Dallas has a deep history of important dates and pioneering individuals and accomplishments along the way.
Nearly a century has passed since the City of University Park was incorporated. April 12, 2024 is the official date of the Centennial.
To commemorate the many remarkable individuals, families, institutions, and organizations that have molded the unique community which located in the Park Cities (comprised of the Town of Highland Park and the City of University Park) there is a range of Centennial-related events scheduled during a week in April.
Tuesday, April 9 at 1:30 p.m.
Delve into the interesting history of the University Park Fire and Police Departments in a special session at the University Park Public Library. UP Police Lieutenant Curtis Ellenburg and Fire Chief Randy Howell share photos, stories, relics, and insights from the history of the two departments and how they have been serving the residents of University Park for the last century.
Tuesday, April 9 at 7 p.m.
A Visit with the Mayors provides a rare historical perspective on the region. It is scheduled at the University Park Public Libraryand includes former University Park mayors Roy Coffee, Jr. (1976-1982); Harold Peek (1998-2004); Dick Davis (2010-2014); Olin Lane (2014-2020); and current University Park mayor, Tommy Stewart, who was elected in 2020. The events includes a panel discussion moderated by Gage Prichard, a former University Park council member and current co-chair of the Centennial Committee, as well as a question and answer period with the former mayors.
Wednesday, April 10
Free admission to The George W. Bush Presidential Center and the Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University.
The George W. Bush Presidential Center celebrates University Park’s centennial by offering free admission to our neighbors on this date. Experience the presidency by getting a photo in an exact replica of the Oval Office in the White House; listen to advisors and decide how to act during a pivotal national moment; and reflect before steel from the fallen towers of the historic World Trade Center.
Free admission also includes access to a special exhibit, “Freedom Matters,” which looks at the evolution of freedom and the American experiment through rare artifacts. Reserve tickets online here.
Also on April 10, University Park residents enjoy free admission to Meadows Museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Show a valid driver’s license as proof of residence. From Sunday, April 7, through Saturday, April 13, any University Park resident who joins as a new museum member gets an additional three months free. Register in person at the Meadows Museum with a valid driver’s license as proof of residence.
Friday, April 12 at 10 a.m.
The Centennial Anniversary Ceremony with the dedication of a Centennial Tree, a Shumard Red Oak to be planted on the northwest corner of Goar Park. To begin the program, bells from churches throughout the community will ring. The program will include remarks by Mayor Tommy Stewart and City Manager Robbie Corder, the two Centennial Committee co-chairs and a representative from Preservation Park Citieswho will announce the placement of a historical marker that details University Park’s origin and development through the decades.
Saturday, April 13 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Centennial Celebration at Goar Park and Williams Park. The family-focused gathering has activities and performances for all age groups and includes a spectacular drone show designed to light up the sky with images known to all those who call University Park home.
There is a special University Park Centennial Book now available. The commissioned tome was created to capture and commemorate University Park’s past 100 years. This coffee-table style book follows city history, by decade, starting with the founding families and SMU’s beginnings, to avoiding annexation by Dallas, and the development of churches, schools and neighborhoods, the acquisition of park lands, the unique architecture, retail centers, anecdotal fun-facts, the role of city leaders and much more. The book is now available for pre-order here and ready for delivery in July 2024.