The Park Cities, A Walking Guide
Every once in a while, I punch “Park Cities” into Twitter, and see what pops out the other end. It’s usually someone checking in on Foursquare at Park Cities Bank, but sometimes it’s something more interesting, like today.
Seems that a spamish Twitter account (Faraha12) was tasked with trying to boost sales of “The Park Cities: A Walker’s Guide and Brief History,” by touting the book’s Amazon page. Book came out in 1988, and was printed by SMU Press. Thirteen copies are available, starting at $3.13.
Here’s the thing I find interesting, though: what will a walking tour of the Park Cities consist of? Snider Plaza? Wandering down Beverly? Hoofing it from the bottom to the top of Hillcrest?
The Park Cities are two beautiful municipalities, but their pedestrian accessibility (and pedestrian attractions) don’t spring to mind.
Also, anyone read this?
I have read it/glanced through it. Actually, it’s a pretty good little book on oddball stuff about the Park Cities. Things about the Caruth family, where their old property lines once were. Like you said, the book dates from 1988 but the information might be dated older than that. Weird stuff like where the buffalo wallows once were on the Dallas Country Club golf course. Some of the homes mentioned have probably long since been raised and their owners long since deceased. Interesting though. I think I saw it at Half Price Books in their Texana area near the front door.
Would be a fun biking tour! Walking, not so much. Especially not in the summer.
Believe there was a section on the village history,the neon, the fountains, etc.
It’s actually a wonderful book chock-full of Park Cities history- who the founding families were, how certain streets or subdivs were named, about the original architects like Hal Thompson, Foshee & Cheek, Anton Korn, etc.
My grandparent’s home is mentioned in it so my whole family owns copies! My granny was very proud to be included in Diane & Kathy’s book 🙂
It was really the first step in the Park Cities historic preservation movement, as they wrote it in the mid-1980’s when the original wave of McMansion/ tear downs swept through the Park Cities. I bet a ton more of the homes in the book are gone today, 25 years later
Hey, you should contact Kathy and Diane (champion of the UP library’s creation, too, btw) and get their opinions as a “25 years later” pov.
I remember Ms Galloway used to have a recurring column in the DMN about walking the Park Cities. I always found it pretty interesting.