The Lake Highlands and North Lake Highlands Public Improvement Districts are leading several large-scale improvement efforts across the area, including the ongoing Skillman Corridor Master Plan, future enhancements near the Walnut Hill Lane bridge and new public art and safety projects along Forest Lane and Audelia Road. The work, which is done in partnership with the City of Dallas and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), aims to improve traffic safety, increase walkability and create more visually connected public spaces throughout the area.
The Lake Highlands PID generally stretches along the Skillman Street corridor between Abrams Road and Interstate 635, including portions of Royal Lane, Walnut Hill Lane and Church Road near the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Blue Line. The North Lake Highlands PID covers areas north of LBJ Freeway near Forest Lane and Audelia Road.
The Lake Highlands PID is currently working on improving the Skillman Corridor Master Plan, which stretches from Skillman and Abrams down to the Skillman and Forest intersection. There are currently two enhanced medians at Church Road and Skillman Street and Skillman Street and Abrams Road that the PID oversees.
“The Skillman Corridor Master Plan has already had things funded,” explains Vicky Taylor, Lake Highlands and North Lake Highlands PIDs executive director. “The intersection from Church Road and Skillman down to Skillman and Sedgwick should have a complete enhancement of safety and medians.”
The PID is also partnering with the City and TxDOT on future improvements near the Walnut Hill Lane bridge after receiving a Green Ribbon grant. Planned upgrades include gateway signage and additional landscaping north and south of the bridge.
“For those pieces of the corridor that have not been taken care of yet, we are working with the City for a schematic design to get those taken care of,” she says.
In addition to this Master Plan, the PID is working on implementing a mural that will be placed underneath the Walnut Hill Lane bridge at Watercrest Park.
“We have agreements with the City on certain portions of (Watercrest) that we maintain,” she explains. “And, a lot of these improvements are in collaboration with the City to help improve our area.”
At the North Lake Highlands PID, the organization is working with the City on a Forest Lane Master Plan that will include Forest Lane, I-635 and Skillman Street. With many residents concerned with public safety and transportation issues, the organization has partnered again with the City to implement intersection improvement and safety at Forest Lane and Audelia Road.
“We are also going to be focusing on adding art at the Forest-Audelia Park,” she says.
Beyond infrastructure projects, the Lake Highlands PID organizes roughly 17 outdoor community events each year aimed at bringing residents together, connecting them with City resources and strengthening relationships with local law enforcement.
“When it comes to public safety, you just can’t arrest your way out of crime in a community,” Taylor says. “So, there are community engagement and crime reduction events that we do to engage the community and their relationship with DPD as well.”
Those events include family movie nights in partnership with the Dallas Police Department, seasonal extravaganza events and shredding events.
Live music programming at Watercrest Park is used to activate public spaces and encourage residents to leave their homes and enjoy the outdoors.
“We’re trying to program the park, help make people aware of it, and create a space where people can come out, get to know their neighbors and enjoy the community,” she says.
The PID hosts community-focused events throughout the year, including “Community and Cops,” initiatives inside apartment complexes, National Night Out, public safety programming and large seasonal events.
“We try to be proactive,” Taylor says. “Whether it’s bringing resources to our meetings or events, the goal is to anticipate the challenges and address them early so we can improve as we go.”
