If you haven’t been to White Rock Lake lately, dude, you gotta get out here!

You may have heard that there’s a controversy brewing about parking cars on protected grassy areas at Winfrey Point. The growing popularity of the Dallas Arboretum and Saturday’s opening of the Chihuly Exhibit are bringing thousands more visitors to the lake than facilities currently can manage.

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Since the issue’s been all over this blog, the Dallas Morning News and local TV broadcasts, I got to wondering. Are there people out there who wonder what the fuss is about?

Since I enjoy the lake 4-5 times a week, I’d be selfishly better off keeping my big mouth shut, but if you haven’t seen the new baby ducklings near the Boathouse or paused to remember a loved one at the Celebration Tree Grove, if you haven’t participated in one of the many weekend 5K runs (most are charity fundraisers) or volunteered to pick up trash with the group called FTLOTL (For the Love of the Lake), if you haven’t imagined what it would be like to live in the mansions on West Lawther or watched the water flow over the spillway after a rain, if you haven’t seen the bronze statue of the Civilian Conservation Corps worker at Sunset Bay or heard Sally Rodriguez speak about the lake’s history, seriously, there’s a party going on and you’re home watching Leno.

There’s also been some hullabaloo about allowing businesses to set up shop on the shore, ala Katy Trail Ice House. I love that place but I gotta say, we already have some great spots not far from the water.

If you feel guilty about having sugar before you exercise, Hypnotic Donuts offers a Maple-Glazed Longjohn with Bacon (hey, bacon is protein), or you can get all manner of breakfast tacos at Good to Go. If you like to eat afterward but you’re worried about going into a restaurant sweaty, everyone else at Fuzzy’s will be in workout clothes, guaranteed.

When you’re ready to reward yourself for your hard work, have a Paciugo near the Advocate offices, or, after 5, visit the Goodfriend Burger House and Beergarden.

And if you see me out there (I’m the short girl with the curly hair), don’t show me up by running by me too fast. And if you hear me singing, remember, when we wear headphones, we all think we have fabulous voices.

Author

  • Carol Toler

    Blogger CAROL TOLER and her husband, Toby, are the parents of four LHHS graduates. She has an MBA from SMU and is the proud recipient of the Exchange Club of LH's Unsung Hero Award and Councilman McGough's Blake Anderson Public Service Award. She received LHHS PTA's Extended Service Award, FMJH PTA's Charger Award and a Life Membership from the LHFC PTA. She has moderated candidate debates for Dallas Mayor, Dallas City Council and RISD Trustee races and taught seminars on garnering publicity for nonprofits. She completed training with Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation and Inside RISD, and she's a sustaining member of LH Women's League. She has served on the boards of After8 to Educate, Dallas Free Press, Healing Hands Ministries and Camp Sweeney and chaired fundraisers for multiple Dallas nonprofits. Email ctoler@advocatemag.com.