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PRESERVATIONOur History
Park Cities Historical SocietyThe Park Cities Historical Society was founded by Mrs. Gordon R. Dysart on February 8, 1982, following discussions with residents who felt the need to preserve the heritage of their unique community. A group of friends were invited to the home of Mr. & Mrs. Dysart, 3413 Cornell Avenue, to participate in the organization of the Society. The purpose of the Society and the benefits to the Park Cities in the future were discussed. The group was in unanimous agreement to form the Society and the basic structure was adopted. Those attending and contributing to the meeting were: Mrs. Reuben H. Adams Articles of Incorporation were duly filed on March 29, 1982. Since its founding, the Society was active in three different areas of historical interest. An extensive photographic survey of the Park Cities' residences was completed and stored in the Society's archives. As an accompaniment to the survey, a landmark designation program for buildings and sites has been instituted with the first designation in December 1986. In addition, an educational program about the history and heritage of the Park Cities was developed and implemented in the community. Preservation Park Cities (Prior to Merger)Preservation Park Cities was organized by area residents concerned about the loss of architecturally significant older homes and buildings in the community. The motto "Preserving the legacy and character of our community" reflected the organization's mission which was to encourage the preservation of older structures and the appropriate design of newer constructions. Preservation Park Cities strived to build a foundation of historic sensitivity in the Park Cities by identifying specifics structures that are worth saving, and by communicating their historical significance to the community. The organization encouraged homeowners to preserve their older homes and protect them into the future and worked towards creating an environment in which respectful and responsible building practices are actively embraced. The Preservation Park Cities historic marker program honored and recognized older or historic homes in HP and UP that retained most of their original architectural details. While changes are inevitable over time, the goal of the program was to acknowledge and honor these properties. The marker did not carry any restrictions for homeowners. The design was a replica of the Spanish-style gate entrances to the old Loma Linda development. Architect David Williams built these Moorish structures and accompanying walls along Mockingbird Lane and Preston Road in 1924. Park Cities Historic and Preservation SocietyIn 2006 the Historical Society and Preservation Park Cities recognized that they were working for similar purposes and merged. Together the organizations have recognized over 180 homes and building sites, through rigorous valuation, with bronze plaques posted on each site. The current community-led Society is an active, cohesive organization that continues to protect and promote the historic, architectural, cultural and aesthetic legacy of the Park Cities. Preservation Park CitiesIn 2021, as a result of a new branding initiative, the Board of Directors decided to change the name back to Preservation Park Cities. The new (old) name is more consistent with other organizations that share the same goal (Preservation Dallas, Preservation Austin) in addition to being more recognizable to the general public. Past PresidentsPark Cities Historical Society 1982-1983 Lucy Cary Dysart Park Cities Historic and Preservation Society 2002 Michael K. Matthews Preservation Park Cities 2006-2007 Lee Roever |
Prather Park, Highland Park, Tx