It’s been a decade since Highland Park Village President Ray Washburne was the featured speaker at the sold-out Park Cities Historical Society Distinguished Speaker Luncheon at the Dallas Country Club. At that time he told how the legendary shopping center would go through some changes like adding “a fountain,” the “Starbucks building” being renovated and more trees and residential landscaping coming soon to reduce the feel of concrete.
Fast-forward to the present day. The Park Cities Historical Society has had a name change. It’s now Preservation Park Cities. The Dallas Country Club is getting a three-story fitness center. And the HPV has done much more than add new trees to the grounds.
To provide a state-of-the-Village report, 2022 Preservation Park Cities Distinguished Speaker Luncheon Co-Chairs Tish Key and Alisa Sell and Preservation Park Cities Board President Burton Rhodes have arranged for Ray to return as the luncheon’s keynoter on Monday, October 17, at the Dallas Country Club.
In addition to sharing how HPV has evolved with new tenants, a private club, fountains at the entrances along Preston Road and the current transformation of the parking lot with red brick, he’ll reveal future plans for the 91-year-old, open-air center.
Since purchasing the Village in 2009, owners Heather and Ray Washburne’s and Elisa and Stephen Summers’ mission has been to incorporate 21st century conveniences and retailers while protecting, preserving and enhancing its original Mediterranean Spanish style designed by architects Marion Fooshee and James Cheek.
Sponsorships and tickets for the luncheon are available here. Funds raised from the luncheon will be used for the PPC mission to “celebrate and promote the preservation of Park Cities architecture, history, aesthetics, and cultural traditions.”
* Graphic/photo provided by Preservation Park Cities ** Photo credit: Sharon Adams