Welcome to Park Cities
A sophisticated Dallas County duo of communities brimming with show-stopping homes.
Dallas’ Park Cities encompasses the Town of Highland Park and the City of University Park, two separate but adjacent Dallas County communities. Together, these two suburbs create the wealthiest enclave in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area and are known for their great schools and elegant, historic ambiance.
Park Cities frequently ranks among the top places to live in the U.S. due to their strong sense of community and high-end residential real estate. Highland Park, specifically, is the most affluent city in Texas, boasting arbored streets and plenty of shaded green space. Highland Park was first established back in the late 1880s, and University Park followed shortly after in the early 20th century.
Multimillion-dollar estates and lavish executive homes imbue Park Cities with an unmistakable air of gentility and well-cultivated grandeur. Historic houses and modern new builds here come in various styles that can range from grand Mediterranean villas and fairytale Tudors to stone manors and luxury contemporary homes.
What to Love
- Just 15 minutes from Downtown Dallas
- An abundance of restaurants and shopping districts
- Surrounded by similarly upscale neighborhoods with a tranquil vibe
Local Lifestyle
Park Cities residents spend their days taking leisurely strolls along West Lovers Lane to peruse the covetable array of restaurants, roaming the ample park spaces or making the short trip to Downtown for a more high-energy evening. Long-standing yet always pressing forward into the best of modernity, these two communities thrive on the harmony of growth and tradition.
Dining, Entertainment, and Shopping
The Park Cities house a retail treasure that’s even been listed as a National Historic Landmark. Highland Park Village, a must-see for visitors and a frequent hotspot for locals, was the first self-contained shopping center in the county. Today it’s revered as a premier luxury shopping destination that’s packed with fashionable boutiques and award-winning restaurants.
If shopping in a national landmark isn’t enough to satiate your need for retail therapy, head to Snider Plaza near SMU or The Plaza at Preston Center. Both offer an endless assortment of boutiques, specialty stores, lifestyle services, coffee shops, and eateries.
While there are many remarkable places to dine in Park Cities, restaurants such as City Cafe to Go stand out among the crowd. For more than 30 years, this cozy, casual bistro has been dishing up drool-worthy, made-to-order meals and to-go items. A staple among Park Cities residents, City Cafe keeps its dessert display well-stocked for hungry customers popping in for a daily sweet treat.
Things to Do
Part of the Park Cities lifestyle is attending community events, and most residents here participate in some of the community’s biggest celebrations year in and year out. The Fourth of July Parade, for example, always draws quite the crowd of familiar faces, and the proceeds from the event go to charity.
Even on ordinary weekends, the St. Michael’s Farmers Market gives residents a reason to celebrate. As both a community outreach program and a gathering place, the farmer's market is driven by local ranchers, farmers, and artisans selling their goods and services.
Because a majority of homeowners here have smaller lot sizes, the Park Cities also have their fair share of amazing neighborhood parks. The cities ensure that there’s no lack of green space, facilitating kid-friendly spots like Williams Park and protecting the vibrant swaths and fairways of the Dallas Country Club.
Schools
Park Cities is home to a number of excellent schools. Notable educational opportunities include the Highland Park Independent School District, known as the top school district in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area. Several of the district’s best schools include:
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Bradfield Elementary School, PK & K-4, the top-rated public elementary school in Dallas County
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McCullough Intermediate School, 5-6, highly rated public middle school
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Highland Park High School, 9-12, highly rated public high school that’s among the best in Dallas County
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