Newsletter
Quarterly Newsletter - Fall 2026
What’s happening around Oak Lawn Heights, what’s changing, what MSNA is working on and ways to get involved - from neighborhood events and safer streets to Maple Avenue, local gardens and more.
September 14, 2026
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What’s happening?
Dates to know and ways to get involved this fall.
Get a free tree from the City of Dallas
REGISTER BY SEPT. 30 · WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
Branch Out Dallas registration is open! Dallas residents can register for a free 5-gallon tree and choose from available tree varieties and pickup locations.
To participate, you must live within Dallas city limits and have a Dallas Water Utilities account number. Trees must be picked up on Dallas Arbor Day, November 7, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Cherrywood Park Cleanup
Over many years, fallen leaves, acorns, and soil have packed down into thick mud along the park-side curbs of Cherrywood Park. This street-mud hides parking lines, narrows our roadway, and clutters our beautiful neighborhood borders. We’re teaming up to scrape it clean!
OCT
10
Cherrywood Park Curb Cleanup
9:00-11:00 AM · Cherrywood Park Playground
Help uncover Cherrywood Park's curbs to restore parking, drainage, and the beauty of our park borders.
November 3 General Election
The November 3 General Election is coming up. Dallas County Elections provides information on voter registration, early voting dates and locations, Election Day polling places, sample ballots, and other details to help you prepare to vote.
Get involved
A few more ways to plug in before the next issue.
Know a beautiful garden we should feature?
Have a traffic-safety location you'd like documented?
Know about an upcoming hearing, cleanup, event or business opening?
Interested in helping with the Conservation District or neighborhood cleanup efforts?
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What’s changing?
Updates on decisions and developments shaping Oak Lawn Heights.
Preserving the Character of Oak Lawn Heights
An effort is underway to explore establishing Oak Lawn Heights as a Conservation District with the City of Dallas.
A Conservation District is a zoning tool designed to help preserve the distinctive character of an established neighborhood. Each district develops standards specific to its neighborhood, which may address features such as setbacks, building height and scale, lot development, architectural characteristics, and other elements that help define the area.
This will be a community effort, and neighborhood participation will be important throughout the process.
Neighborhood contact: Marcia Millard
Neighbors weigh in on recent zoning variance requests
Oak Lawn Heights residents recently participated in two Board of Adjustment cases involving significant setback reductions along Maple Springs Boulevard. The two requests received different decisions - and offered a useful example of how neighborhood participation can play a role in the City's zoning process.
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What's MSNA doing?
A look at what your neighborhood association is working on.
Four ideas for safer neighborhood streets
Neighbors concerned about cut-through traffic and pedestrian safety worked with a licensed civil engineer to explore improvements at four key intersections. The concepts include curb extensions, pedestrian refuges, a compact traffic circle, and a neighborhood-scale roundabout.
Nothing is currently funded or approved, but the concepts are being put forward for consideration in a future City bond program. Neighborhood feedback now can help shape what happens next.
Progress on longstanding Stoneleigh safety concerns
Over the past year, neighbors around a property in the 5100 block of Stoneleigh have worked together to address persistent property and safety concerns, including deteriorating property conditions and ongoing activity that prompted repeated reports to the City through 311 and 911, along with follow-up with City officials and MSNA.
The property at the center of those concerns changed ownership through a foreclosure sale in September. While that doesn't immediately resolve every issue surrounding the property, it represents meaningful movement in a situation neighbors have worked persistently to address.
Thank you to the neighbors who continued reporting concerns, sharing information and following up. Complicated property issues can take time to resolve, and that persistence matters.
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What we’re watching
A few things on our radar around the neighborhood.
What’s next for Maple Avenue?
According to a recent update from the Maple Avenue Merchants Association, the current Maple Avenue road diet proposal may not be moving forward in its current form. What that means for future improvements along the corridor isn't yet clear.
The road diet proposal is only one part of a broader conversation about Maple Avenue, including questions around safety, pedestrian access, businesses, Medical District traffic and the needs of surrounding neighborhoods. What future improvements could ultimately look like remains an open question. MSNA will continue following conversations about Maple Avenue and sharing updates as more information becomes available.
Around the Neighborhood: Homes for Sale
by Dick Reavis
On September 1, Dick took a walk through Oak Lawn Heights and made note of the homes with for-sale signs along the way. It's a small snapshot of what's on the market in the neighborhood as fall begins.
Among the signs were homes along Denton Drive, Stoneleigh Avenue and Maple Springs Boulevard, ranging from roughly 1,300 to 2,700 square feet. A few properties Dick had been watching had already sold or come off the market by the time he compiled his notes.
Based on yard signs and listing information observed September 1. Real-estate availability and asking prices can change quickly.
- 6
- Homes spotted for sale
- 3
- Streets represented
- $499K–$880K
- Observed asking-price range
Neighbor reminder
Bulky trash: know your set-out dates
Noticing bulky items appearing at the curb well ahead of collection week? Dallas limits when residents can set out brush and bulky items for monthly collection.
Your collection week depends on your address, and materials should only be placed out during the City's designated set-out window. Before hauling something to the curb, check your address for the correct dates — and review the City's rules for pile size, placement and items that aren't accepted.
- Check your address for your collection week
- Only set items out during the City's designated window
Welcome Harmony Bank to Maple Avenue
Harmony Bank, a Texas community bank, is now open at 5004 Maple Avenue at the corner of Maple Avenue and Amelia. The branch will celebrate its grand opening September 23, and neighbors are invited to stop by and welcome one of Maple Avenue's newest businesses.
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Who we are
Celebrating the neighbors and places that make Oak Lawn Heights home.
Yard of the Month roundup
Meet our first four winners
This summer, the Garden Club launched Yard of the Month to celebrate the neighbors and gardens that help make Oak Lawn Heights special.
Garden Club grows with support from North Haven Gardens
The MSNA Garden Club has grown to 27 members who meet on the last Saturday of each month to learn from Texas Master Gardeners, share advice and get to know their neighbors. Meetings also include a visit to the month's Yard of the Month garden.
The club is now officially sponsored by North Haven Gardens, which provides each Yard of the Month recipient with a $50 gift certificate and recently hosted the club for a meeting and educational program. Interested in joining? New members are always welcome.
Remembering Michael Fannin
Oak Lawn Heights lost a longtime neighbor and dear friend in Michael, whose generosity and love for our community touched so many of us. He helped found MSNA, shared in our Garden Club, and leaves behind a lasting place in the neighborhood he helped bring together.
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Have an Idea or Concern? Talk to Us.
Some of the best things happening in Oak Lawn Heights have started with a neighbor reaching out.
Not every neighborhood idea or concern is easy to navigate alone.
Celebrate something
Yard of the Month began with a neighbor wanting to recognize great gardens.
Improve something
A neighbor's idea helped turn attention at Cherrywood Park into an upcoming City-coordinated cleanup.
Solve something
Neighbors facing persistent property and safety concerns have worked together to document issues, report them and follow up with City officials.