Tucker's Picks

One lucky dog's list of the best parks and backyards in Dallas

My owner, Dave Perry-Miller, and me.

Photo courtesy of Dave Perry-Miller & Associates

When it comes to Dallas’ parks, greenbelts and backyards, it’s a dog’s life — I should know! Our pup-friendly city has more than 100 miles of trails for hiking, biking, skating and, most important, dog walking.

For those looking for more laid-back activities, Dallas also boasts loads of parks made for playing, lounging, ball throwing and snacking. And if your family is looking for a new home sweet home, the backyard is an important part of the real estate equation.

As a pooch that relishes his time outdoors (not to mention car rides with the windows down!), I’ve been to most of the grassy areas around town and have sniffed out the very best. Whether you’re up for meeting cool new canines or prefer to splash around in a fountain, here’s my list of some of the very best green spaces in the city.

Best Trail

The Katy Trail is a 3.5-mile course through Uptown. The trail is so popular, you’ll find joggers, cyclists, skaters, bladers and walkers from morning to night. It’s one of my favorite places to catch up with my other four-legged friends and get “tuckered-out.” The paved trail is flanked by trees, brush and flora.
Best reason to visit: exercise with friends

Best Parks

Klyde Warren Park, which opened in Dallas in 2013, is a 5.2-acre deck park built over the Woodall Rogers Freeway in downtown Dallas. Here, you’ll find playgrounds, walking trails, food trucks and restaurants, and putting green, as well as areas for concerts, films showings and performance broadcasts.
Best reason to visit: A dog park, complete with fountains, is the perfect place to cool off during those hot summer afternoons.

Lakeside Park, located in Highland Park, is the place to go for 14 acres of lushly landscaped paths bordering Turtle Creek. There are also playground areas and a collection of concrete Teddy Bear statues.
Best reason to visit: plenty of open space for bunny runs, playing fetch and friendly strolls

Lake Cliff Park is 44.5 acres of green space located in heart Oak Cliff, near the Bishop Arts District. A tranquil retreat, this park features fountains, gardens and a lake area. It’s a great place to walk, run and relax.
Best reason to visit: a paw-fect natural setting for quiet time and pup naps

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is not only one of the very best outdoor areas in the city, but it’s also one of the best in the nation. With 66 acres of expertly manicured grounds, patrons enjoy gardens, water structures, leisure areas and dining. Last fall, the Arboretum opened its latest phase, the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden, an 8-acre indoor and outdoor nature experience for children.
Best reason to visit: Beauty — human companions will love the incredible variety of plants and flowers.

See a complete list of Dallas’ dog parks .

Best Backyards You can Own

There are three backyards you have to see to believe. The first one is located at 4346 Park Ln. The Preston Hollow home is beautifully set back on 1.1 acres, and the backyard has major play potential.
Best reason to visit: This home has a resort-style pool (great for practicing the doggy paddle) and an outdoor entertainment area.

In Old Preston Hollow, the backyard at 5433 Falls Rd. is worth a million barks. An oasis for humans and hounds alike, there’s a huge covered outdoor area (great for naptime or alone time), as well as a pool and spa.
Best reason to visit: The expansive lawn and towering trees provide serene shade for bird watching.

In University Park, 7800 Amherst Ave. is another home with a beautiful backyard I could roll around in for days. It’s on a corner lot, which means there’s heaps of greenspace.
Best reason to visit: The covered patio is the perfect hangout in the dog days of summer.

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Dave Perry Miller & Associates is a premiere residential real estate firm with five locations that specialize in marketing the key areas of the Park Cities, Preston Hollow, Uptown, Lakewood, East Dallas and Kessler Park. Dave Perry-Miller & Associates is a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and Luxury Portfolio International. For more information on luxury living, please contact Dave Perry Miller & Associates at 214-369-6000. Also visit daveperrymiller.com/blog for the latest news in Dallas real estate.

My owner, Dave Perry-Miller, and me.

Photo courtesy of Dave Perry-Miller & Associates

My owner, Dave Perry-Miller, and me.

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Train News

Dallas transportation advocates rally to encourage support of DART

Photo courtesy of DART

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Dallas transportation advocates are rallying in support of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), the public transportation system that provides accessible transportation including buses and trains, to Dallas and surrounding cities.

It's a pushback against four Dallas-area cities that are discussing withdrawing their support. Highland Park, Farmers Branch, Plano, and Irving are all dissatisfied, claiming they don't receive enough service for what they invest.

Pulling out of DART means they would stop all service in those cities. In addition, DART’s yearly budget would decrease by millions, which would have a negative effect on the entire system.

The decision would affect more than train routes — it would impact how people across the region move, connect, and access opportunity including working people who use transit to commute. For some residents, it's their only source of transportation.

At least two of the cities — Irving and Plano — are both considering elections. Both state they'll "explore" replacement mobility solutions.

When DART was formed, the federal government required local cities to buy into the project in order to keep highway funding coming to the region. If cities are successful in pulling out of DART, that will endanger future funding opportunities.

A majority of DART’s revenue comes from a one-cent sales and use tax that its member cities pay.

Some cities, including Garland and Richardson, have expressed their support of DART.

Public transportation advocates like BikeDFW note that "when we weaken transit, we weaken connection — between neighborhoods, opportunities, and people."

Their post notes that "DART isn’t perfect — no large system is — but it’s one of the few truly regional transit networks in Texas. It connects 13 cities through rail, bus, and paratransit service. Every day, thousands of people use DART to get to work, school, and essential appointments. Pulling out of DART would not just remove train and bus routes. It would also weaken bike-to-transit connections that make multimodal trips possible, trail and sidewalk funding that often comes through DART partnerships, and regional collaboration that helps us plan safer streets and reduce congestion."

And a release from The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) stressed the importance of public transit for the future, when the region will grow to 12.4 million residents by 2050.

"It is also important that those who live, work and go to school in cities that are members of a transit system today are provided with a seamless transit service that works for them," the statement from NCTCOG said.

The four meetings are as follows:

Highland Park's meeting was on November 4 at 8 am.
Farmers Branch is November 4 at 6 pm, at Farmers Branch City Hall.
Plano is November 5 at 5 pm, at Plano City Hall.
Irving is November 6 at 7 pm, at Irving City Hall.

Advocates also recommend contacting city council members of all four of these cities to persuade them to continue their support of DART.

transportation

Tucker's Picks

One lucky dog's list of the best parks and backyards in Dallas

My owner, Dave Perry-Miller, and me.

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Dallas transportation advocates rally to encourage support of DART

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