25 defining Lake Highlands moments in 2025

As we ring in 2026, let’s look back at the moments that shaped the past year in Lake Highlands.

1. Tre Johnson drafted 6th overall. After a record-breaking freshman season at Texas, Tre Johnson is drafted by the Washington Wizards with the No. 6 overall pick in the NBA draft, making Johnson the highest draft pick to ever have played for Lake Highlands.

2. Skillman Street Arch Bridge opens. In September, Kathy Stewart and other local officials gather for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Skillman Street Arch Bridge, a project that had spanned close to two decades from its inception.

3. Waters Edge Winery and Bistro opens. Owners Kate and Chris Vahdani open Lake Highlands’ first commercial winery as part of a national franchise concept in March.

4. Kathy Stewart, trustees reelected. District 10 Council member Kathy Stewart is reelected to a second term alongside Lake Highlands-area Richardson ISD Trustees Regina Harris and Rachel McGowan.

5. Triple D visit Hello Dumpling. Guy Fieri visits the Walnut Hill location of Hello Dumpling in February and learns how to make braised beef soup noodles alongside owner June Chow.

6. Birdcall throws in the towel. After years of anticipation, Lakeridge Village lists the space once planned for Colorado-based chicken concept Birdcall as available in February.

7. December 2024 Abrams Road Crash leads to traffic study. A multi-car crash leaves two dead and a McLaren coupe totaled near Forest Meadow Middle School during school hours. Following community backlash, the City orders a traffic study in January that has yet to be released.

8. Walne park renamed. Lake Highlands North Park officially renamed in September for the Walne Family, who, through Alan, have represented Lake Highlands on Dallas City Council.

9. Ground breaks on Bushmills Road. Crews break ground on nonprofit-organized Bushmills Road Park in October, signaling a major win for the Dallas Greening Initiative.

10. Back Country BBQ celebrates 50 years in business. Scott Collard and Back Country BBQ staff celebrate 50 years in business off Greenville Avenue. The business first started off Ferndale Drive in 1975.

11. Northlake E.S. principal retires. After helping facilitate campus turnaround in the 2010s. Mary Kellagher retires as principal of Wallace Elementary in May.

12. White Rock Elementary student goes viral. White Rock Elementary student Ava Meyers gains national attention after an impromptu visit to Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon’s home in London.

13. Forest Lane shooting. Two are injured in a November shooting in the parking lot of a Forest Lane Walmart. The shooter, identified by police as a 23-year-old man, dies at the scene from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

14. Dave Culwell opens Burger Schmurger. Lake Highlands neighbor Dave Culwell opens his first brick-and-mortar restaurant in April after years of operating as a pop-up.

15. Dallas Children’s Theater difficulties. The Dallas Children’s Theater announces programming and staff reductions in June due to ongoing financial difficulties. In September, nonprofit veteran Michael Meadows named interim Executive Director.

16. Hill Country Flooding. In July, the Kerrville Daily Times and Dallas Observer break the news that a Lake Highlands Elementary student was among the Camp Mystic campers killed following catastrophic flooding in the Hill Country. Strouderosa travels to the area to support relief efforts.

17. Bob Johnston dies. After decades calling Wildcat football from the press box, Bob Johnston dies in November and is replaced by Chip Waggoner.

18. Lake Highlands baseball wins playoff series. Head Coach Andy Parker leads Lake Highlands baseball to its first playoff series win in over a decade against South Grand Prairie.

19. St Vincent Wins Yet another Grammy. Lake Highlands musician St. Vincent, aka Annie Clark, wins three Grammy Awards for her studio album All Born Screaming.

20. Bond 2025 passes. In May, Richardson ISD voters approve a $1.4 billion bond package that will pay for middle school transitions in Richardson, stadium upgrades, technology purchases and facilities maintenance.

21. City pauses alley pickup transition. In response to considerable resident outcry, Dallas Sanitation Services delays a plan to transition customers receiving alley trash collection to curb service in October. An updated plan is expected to be presented to the City Council in early 2026.

22. Blade attack and gun found at LHHS. Lake Highlands High School parents raise safety concerns in October after one student is injured during a school bus paring blade attack and a gun is found on campus in the same day.

23. White Rock Coffee turns 20. Nancy and Robert Baker’s neighborhood-born business celebrates two decades in business in May. Since opening in Lake Highlands, White Rock Coffee has expanded to six more locations across Dallas.

24. Nick and Nora have a second pair of eaglets. Local celebrity bald eagle couple successfully hatch and fledge two eaglets for the first time. The pair had lost one of two eaglets in a storm the previous spring.

25. Boutique Country Club debuts new name in September. After tentatively going by “Boutique Country Club”. Nick Clark and Dawson Williams’ family-oriented members club finally gets an official name: Stronethrow.