HP Council Considers Lap Swim Season, Horse-Drawn Carriage Operations
The Highland Park Town Council met on March 4 to consider several matters, including the 2025 Swim Season Schedule.
During a previous study session, Chelsey Gordon, director of Policy Development and Strategic Initiatives, presented a report on the Town’s annual summer swim programming. In the 2024 swim season, there were 13,158 total daily check-ins. On average, there were 112 check-ins per day for open swim, and 20 check-ins per day for lap swim.
The report indicated that the 2025 swim season will mirror the 2024 swim season in terms of the length of the season. In 2023, four weeks were added to the end of the lap swim season to extend it to Thanksgiving at the request of the lap swimming group. On average, there were 28 lap swimmers each day during this time last year.
A request has been made to extend lap swimming year-round, including weekends, and to begin at 6 a.m. instead of 7 a.m. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will start assessing this request for feasibility and may make a recommendation later in the swim season.
Mayor Beecherl requested staff to research a separate fee for swimmers who utilize the pool outside of the regular swim season, to which Gordon concurred. Staff will also research partnerships with the YMCA and Southern Methodist University.
Director of Public Safety Chuck McGinnis, discussed the Town’s Code providing for the regulation of commercial horse-drawn carriages. This code was adopted Sept. 8, 2008.
In the 2024 season, four vendors employed 86 carriage drivers in the town, with a total of 59 carriages permitted. Carriage rides are approximately one hour in duration. Last year the program generated $48,126.41 in revenue for the town through imposed franchise fees to the vendors, as stated in the code. Another $400 was collected from carriage licensure fees, and $2,950 from carriage registration fees, to total $51,476.41. This is approximately $10,000 less than 2023, but still approximately $10,000 more than 2022.
Through the operating season, there were eight written complaints. Seven of these complaints stemmed from a movement of non-residents whose goal is to ban horse-drawn carriage operations nationally, due to believed inhumane practices. One written complaint was from a resident wishing to limit the number of carriages permitted due to traffic congestion. There were several verbal complaints of horse manure left on the sidewalk, but this was not due to the carriage program.
There were no reported accidents this season, and only one reported mishap with a horse that had slipped and fell down. The horse was checked for injuries by the owner and loaded onto a trailer for further evaluation.
There was a reminder given of a national movement which has hit the City of Dallas to ban horse-drawn carriages. The Quality of Life, Arts, and Culture Committee for the City of Dallas passed a motion (5-1) for recommending a ban to the Dallas City Council. As of date, there has been no action on this motion by council and they are currently still reviewing the matter.
The HP Town Council indicated its recommendation to continue to monitor Dallas City Council and their actions in regard to horse-drawn carriages, and discuss the program again prior to issuing permits for the 2025 season.
The Town also proposed minor changes to its Investment Policies which can be found here.
