Walne Park will be officially renamed April 9

Park and Recreation officials will host a ceremony in April to officially rename Lake Highlands North Park to Walne Park. The change is intended to celebrate Joan and Alan Walne for their many years of dedication and service to the City of Dallas.

Members of the park board voted unanimously to rename the park in September after a request was made by a coalition of community members led by D10 Council member Kathy Stewart and D10 Park Board rep Scott Goldstein. The application was supported by letters from multiple city leaders, including former mayors Ron Kirk and Mike Rawlings and retired park department directors Paul Dyer and Willis Winters.

The City of Dallas purchased 28 acres at the corner of Church Road and White Rock Trail from F.A. and Agnes Dahman in June of 1961 to create Skyline Park, and Skyline Recreation Center was built 10 years later. The names were later changed to Lake Highlands North Park and Lake Highlands North Recreation Center. Only the name of the park will change.

During his service on the park board, Alan was a strong advocate for the renovation of local recreation centers and of the Cotton Bowl in anticipation of the 1994 World Cup. He continued his support of parks during his tenure on the Dallas City Council and as chairman of the board of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society. The Exchange Club of Lake Highlands entered him into their Book of Names — the club’s highest honor — and he served as board chair of the State Fair of Texas, board member of Trinity Commons, member of the City of Dallas Economic Development Commission, board member of Methodist Hospital and president of the Wildcat Club.

Joan served as president and vice-president of the park board, where she played a pivotal role in adoption of the department’s first long-range comprehensive plan — the Renaissance Plan —lauded by the National Recreation and Park Association. Joan was also board chair at the Dallas Zoological Society, board member at Bonton Farms, president of Lake Highlands Women’s League, board member at Trust for Public Land, board chair for Kershaw’s Challenge, president of Wildcat Club and PTA president at multiple schools. She’s been active in the Children’s Medical Center Auxiliary, Junior League of Dallas, Dallas Arboretum, Parkland Hospital, Friends of Fair Park, Equest Auxiliary and White Rock Lake Conservancy. Advocate Magazine was honored to include her in our Fierce Females of 2022.

The couple was awarded the Centennial Award by the Friends of Fair Park in 2012 and the Distinguished Wildcat Award by the Lake Highlands High School Alumni Association last year.

The April 9 dedication ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. at 9344 Church Road. All are invited to attend.