{"id":244719,"date":"2026-04-11T05:27:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T05:27:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/244719\/"},"modified":"2026-04-11T05:27:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T05:27:21","slug":"walne-park-officially-renamed-as-proud-family-and-grateful-friends-look-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/244719\/","title":{"rendered":"Walne Park officially renamed as proud family and grateful friends look on"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Walne Park was officially dedicated Thursday before a big crowd. Photo by Carol Toler.<\/p>\n

The Dallas Park and Recreation Department officially unveiled new signage at Walne Park Thursday in honor of Joan and Alan Walne, longtime Lake Highlands neighbors and dedicated community advocates. The area was established in 1961 as Skyline Park<\/a>, then later changed to Lake Highlands North Park.<\/p>\n

The name change request was made in September by a coalition of community members led by District 10 Council member Kathy Stewart and D10 Park Board member Scott Goldstein. The vote was unanimous.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Walne family has shown what it truly means to serve through their commitment, leadership and unwavering belief in this community,\u201d said Stewart. \u201cThey have helped shape not just this neighborhood, but the very spirit of this community and of this city. This family has given their time, their energy, and their hearts, quietly and consistently, with a deep sense of responsibility to others. We don\u2019t often see this sense of responsibility in today\u2019s world, but the Walne family understands that neighborhoods and our city rely on people like them to assume responsibility for present and future needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat really sets Joan and Alan apart is that they do it all with humility,\u201d said Goldstein. \u201cThey always show up. They\u2019re still coming to city hall and park board meetings and District 10 community meetings and board meetings for organizations where they serve. They build things that last.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former mayor Mike Rawlings<\/a>, who served on the park board with Joan and crafted a letter with former mayor Tom Leppert to nominate the Walne Family for the honor, agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the city somehow made a huge mistake by not having Alan Walne as mayor of this city,\u201d Rawlings said. \u201cHis wisdom and his understanding of what Dallas is all about and what he has meant to this city is remarkable. Look, you did all these things, but it\u2019s not the fact that you did it. It\u2019s how you did it. Your understanding of the importance of family is so important for all of us. You understood that the city is just a big family, and you treat everybody the same. I don\u2019t know of a couple in the city of Dallas who has done more, so I am hereby naming you The GOAT Couple (greatest of all time).\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToday was never about us,\u201d said Joan. \u201cToday was about our love for the community, our church, our school, our city and a heart to serve where the good Lord placed us. Our family growing up \u2014 and even to this day \u2014 has a recurring theme. It was a really significant quote from Alan \u2014 Step Up to the Plate.\u201d<\/p>\n

To prove it, she produced a long-kept high school paper of son Robert\u2019s and a senior essay of daughter Sarah\u2019s with the same theme.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving grown up here, I never envisioned anything like this,\u201d said Alan Walne. \u201cIt really did start with mom and dad, Francis and Herb. Dad started his business<\/a> down here at Northwest Highway and Easton with a Humble station, and he taught and showed me that you give back to the community. So, when someone asked, I said yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alan was a strong advocate for the renovation of local recreation centers and of the Cotton Bowl in anticipation of the 1994 World Cup while serving on the park board. 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 \u2014 the club\u2019s highest honor \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

Joan served as president and vice-president of the park board, where she played a pivotal role in adoption of the department\u2019s first long-range comprehensive plan \u2014 the Renaissance Plan \u2014lauded 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\u2019s League, board member at Trust for Public Land, board chair for Kershaw\u2019s Challenge, president of Wildcat Club and PTA president at multiple schools. She\u2019s been active in the Children\u2019s 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.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Spirit of the Centennial h<\/a>onorees earned the Distinguished Wildcat Award from the Lake Highlands High School Alumni Association last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Carol <\/p>\n

Blogger CAROL TOLER<\/a> and her husband, Toby, are the parents of four LHHS graduates. She has an MBA from SMU and is the proud recipient of the Exchange Club of LH’s Unsung Hero Award and Councilman McGough’s Blake Anderson Public Service Award. She received LHHS PTA’s Extended Service Award, FMJH PTA’s Charger Award and a Life Membership from the LHFC PTA. She has moderated candidate debates for Dallas Mayor, Dallas City Council and RISD Trustee races and taught seminars on garnering publicity for nonprofits. She completed training with Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation and Inside RISD, and she’s a sustaining member of LH Women’s League. She has served on the boards of After8 to Educate, Dallas Free Press, Healing Hands Ministries and Camp Sweeney and chaired fundraisers for multiple Dallas nonprofits. Email ctoler@advocatemag.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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