasionally during your absence. Please completely fill in the form below to request a house check or "watch in passing." Incomplete information will decrease the effectiveness of this service. Information submitted on this form will be verified by telephone by a HPDPS employee. If an officer encounters anything that they feel you should be notified of, we will try to contact you through the emergency contact numbers that you provide, or we will try contact whatever emergency contact that you wish to leave.Public Safety
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Visit the website below to find a Texas Drivers License office near you.Public Safety
Finance
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Finance
The Dallas County Tax Office bills and collects the property taxes assessed by the Town in conjunction with school property taxes. For more information call 214-653-7811.
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Finance
Please visit the Town's Unclaimed Property page. You may also contact Kristen Kidder at 214-559-9351, or contact the Texas Comptroller's Office website or call 800-654-3463.
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Finance
To become a vendor with the Town, you must complete the require documents found on the Vendor Information page. Please contact Yvonne with any questions at 214-559-9378 or by Email
Human Resources
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Information about open positions with the Town of Highland Park may be obtained by accessing the Employment Opportunities link.Human Resources
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Human Resources
To apply for a position with the Town, you must submit an employment application form, and may also attach a resume. Applications will only be distributed and accepted for current open positions.
Municipal Court
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Municipal Court
You may obtain a copy of your driving record online at the Texas Department of Public Safety website. Be sure to order the "3A-Certified" version. The record is immediately available after you pay the required fee.
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Municipal Court
Once you apply with the court and are approved to take a defensive driving course, you have the option of taking any Texas Education Agency approved defensive driving course. Courses are available online.
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Municipal Court
Payment may be made by personal check, money order or cashiers check by mail or in person. MasterCard, Visa, debit cards, and cash are accepted in person and online. A 3% processing fee is added when paying by credit card. If an arrest warrant has already been issued, contact the Court office prior to making a payment online.
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Municipal Court
Yes. The defendant's attorney may appear at the court hearing.
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Municipal Court
No, you must appear before the Judge.
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No. You must check with the Texas Department of Public Safety to see if your driver's license has been suspended.Municipal Court
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Municipal Court
The mailing address for the Highland Park Municipal Court is:
4700 Drexel Drive Highland Park, Texas 75205
PLEASE NOTE: Payments by mail must be received in the Court on or before the due date to avoid additional penalties.
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Payments may be made in person at:Municipal Court
Municipal Court - Town Hall or Highland Park DPS - Dispatch Office 4700 Drexel Drive Highland Park, Texas 75205
WaterSmart
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WaterSmart uses data retrieved from the recently installed “Smart Meters” to provide an online Customer Water Use Portal to residents; allowing them to monitor water consumption while at home or away, identify costly leaks, and contribute to the Town's water-saving goals.WaterSmart
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The Town chose WaterSmart as part of its continued effort to provide the highest level of customer service and consumer awareness to its customers.WaterSmart
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All account profiles begin with an estimated number of residents, lot size, house size, etc. When you update your profile, WaterSmart will be able to provide more relevant and accurate information to you.WaterSmart
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WaterSmart
Customers will need internet access and an email address to fill out the profile. You can update your profile here. Please contact Customer Service at 214-521-4161 for assistance in updating your profile.
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The Customer Water Use Portal contains a link to the Town’s Online Payment Portal.WaterSmart
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You may choose to receive notifications via email, text or voice message by adjusting the Communications Settings in your Customer Portal.WaterSmart
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Communications Settings in your Customer Portal. Leak alerts are sent based on parameters set by the water utility to customers with email addresses on file.WaterSmart
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The data you see is “near-real-time”. Data is transmitted once per day to the portal – you should be able to see data from yesterday.WaterSmart
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The sum of your hourly reading information will approximately match the consumption amount on your monthly bill. Note that there occasionally are adjustments.WaterSmart
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The reason you are receiving a notice is because the system is registering high water usage on your account, which may have been caused by a leak or some other situation, like a person leaving on a faucet or hose. Other examples of circumstances that might register unusually high consumption include:WaterSmart
- Swimming Pool auto-fill valve remaining open
- Running toilet
- Increased irrigation
- Filling up a swimming pool
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The leak alert includes a link to step-by-step instructions on how to find a leak. This online resource will help identify and resolve the leak source.WaterSmart
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The most common reason for this is an irrigation controller set for a cycle at this time or a leak.WaterSmart
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Hourly meter reading data will allow you to see how much water you use when you do common activities like showering, laundry or watering your landscape. The billing tab of the WaterSmart Portal also provides a High Bill Explainer customized to your current circumstances that can provide you further information.WaterSmart
Parks
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Parks
Town parks are open dawn until 10 p.m.
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Parks
Town residents may reserve Flippen Park Gazebo
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Parks
No, camping is not allowed in the Town.
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Parks
No. Electric or gas powered motor boats are not permitted on any bodies of water in Town parks.
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Parks
Any events to be hosted at a Town park need to be approved by the Parks and Recreation Department. Please contact at 214-521-4161.
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Parks
No. The playground and tennis courts are for play use by humans only. Also, per Town Ordinance pets must remain leashed at all time.
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Parks
The Town of Highland Park does not permit reservations for any of our fields. Private (non-sanctioned) teams or leagues or not allowed on any of the Town's athletic fields. The fields at Fairfax Park are strictly for YMCA use. Residents may apply for a permit for practice play at Fairfax during non YMCA use. For a permit application contact 214-521-4161.
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Parks
Most of the drinking fountains at the various parks do not have plumbing parts that are freeze proof. Therefore, to guard against pipes or fixtures bursting in freezing weather, the Park Maintenance staff winterizes and shuts off the water source to fountains from approximately November 1 through March 1 each year.
5G Alarm Transition
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5G Alarm Transition
5G is next-generation wireless technology that will be faster and able to handle more connected devices than the existing networks. It is a set of service standards and technology documents that are realized by a form of radio encoding. This technology will enable a wave of new kinds of tech products and is expected to fuel a wave of transformative new technologies for consumers, businesses, governmental infrastructure, and defense. The FCC has directed local telecommunications carriers to adopt the 5G networks.
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5G Alarm Transition
5G will have greater bandwidth enabling it to handle more connected devices. It should eliminate spotty service when devices are used in crowded areas. It will enable more smart devices- electronic devices from toothbrushes to self-driving cars. 5G will also reduce latency - the time it takes for a device to make a request to a server and get a response- to virtually zero. 5G networks will be 10 times faster than the current 3G and 4G networks and make communication with cloud platforms faster and easier.
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5G Alarm Transition
Carriers building superfast 5G networks must install tons of small cell sites — about the size of pizza boxes — to light poles, walls or towers, often in relatively small proximity to one another. For that reason, superfast networks are mostly being deployed city by city. Eventually, most US carriers will have a mix of the different 5G network types (low band, mid-band, and high band) that will enable both broad coverage and fast speeds.
It is important to note that when new cell sites are installed or if cell sites need repair, carriers are already replacing them with 5G devices that do not service the older 2G and 3G networks. All Highland Park alarm customers have already migrated from the old 2G networks, but some of our customers with 3G/CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) alarm radios are already experiencing degraded service (longer communication times, communications failures) due to cell site unavailability.
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5G Alarm Transition
AT&T and Verizon plan to end service on its 3G wireless networks in February 2022. Sprint will end service in December of that same year. As noted in the preceding section, these dates are termination dates- we can expect service for existing 3G customers to continue to deteriorate from now until the sunset dates.
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5G Alarm Transition
While there are still a few alarm subscribers who transmit their alarm signals through commercial phone lines, the vast majority of Highland Park alarm subscribers use dedicated cellular transmitters (radios) that transmit over commercial alarm networks maintained by any one of these five providers; Alarm.com, AlarmNet (Resideo), Starlink (Napco), Telguard, and Uplink (Resideo). These providers have already stopped selling 3G/CDMA radios, and if a 3G/CDMA radio is deactivated, it must be replaced with a 5G/LTE (Long Term Evolution) radio.
Any cellular customers who have not migrated to the new devices before the sunset dates will lose service. As those dates approach, customers with 3G/CDMA devices can expect to experience slow transmission rates that will inevitably increase emergency response times as well as communications failures. Many Highland Park subscribers and commercial subscribers who don’t use Direct Monitoring have already experienced diminished service because there are fewer 3G cell sites. Many Highland Park Direct Monitoring subscribers have already upgraded their radios to 5G/LTE devices that are compatible with the emerging technology.
Any subscribers who have not upgraded their systems by replacing their radios by the sunset dates will lose their alarm service. Their alarm systems will not be able to contact Highland Park or any other alarm monitoring station.
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5G Alarm Transition
The Highland Park Alarms Unit plans to mitigate this situation by alerting all 3G/CDMA customers of the need to replace their cellular radios, similar to the way we alerted our 2G customers of the switch to 3G technology. We will contact the effected subscribers by letters and emails initially and make phone calls and visits as necessary. We wish to be as unobtrusive as possible. Please note that these communications are specifically targeted. If you receive a letter or email from the Highland Park Alarms Unit, it means you need to replace your alarm system’s cellular radio. If you do not receive a letter but hear about this transition through word of mouth or through some other means and want to make sure your system is up to date, please contact the Alarms Unit or your alarm service company.
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5G Alarm Transition
It is only reasonable to ask, “How long will my 5G/LTE alarm radio last before the next generation of technology, like 6G, makes it obsolete?” Yes, 6G technology is already under discussion but experts say that the next evolution won’t happen for at least another decade. The reality of modern living is that many of the products we purchase- from automobiles to cell phones- require an occasional upgrade. That includes alarm systems.
Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
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Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
The Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project is, first and foremost, a public safety initiative. The current dam and infrastructure pose a serious hazard, having been classified as “high hazard” by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). According to national dam safety standards, a high-hazard classification indicates that dam failure is expected to result in loss of human life. This designation places Wycliffe Avenue among the most critical dam sites in terms of public safety risks in Texas. By undertaking this project, the Town is actively working to reclassify the dam to “low-hazard”—a designation reserved for sites where no loss of life is expected in the event of failure. This initiative is a legal and technical necessity designed to mitigate the risk of extreme flooding in the area for both residents and first responders. This project is not merely an infrastructure upgrade—it is a long-term investment in the safety and resilience of our community.
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Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
The Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project was developed through a phased and collaborative process spanning several years. The Town’s engineering team created an initial conceptual solution aimed at addressing longstanding public safety concerns and infrastructure deficiencies. Because the design was included in active multijurisdictional legal discussions, the Town was prohibited from sharing specific details of the project during this initial phase.
The Town hosted a public Town Hall meeting in late 2024 to present the proposed solution and gather input from residents. In response to community feedback raised during the meeting, a community working group comprised of residents from both Highland Park and Dallas was established. This group worked closely for six months with engineers and Town staff to evaluate the initial concept and explore potential enhancements.
The final plan reflects this collaborative effort, incorporating improvements that align with technical best practices, the community’s values, as well as thoughtful consideration for environmental resilience and aesthetics.
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Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
Construction is expected to begin in June 2026 and continue for approximately 20–24 months. This timeline enables comprehensive work and flexibility to accommodate public safety, weather and utility coordination
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Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
Portions of Wycliffe Avenue, Fitzhugh Avenue, St. Johns Drive, Lakeside Drive and Turtle Creek Boulevard will experience closures or restricted access at various phases of the project; however, not all areas will be impacted simultaneously. The Town will implement a phased construction schedule along with clear detours, signage and traffic control measures to minimize disruptions as much as possible.
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Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
The final proposed design includes adjustments to the lane configuration. A dedicated left-turn lane will be added across the bridge (similar to existing conditions), and Wycliffe Avenue will be reduced from three lanes to two. To address community concerns about potential traffic impacts, traffic modeling was conducted. The analysis shows no significant change in traffic flow under the proposed configuration.
Watch the videos below to see the traffic modeling comparisons:
- Existing Traffic Conditions – Watch Video
- Proposed Lane Reduction Scenario – Watch Video
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Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
The Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project delivers significant and lasting benefits to Highland Park. Most importantly, it enhances public safety by reducing the risk of flooding and reclassifying the existing dam from “high-hazard” to “low-hazard,” meaning the risk to life and property will be dramatically reduced. The project is engineered to withstand a 100-year storm event without overtopping Wycliffe Avenue, a critical improvement based on updated hydrologic data and modern resilience standards.
Additional benefits include:
- Improved drainage infrastructure and reduced floodplain boundaries.
- Preservation of the existing water level in Connor Lake, maintaining the community’s aesthetic and environmental character.
- Upgraded utility infrastructure and traffic improvements that will enhance daily life for residents.
- Compliance with all state and federal environmental regulations through a Nationwide Permit.
Together, these enhancements will increase public safety, reliability of essential services and overall quality of life in Highland Park for generations to come.
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Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
In addition to addressing vital safety issues, the Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project will enhance traffic management, stormwater control and utility infrastructure. The project will also feature upgraded pedestrian pathways, landscaping and aesthetic improvements that contribute to neighborhood appeal and property value. Many of the design elements were thoughtfully influenced by residents of the Town and designated by legal necessity.
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Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
Work will be centered around Wycliffe Avenue between St. Johns Drive and Lakeside Drive. The existing dam (roadway) in this area will be removed and reconstructed as a bridge, necessitating traffic rerouting and temporary closures.
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Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
The Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project is funded through a multi-agency partnership that significantly reduces the financial burden on Highland Park residents. Approximately 72% of the estimated $22 million project cost will be covered by external sources, including state and federal infrastructure grants, regional partners and contributions from neighboring jurisdictions.
Key contributors include the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) through an 80/20 federal funding match, Dallas County via a 50/50 cost-sharing agreement, the TCEQ through a grant supporting design costs, and financial participation from the cities of Dallas and University Park.
The remaining costs, estimated at approximately $6.2 million, will be funded by the Town of Highland Park using local tax dollars. These funds support both design and construction activities specific to the Town’s infrastructure. This collaborative funding approach ensures Highland Park residents receive a high-impact public safety and infrastructure project while maximizing external financial support.
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Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
Yes, the Town is fully committed to maintaining access for all residents and businesses throughout the project. The Town will work closely with residents and businesses in the area to ensure access is always available. This includes uninterrupted accommodation for routine activities such as mail and package deliveries, utility services, visitor arrivals and other essential functions.
Emergency services, including fire, police and EMS, will always have immediate and unimpeded access. Coordination with first responders will be prioritized to ensure swift response times and public safety under all circumstances.
Any temporary traffic disruptions or changes to typical access routes will be communicated in advance. The Town is taking a proactive approach to communication and will provide timely updates and support to minimize inconvenience and help residents and businesses plan accordingly.
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Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
Utility relocation and upgrades are an integral part of the Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project. While we anticipate some disruption during utility relocations throughout the project, this ultimately will result in significant upgrades to infrastructure owned by the Town of Highland Park, the City of University Park, the City of Dallas and several private utility providers. Planned improvements include relocation and replacement of major lines such as the Town’s 30-inch Turtle Creek interceptor, 8-inch water lines, and 8-inch and 18-inch wastewater collectors. The City of Dallas will also upsize its 10-inch wastewater line to 18 inches, relocate wastewater flow meters and replace a 16-inch water line.
In addition to public infrastructure, franchise utilities including Oncor, Atmos, AT&T and Spectrum will conduct coordinated relocations to ensure continuity of service. While some brief service interruptions may occur, they are expected to be minimal and will be communicated well in advance. The Town is committed to working closely with all utility partners to minimize disruption and maintain as much continuity of service as possible throughout the construction period.
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Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
Construction zones will be clearly designated with signage, securely fenced, monitored and coordinated with emergency services. A dedicated inspector and owner’s representative will oversee compliance and daily site safety.
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Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
Parking near the construction site will be limited to residents only. Additional signage will guide alternative arrangements. Every effort will be made to strategically identify parking areas for construction crews that minimize impacts on adjacent neighborhoods and avoid disrupting day-to-day residential activity. The Town is committed to balancing construction needs with neighborhood quality of life.
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Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
Beyond Highland Park, the Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project provides measurable benefits to the broader North Texas region. The project strengthens regional flood resilience by removing vulnerable structures from the floodplain and improving the overall hydrology of the Turtle Creek watershed. It supports environmental compliance and sustainable development practices that align with regional planning goals.
Partnering jurisdictions, including Dallas, University Park and Dallas County, also benefit from shared infrastructure upgrades, utility coordination, and improved stormwater management. These enhancements help protect downstream neighborhoods, regional roadways and public infrastructure from future flood events.
Ultimately, the project will set a model for multi-agency collaboration, demonstrating how local and regional investments can work together to achieve shared safety, environmental and infrastructure goals.
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Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
The Town is committed to keeping residents well-informed throughout the Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project. To support this goal, the Town has made several investments in communication, including retaining the services of a local strategic communications firm to support comprehensive and proactive communications efforts. A dedicated Project website will also be created to serve as a central hub for timely updates, construction alerts, project milestones, FAQs and other key information.
In addition, the Town will continue to utilize its existing communication platforms—including the Town’s website, social media channels, newsletters and Blue Zone notifications—to ensure consistent outreach to the community.
An Owner’s Representative dedicated exclusively to this project will serve as an on-the-ground resource to oversee daily activities, coordinate with contractors and help communicate directly with affected residents and stakeholders. This integrated communication approach is designed to ensure transparency, minimize disruptions and provide residents with timely and accurate information every step of the way.
DART Election
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DART Election
The Town Council called a Special Election to provide Highland Park voters the opportunity, as authorized by state law, to determine whether the Town should continue or withdraw its membership in the DART system, subject to applicable legal and financial obligations.
Under the Texas Transportation Code, a member city may call an election to consider withdrawal from DART once every six years. This statutory framework establishes the timing and procedures governing when member cities may submit the question of continued membership to local voters.
Highland Park has not previously called a withdrawal election since becoming a founding member of DART in 1983. The 2026 election cycle represents the current six-year period in which the Town is authorized to hold such an election. The Town Council’s action reflects the exercise of authority provided under state law.
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DART Election
Highland Park has been a member of DART since 1983, when the Town and other participating municipalities formed the regional transit authority. In 1983, the Dallas–Fort Worth region was smaller, municipal finance structures differed from today, and DART was created to develop and operate a regional public transportation system.
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DART Election
DART was created in 1983 under Chapter 452 of the Texas Transportation Code, when Highland Park and 14 other municipalities approved a dedicated 1% local sales tax to establish a regional transit system. At that time, state law limited cities to a 1% local sales tax for general purposes and did not authorize the use of local sales tax for economic development or other dedicated programs.
Beginning in 1989, the Texas Legislature expanded municipal authority to levy additional local sales taxes for economic development and other locally directed priorities, now commonly known as Type A and Type B programs. These changes provided cities outside regional transit authorities flexibility in allocating local sales tax revenue. DART member cities have continued to dedicate 1% of their local sales tax to transit. Under state law, municipalities may levy up to two percent (2%) in total local sales tax. The one percent dedication to DART represents approximately half of that authorized capacity.
Two original member cities—Coppell and Flower Mound—voted to withdraw from DART in 1989. No new cities have joined the system since its creation. DART’s 13 member cities are: Addison, Carrollton, Cockrell Hill, Dallas, Farmers Branch, Garland, Glenn Heights, Highland Park, Irving, Plano, Richardson, Rowlett, University Park.
Municipalities that do not dedicate sales tax to regional transit authority may, with voter approval, allocate available sales tax capacity to general municipal operations, property tax relief, economic development, street maintenance, public safety, community facilities, or alternative transit and mobility programs. Legislative changes, including property tax revenue limitations adopted in 2019 under Senate Bill 2, which generally limits most local governments to a 3.5% annual increase in property tax revenue without voter approval, have affected municipal revenue structures and long-term financial planning statewide.
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DART Election
DART is primarily funded through a dedicated 1% local sales tax collected by its member cities, as authorized under Chapter 452 of the Texas Transportation Code. This revenue supports DART’s transit operations, capital improvements, debt obligations, and regional system maintenance. Passenger fares account for 3 – 4% of DART’s overall budget, based on published budget figures, with additional funding provided through federal and state grants, and other program revenues.
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DART Election
DART is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by its 13 member cities, with representation generally allocated based on population. Larger member cities hold multiple board seats, while smaller cities may share representation. Highland Park currently participates in DART governance through a shared board seat with Addison, Richardson, and University Park. As a regional transit authority funded by public revenues, DART operates under applicable public transparency requirements and is supported by advisory committees and governmental relations activities.
Under a proposed governance framework currently under consideration, Highland Park would have representation on the DART Board through a dedicated seat with weighted voting authority. The Town's vote would represent approximately 0.44 of a full vote, or about 2% of the Board’s total voting power.
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DART Election
Transit service within Highland Park has changed over time. Fixed-route bus service consisted of four routes in 2014 and currently consists of one route today along Preston Road. The Town does not receive light rail service.
DART reports approximately 12,000 annual boardings, averaging about 33 riders per day. DART also provides GoLink and Paratransit services. Approximately 2,300 GoLink trips are reported annually within the Town, averaging about 6 riders per day. Town-specific Paratransit ridership data has not been provided.
The Town’s 2025 community survey indicates that reported DART usage among Highland Park residents is limited. Approximately 4–5% of residents reported using DART on occasion. A small number reported daily or weekly use, while others reported monthly or occasional use.
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DART Election
Highland Park dedicates one percent of its local sales tax to DART representing half of the Town’s allowable local sales tax capacity. In recent years, this contribution has exceeded $8 million annually and totals more than $114 million since 1983.
The Town’s annual sales tax contribution to DART was approximately $3.4 million in 2014. In 2025, it was approximately $8 million, and projections for 2026 are approximately $9 million, representing one half of one percent of DART’s total budget of approximately $1.7 billion.
During the same period, DART’s total annual budget, including operating, capital, and debt service expenditures was approximately $1.04 billion in 2014 and is approximately $1.7 billion in 2026.
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DART Election
Within DART’s approximately $1.7 billion annual budget, Highland Park’s annual contribution of approximately $8–9 million represents about 0.5% of total funding.
A 2026 study commissioned by DART describes approximately 86% of the agency’s services and costs as regional in nature. The study identifies the locations of regional transit infrastructure and services within member jurisdictions. The Town of Highland Park is not listed in the report as a location of regional transit infrastructure.
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DART Election
Regardless of the election outcome, the Town intends to evaluate mobility options designed to align with community needs. Potential approaches may include micro transit services, last-mile connectors, ADA-compliant shuttle service, and other on-demand transportation models.
Any future initiatives would be evaluated based on service effectiveness, cost, legal requirements, and community priorities.