The Arbor - June 2024

Number 249, June 2024

City of University Park, Texas, 3800 University Blvd.

Addressing Snider Plaza's parking woes: Employee Parking Task Force calls for change

For decades, Snider Plaza has been a hub of activity, drawing in locals and visitors alike with its charming shops, restaurants and vibrant atmosphere. However, amid the hustle and bustle lies a persistent problem that has plagued the area since the 1950s: parking.

As a matter of fact, the following quote is from a University Park Commission Meeting on September 4, 1956 - “Practically all of the people whose names appear above urged the City Commission to immediately institute a rigid enforcement of the 2 hour parking limit in the area, however, those present all readily agreed that the problem confronting them was employees and employees parking their personal automobiles on the Plaza and taking up valuable space that was originally intended for customer parking.” During recent public hearings for the Snider Plaza improvements project, the City Council was presented with information showing that employee parking within the Plaza remains an ongoing problem, with as many as 230 of the shopping center’s 400 parking spaces occupied by employees of Snider Plaza businesses.

In an effort to tackle this ongoing challenge, City Council appointed a task force in November 2023 to study parking options for employees in Snider Plaza. Comprised of nine members including Snider Plaza merchants, property owners, and residents, the task force has spent months analyzing data and exploring potential solutions. Additionally, the task force held stakeholder meetings last month to gather feedback from business, property owners, and residents.

As its efforts near completion, the Snider Plaza Employee Parking Task Force will present its recommendations to the City Council at the 5 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, June 4. Among these recommendations is a proposal for the implementation of a paid parking model for all public spaces (Snider Plaza & Hillcrest) at a rate of $3/hour, with no charge to park for less than first 15 minutes.

Additional recommendations include:

Utilize revenue from paid parking to fund offsite parking for all employees of Snider Plaza.
Hire a parking management company to provide continuous parking enforcement throughout Snider Plaza during normal business hours.
Resident Parking District – establish a resident parking district in the residential neighborhood just west of Snider Plaza (area bounded by Lovers, Dickens, Daniel, and alley on west side of Snider Plaza).
Snider Plaza Advisory Board – establish a full-time advisory board that is responsible for monitoring effectiveness of the Snider Plaza parking program and oversight of any excess revenue.
Establish rules and regulations for regular deliveries to businesses. Create designated areas during off hours to encourage deliveries – otherwise deliveries to occur from commercial alleys.

Paid parking is not a novel concept in urban planning. Many cities across the country have successfully implemented similar systems to manage parking demand effectively. By drawing on lessons learned from these experiences and tailoring them to fit the unique needs of Snider Plaza, the community can pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient parking system.

If you would like to learn more about how we got here, David Rejebian, Chair of the Snider Plaza Employee Parking Task Force presented preliminary recommendations to Council on April 16. A video of his presentation is available online.

Centennial merchandise still available

Didn't make it to the merch booth at the Centennial Celebration? Not to worry, there is still a limited quantity of Centennial shirts and hats available! You can purchase Centennial merchandise online using the link below and pick up your order at City Hall during regular business hours (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Or, merchandise will also be available for purchase at the Holmes Aquatic Center this summer.

Purchase Centennial merchandise

A summer of fun at the Holmes Aquatic Center!

The pool is officially open for the season! It's not too late to get your pool passes so that you and your family are in the swim of things this summer. We have aquatic programs for all ages and abilities!

Dive-in Movies

Dive into summer movies at the Holmes Aquatic Center!

Grab your floaties and bring the whole family to our exciting Dive-In movie series this summer! Our incredible lineup of movies will make your summer nights even more memorable. Mark your calendars for these fantastic screenings:

June 28 - Finding Nemo
July 12 - Finding Dory
July 26 - The Little Mermaid
August 31 - Moana

Gates will open at 8 p.m., allowing you plenty of time to find the perfect spot and settle in for the evening. As the sun sets, the movie will begin at approximately 9 p.m.

Remember to bring the following:

Proof of residency (University Park or HPISD)
Comfortable seating
Snacks, drinks and a cooler (no glass containers or alcoholic beverages)

A Taste of UP is back this summer!

What better way to enjoy the summer sun than by indulging in some amazing food from the best restaurants in UP? "A Taste of UP" has you covered this summer with food delivered straight to the Holmes Aquatic Center.

Every week, we'll be featuring a different restaurant so you can explore a variety of cuisines and flavors. Imagine lounging by the pool, soaking up the sun, and enjoying a delicious meal from Crisp & Green, Yumilicious, Zalat Pizza and New York Subs!

So, grab your sunscreen, put on your shades, and prepare for a summer of fun and food!

Leash your dog - It's the law!

Does University Park have a leash law?

Yes. Dog owners can be issued a citation and fined if they let their dog run at large. This includes dogs that are unleashed while in City parks.

Will a dog be impounded if it is seen running free in a neighborhood?

Yes. Whether the dog is seen by an officer or is found and held by someone, once the City is notified, an officer must take possession of the dog. To report a dog running loose, please call 214-363-3000.

Last chance to get your Centennial bricks and books!

The deadline to purchase your Centennial bricks and books is fast approaching! This is your opportunity to leave your mark and commemorate the City's 100th anniversary in a tangible manner, and to own the book specially commissioned to capture and commemorate ten formative decades of University Park. Bricks and books will be available to purchase until July 8, 2024.

Purchase your Centennial bricks and Centennial book.

Preservation Park Cities public safety display

Surveys have shown that our residents consider our police and fire services to be among the most important reasons for living in our City. They are major contributors to the notion that University Park is one of the best places to live and raise a family.

As part of the City’s Centennial celebration in April, the Library hosted a presentation of the History of the University Park Fire and Police Departments. Residents have another opportunity to learn about this rich history, as items from the presentation are currently on display at the Library. In partnership with Preservation Park Cities, the exhibit is located in the archives adjacent to the Texana Room.

The display can be viewed during the Library’s normal business hours.

City conducting resident satisfaction survey

The City of University Park is working with survey research firm ETC institute to gather resident input and feedback on City programs and services. Resident feedback is extremely valuable to the city and allows us to provide you and your neighbors with the services that are most wanted.

Please note that not all residents are asked to complete the survey due to random sampling. The survey hit mailboxes last month, so please double check your mail pile and fill out the survey if you received it! If you have any questions about the survey or need help with submission, please contact Paige Ruedy, Community Information Officer, at 214-987-5686 or pruedy@uptexas.org.

July 4 parade and Centennial Park festivities

Summer weather is here, which means July 4 is just around the corner! In conjunction with the Rotary Club Park Cities, on Thursday, July 4, floats, fire trucks, antique vehicles, a band or two and decorated bikes and their riders will travel through various neighborhoods, starting near Highland Park Town Hall and finishing in Centennial Park (formerly Goar Park). That morning, the park will be filled with merchant booths, bounce houses and lots of other family fun.

In the coming weeks, we'll have more details about these festivities in our City newsletters, on the City's website and on our social media platforms!

La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas gala dresses on display soon at UP Public Library

This month, UP Public Library is pleased to exhibit gowns from the 2024 La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas gala. These gowns are worn by duchesses when they present in the annual pageant that reflects the history of the Six Flags of Texas and the Park Cities. The duchesses are young women from the Park Cities, and the gala is a fundraiser for various Park Cities organizations, including our library. The gowns will be on exhibit from June 11 through June 22. You can view the dresses by visiting the library during regular business hours.

You can also get in the sovereign spirit by joining us for Princess Story Time on June 15 at 3 p.m. for stories and songs with special guest Rapunzel! All little princes and princesses are invited to attend.

New HPISD student art on display in City buildings

In 2007, City Hall began displaying award-winning art from HPISD to showcase the talent of young Park Cities residents. Enjoying ample exhibit space in its beautiful home in the Plaza at Preston Center, University Park Public Library also has student art on display. All the pieces were selected from HPISD’s recent Highlander Festival art show. The collection includes pieces from each HPISD school. Eight are on display at the library, and the other eight are on display at City Hall. Each piece shows the title of the work, the student’s name, grade level and campus. This art will remain on display until next spring, when 16 new selections will be made.

Let Water My Yard help you decide how much to water

Deciding when and how much to water your lawn during the summer can be challenging. Residents have a quick and definitive way to answer those questions. Sponsored by the Dallas County Park Cities Municipal Utilities District, the Park Cities are part of the Water My Yard program. Offered by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, this free online tool helps you determine how much supplemental water is needed to maintain a healthy lawn year-round.

To learn more about the Water My Yard program, go here. It only takes a few short online steps before you are set to receive automated emails or text messages with weekly guidance that is based on weather and soil conditions in the Park Cities!

Watering Restrictions

Consistent with ordinances in many other area communities, outdoor watering days are determined by street address.

Even - Residents with addresses ending in an even number can use automatic sprinklers on Sundays and Thursdays.
Odd - Addresses ending in an odd number can use automatic sprinklers on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
Multi-family addresses and office buildings will water using their lowest street address number.

Watering restriction exemptions

Residents can water at any time of the day or night, and on any day of the week with a hand-held hose, a drip irrigation device, soaker hose or watering can.
Automatic sprinkler systems can be used during the repair or testing of a new or existing system and to irrigate newly planted landscapes within 30 days of installation.
Automatic sprinklers can be used to irrigate athletic fields used for organized sports to protect the health and safety of the players, staff and officials present for athletic events.
Sprinkler systems that are not connected to the City's water system are exempt from outdoor watering restrictions.

City providing free mosquito dunks and Repel insect repellent

Help us limit the mosquito population this summer! The City is providing mosquito dunks to UP residents who stop by City Hall (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - 3800 University Blvd.). To receive the product you must provide us with your street address. Mosquito dunks will be provided, one pack to each resident, until our supply is gone. This same product can be purchased at local garden centers. The City also has a limited supply of Repel Insect Repellent spray available for residents to pick up at City Hall during business hours. One can of Repel will be provided per resident.

Mosquito dunks look like a small, beige donut. They float in standing water. As the dunk slowly dissolves, it releases a bacterium which is toxic to all species of mosquito larvae. Dunks can be used in fish ponds, birdbaths, flower pots, rain barrels or any place where water collects and remains for a period of time. The dunks kill mosquito larvae before they grow to become biting and disease-spreading adults. The product is harmless to other living things. Each dunk is effective for a 30-day period.